Microsoft starts introducing new features for Viva. The new functions should give employees the opportunity to survive economically uncertain times.

Update 06/16/2023: Microsoft announces the availability of Viva Pulse in public preview. In this blog you can read how to get started with the new function.

Original article 9/22/2022: According to Microsoft’s just-released Work Trend Index Pulse report, hybrid working is driving attitudes among employees and business leaders further apart. The tech giant hopes to reverse this trend by releasing new features on Microsoft Viva.

Viva is a feel-good platform for employees who saw the light of day during the entire Corona period. The platform includes the following four formulas: Viva Connections, Viva Insights, Viva Learning and Viva Topics. Each part serves its own purpose.

New apps

At least two applications are already starting with the innovations: Viva Pulse and Viva Amplify. The first app gives managers and executives the opportunity to get regular feedback. There are various templates for filling out the series of questions as well as series of questions that were created based on research.

The second app is a tool for business leaders to get their message across clearly and consistently. All messages are stored centrally, but can also be sent to different platforms at the same time. In addition, a writing assistant is present and the manager collects metrics that can support the next message. Messages can be sent in various SharePoint, Outlook, Yammer and later third-party apps.

AI support and communication

Answers in Viva uses AI to find the right person in the company for employees who have questions. People in Viva also uses AI capabilities, but creates a profile for each employee, detailing their interests, areas of expertise, and team goals. This is intended to encourage spontaneous conversations in the hallway between colleagues. The profiles can be viewed on Microsoft 365 and in a brand new app.

Then there is already a novelty for Viva Engange. It’s a platform that borrowed its appearance from Facebook to encourage more mutual interactions and can be found in Microsoft Teams. The new feature for the platform is called Leadership Corner. As the name suggests, executives from business can be found there, they must be available for the workforce to exchange ideas and perspectives.

Integration with other platforms

Then there are also deeper integrations to make better use of the possibilities of Microsoft Viva. Viva Goals thus integrates with Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Planner and Microsoft Project, becoming an extension of Azure DevOps and an opportunity in Power BI datasets. In addition, the function must educate employees about company goals and align projects with those goals.

There will also be better integration between Viva Leaning and LinkedIn Learning. From now on, employees can easily view the teaching materials they find online in Teams. In addition, the platform on Teams better keeps track of which courses the employee has yet to view and which have already been fully browsed.

general appearance

Microsoft adds that the Viva Connections homepage will get a new look. Viva apps can then be found in a central location. At the same time, the Viva briefing e-mail will have a new look and the messages will contain more content-related information with recommendations tailored to the individual.

All new features will gradually be found in Microsoft Viva in early 2023. The Viva Sales platform for sales staff will be launched on October 3rd. It’s a whole new platform where CRM, Microsoft 365 and Teams come together. Read all about it in the article.