Microsoft is adding a new feature to the Planner app for frontline workers. Employers can now more easily assign tasks to their frontline employees.

Microsoft announces the new functions for Planner in a blog. Tailored to-do lists should make it clearer to frontline employees what the employer expects of them and give the employer more insight into the progress of those tasks. These are four new functions:

• Assign individual tasks to each team member
• Automatically send recurring tasks to frontline locations
• Mandatory entry forms
• Request approval for completed tasks

The employer can use Planner to create a to-do list for frontline employees, such as attending mandatory training, and assign them to specific locations. Once you confirm the locations, a copy of each task in the list will be created for each employee at each of the selected locations. Tasks in the planner can be performed once, but can also be repeated weekly or daily.

Proof of execution

The employee then sees the assigned tasks in their personal planner overview. The employer may also require the employee to provide “proof” that the task was completed effectively. This can be in the form of a form, uploading a file, or requesting permission.

Microsoft is busy updating the Planner application in Teams. To unlock features for frontline workers, you must use the new version. Over the course of this year, Planner will be expanded to include many new features, such as Copilot integration.