Word

Word is now more feature-rich with tools to improve collaboration and security. The new co-authoring tool shows who is working on what part of a document, in real time…yes, many people can work within the same document at once. Other editing tools are now available including improved versioning, Smart Lookup, and simpler file sharing.

The new Tell Me feature combines a Help, document search and Feature assistance tool: it is likely to be of more use for mature Word users. Word 2019is still a desktop app but with a much easier cloud connection to your online files. Couple this with OneDrive, and you can quickly documents on your iPhone or Android device without having to figure out which version is the latest.

Excel

Excel 2019 presents a cleaner looking interface that the faux 3D of the last iteration. Like Word, Smart Lookup offers a much more intelligent search function without having to head to a web browser. File sharing is greatly improved to the point where clients who do not have Excel can modify your documents, given appropriate privileges, using the Excel web app.

Excel has gotten more powerful with pivot table improvements, Power Query, a new Analysis Toolpack for statistical and engineering types, and a new intelligent feature where the application recommends which chart you should use, based on the data you are working with.

Delve

Delve searches your emails, meetings, contacts, social networks, and corporate documents stored in Office 365, then uses “machine learning” artificial intelligence to show you the stuff you need to see. Office Graph, the engine behind Delve, searches through most Office 365 content; in the future, Lync and email attachments will also be indexed. Only content you already have access to is presented for viewing; no security permissions change.

And, Delve is available with Google and iPhone-specific apps for improved mobile connectivity.

OneDrive

OneDrive is Microsoft’s online cloud storage product. With an Office 365 subscription you gain access to a 1TB storage space capable of accepting individual files up to 2GB in size. OneDrive is available with OS-specific apps for Windows Phone, Windows, Xbox, iOS, Android and the web. With OneDrive, users can store photos, documents, videos and all file types to the service.

On your mobile device, the OneDrive app shows real-time notifications of which document is being edited and who edited it. You will also receive a daily summary via email files you have shared, and which ones have been edited – this is especially powerful when working on a group project and want to quickly see which documents have been updated, and you aren’t aware of. Changes made to the document will be saved in its version history, so you can always go back and restore a previous version if you don’t like the newest changes.

PowerPoint 2019 looks smoother and lets you build a more feature-filled presentation faster, and we’re not talking a bullet-list notebook of ideas. Larger ‘handles’ or resizing markers will be welcomed by everyone. Layout tools including auto-centering of content and snap-to alignment produce a noticeably improved product. Features that were seldom-used have been removed and the toolbars are larger, letting you get to the (design) point quickly. In the past there were an excessive number of features which left too much to the layman designer.

Skype for Business greatly resembles Skype’s consumer-facing client application in look and feel, but it comes with enterprise-grade security and compliance features that allow an IT organization to better administer and control the software’s use. Conversations are authenticated through Active Directory and encrypted, and the system also works with companies’ PBX systems or legacy video teleconferencing systems, if need be.

In addition, Skype users are now able to communicate via chat, audio and video within their own company, or with any of the over 300 million customers who have a Skype ID using apps that run on Android, iOS or Windows. Meetings with up to 250 people at a time are possible. With Skype and Office’s close connectivity, it’s simple to collaborate right from your Office apps. You’ll see the contact card of everyone working in the same app as you so you can quickly send them an IM or email, or start a call.

Yammer

Yammer is an enterprise-quality social network application that enables employees to collaborate in realtime, across departments, geographies and business applications. You will have the ability to create groups to share thoughts and edit documents, and easily keep your different projects separate with tight integration with SharePoint and the rest of Office’s core programs.

Greater visibility with team members means less ambiguity and more solid decision making. Security, logging, and controlled access let only your employees share thoughts and files, with no prying eyes.

So you’ve got Yammer setup in your Office365 portal, but how do you encourage users to adopt it? A quick win for your coworkers is the free Yammer app FaceGame. Ever come across coworkers that you always say hi to, but you don’t know their name? Do you feel like you could connect with them more if you could at least put a name to their face? Worry not, the FaceGame is here. The FaceGame is a simple 30 second challenge that allows you to learn and remember your colleagues names thanks to our advanced learning algorithm. Studies by Gallup have shown that socializing with colleagues has the biggest influence on your overall happiness level. The first step to reap those benefits and be happier is to know your colleagues names

Outlook

Outlook makes it easier than ever to send files to colleagues, but now with more control: send the full, editable document; send a read-only copy; or edit-only with documents stored in SharePoint. And, Outlook intelligently remembers which other Office 365-based documents you were recently working in, suggesting those files to you as possible email attachments, saving you the time of browsing the hard drive or network file stores.

A new Groups function facilitates the sharing of messages and events across a number of people, reducing the number of emails and appointments need to be booked. Other tools help you manage the clutter of email and search out errant messages, whether you are on a PC, tablet, Apple device or other portable unit.

Powerpoint

PowerPoint 2019 looks smoother and lets you build a more feature-filled presentation faster, and we’re not talking a bullet-list notebook of ideas. Larger ‘handles’ or resizing markers will be welcomed by everyone. Layout tools including auto-centering of content and snap-to alignment produce a noticeably improved product. Features that were seldom-used have been removed and the toolbars are larger, letting you get to the (design) point quickly. In the past there were an excessive number of features which left too much to the layman designer.

Skype For Business

Skype for Business greatly resembles Skype’s consumer-facing client application in look and feel, but it comes with enterprise-grade security and compliance features that allow an IT organization to better administer and control the software’s use. Conversations are authenticated through Active Directory and encrypted, and the system also works with companies’ PBX systems or legacy video teleconferencing systems, if need be.

Skype users are now able to communicate via chat, audio and video within their own company, or with any of the over 300 million customers who have a Skype ID using apps that run on Android, iOS or Windows. Meetings with up to 250 people at a time are possible. With Skype and Office’s close connectivity, it’s simple to collaborate right from your Office apps. You’ll see the contact card of everyone working in the same app as you so you can quickly send them an IM or email, or start a call.