Microsoft Office 2016 and Office 2019 support ends: What to do next
Are you still using an older version of Microsoft Office, specifically 2016 or 2019? If so, Microsoft has important news for you. Support for these products officially ended in October 2025. While your applications will still run, they are now vulnerable. Microsoft is no longer fixing bugs or, most importantly, patching security holes. Why this is a big deal for your business “End of support” isn’t just a sales pitch to get you to upgrade. It’s a serious security warning. Your software will keep working, but it’s now a sitting duck. Losing support means you’ve lost three key things: No more security updates: Hackers and viruses love finding old, unprotected software. Without new security updates, your business is exposed. It’s like knowing criminals have a copy of your office key but deciding not to change the locks. No more bug fixes: If PowerPoint crashes during a big presentation or an Excel glitch corrupts your file, there will be no fix. Think of it as your car’s manufacturer deciding to stop making spare parts. When something breaks, it stays broken. No more help: Are you having problems? Microsoft’s technical support team can no longer help you with Office 2016 or 2019 issues. Your product’s warranty has expired, so you’ll need to find other support options. What are your options? Fortunately, you have clear choices to protect your business. Continuing to use the old software shouldn’t be one of them. Option 1: Move to Microsoft 365 Microsoft 365 is the subscription version of Office, where you pay a monthly or yearly fee to access various apps. It’s best for businesses that want to “set it and forget it” and always have the latest, most secure tools. Pros You are always up to date and always secure. You get new features as soon as they are released. It often includes other tools such as cloud storage (OneDrive) and communication (Teams). Option 2: Buy Office 2024 If you prefer the “old” way, you can buy Office 2024 once and own it. Keep in mind that this version will be supported until 2029, so you’ll need to plan for another upgrade after that. Pros It’s a single, one-time cost. You get the classic apps you know (Word, Excel, Outlook). It’s perfect if you don’t want or need cloud features. Option 3: Get Office LTSC 2024 You might also hear about a version called Office LTSC 2024. LTSC stands for long-term servicing channel, which is a special, one-time purchase version of Office built purely for stability. It’s designed not to get new feature updates over time, only essential security fixes. It’s made for specific commercial or government situations. Think of computers that run medical equipment, control machinery on a factory floor, or operate in a lab — devices that need to stay exactly the same for years and often aren’t connected to the internet. Like the regular Office 2024, it’s supported until 2029. However, it is typically sold through volume licensing and won’t get any of the new tools or features that Microsoft 365 or even the standard Office 2024 might get. For nearly all small businesses, Option 1 (Microsoft 365) or Option 2 (Office 2024) is the simpler and better choice. It’s not just Office — check these apps too This end-of-support announcement also affects other related Microsoft programs. It’s a great time to do a quick check-up on all your software. Make sure you have a plan to upgrade these if you use them: Project (2016 and 2019) Visio (2016 and 2019) Skype for Business (2016 and 2019) The same thinking also applies to other major products such as Windows 10 and Exchange Server 2016/2019, which are also at or near their end of support. Don’t wait for a problem, and make a plan today Your old Office software will keep working, but the risk of a security breach, data loss, or a major glitch is now very high. Switching systems can take time, so we recommend starting your upgrade plan now. Whether you choose the flexibility of Microsoft 365 or the simplicity of Office 2024, upgrading is a small step that protects your business from big problems. Contact our experts today for help.
Copilot Chat now part of Microsoft 365: What you need to know
Microsoft has officially embedded Copilot Chat into its 365 suite — free of charge. It now lives as a side panel in your documents and spreadsheets, ready to help with writing, number crunching, and brainstorming on demand. Let’s unpack how this integration works, what’s new inside the free tier, and why it matters for modern workplaces. What’s changing with the Copilot Chat Integration? Previously, access to Copilot Chat required a separate application or a paid add-on. Under that model, users or businesses needed to purchase an upgrade, leaving many unable to access AI features without an extra expense. Earlier versions of Copilot also operated in separate windows or standalone apps, forcing users to switch windows. Now, the assistant appears as a built-in side panel inside familiar apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. This contextual interface means Copilot can “see” what you’re working on and respond accordingly. For instance, it can suggest rewrites or summaries in Word, analyze selected data in Excel, and draft quick responses in Outlook. Capabilities and features of Copilot Chat The free integration offers a wide range of intelligent features, including: Drafting and editing: Compose, rewrite, or refine content directly inside your document. Summarizing: Condense long text, emails, or notes into digestible summaries. Analyzing data: Identify trends, generate formulas, or create charts in Excel. Transforming content: Turn text into lists, tables, or slides instantly. Brainstorming and ideation: Generate ideas or outlines for reports, projects, or presentations. Image upload support: Ask Copilot to interpret charts, diagrams, or screenshots. Capacity for larger prompt inputs: Type longer, more natural questions and requests. Upgraded model performance: The integration leverages ChatGPT-5 for improved accuracy, fluency, and contextual understanding. What remains behind the paywall While current Microsoft 365 users can access a wide range of Copilot Chat features, certain high-level functions remain exclusive to premium tiers: Cross-app intelligence: Paid versions allow Copilot to pull insights across multiple Microsoft 365 apps and shared data sources. Advanced automation and agents: Custom workflows and AI-driven task sequences stay premium-only. Priority processing: Faster response times and larger usage limits are reserved for paid subscribers. Enterprise-grade compliance and data governance: Businesses needing deeper audit trails and control features will still require a premium plan. Extended memory and conversation history: Free users get shorter context windows, while premium users benefit from persistent memory across sessions. How this shift can transform workflows Embedding Copilot Chat directly into Microsoft 365 lowers the barrier to everyday AI adoption. Users no longer need a separate app or license to get meaningful AI assistance. That means faster document drafting, quicker insights, and smoother collaboration across teams. For businesses, it gives an immediate productivity boost built right into the tools they already use. If you’d like to learn more about how Microsoft 365’s new Copilot Chat can streamline your operations or boost productivity across your team, contact us today for expert guidance on setup, adoption, and actionable steps.
Supercharge your note-taking with Copilot in OneNote
OneNote just got smarter. Discover how Microsoft Copilot’s integration can transform your note-taking process, making it faster, more efficient, and more organized. From summarizing meetings to turning notes into visuals, here are nine practical ways to make the most of Copilot’s capabilities. Summarize and simplify notes Copilot can condense your notes into digestible summaries. Whether it’s a single page or an entire notebook, Copilot quickly identifies the key points so you can quickly distill valuable insights. With everything neatly sorted, managing your notes across multiple pages or sections becomes much easier. To turn meeting notes into a concise summary, simply highlight your notes, and ask Copilot to summarize the main points, agenda items, and discussions. Easily keep notes organized It can be challenging to manage notes across multiple pages or sections. Copilot makes organizing effortless by automatically sorting your pages by creation date, topic, or other criteria. Just let it know your preferences, and it will suggest a neat, organized structure for you to approve. Create custom templates for meeting notes If you hold regular meetings, Copilot can quickly generate a template with predefined sections such as agenda, action items, and meeting notes so your meetings are consistently well-structured and documented. This means you can focus on the meeting itself, not on creating the same templates every time. Turn notes into study materials Preparing for a test, meeting, or presentation? Copilot can scan your notes and pull out key concepts. It can even create flashcards or quizzes to help you retain the most important information, giving you an easy way to study directly from your OneNote pages. Generate visuals from notes Copilot can convert your notes into visuals that simplify complex information. For example, it can create graphs to track sales performance, generate mind maps to organize ideas, and produce visual comparisons to spot trends and forecast outcomes. Search and cite external sources Copilot isn’t limited to your notebook; it can also pull in external information from the web. Whether you’re searching for the latest statistics, definitions, or industry news, Copilot can instantly find credible sources and cite them for you in popular formats such as APA or MLA. This is particularly useful for writing research papers or white papers, blogs, business proposals, and other professional documentation that require hard evidence. Convert notes to Excel, Word, or PowerPoint OneNote’s content is versatile, and Copilot helps you unlock its full potential. If you want to convert your notes into a more formal document such as a Word report, an Excel spreadsheet, or a PowerPoint presentation, Copilot can do the heavy lifting. Just give it a prompt, and it will format everything according to your preferences. Brainstorm ideas with Copilot Copilot is perfect for sparking your creativity when you’re planning an online event, crafting a marketing campaign, or tackling other complex projects. It can provide suggestions, help you think through challenges, and even create mind maps to bring clarity and structure to your ideas. Translate notes into multiple languages With Copilot, you can easily translate your OneNote pages into various languages, making it easy to collaborate with international teams or communicate with clients across the globe. Simply highlight the text and command Copilot to translate it into the language you need. For more tips and insights on how to maximize Copilot’s potential, reach out to our IT experts and discover how we can help you optimize your Microsoft experience.
Tips for connecting apps to Microsoft 365 for seamless productivity
This blog post explores the magic behind Microsoft 365 Connectors and how they unify multiple platforms into a single, streamlined interface. From automated updates to real-time team collaboration, find out how your organization can stay in perfect sync. How Microsoft 365 Connectors function Microsoft 365 Groups Connectors help businesses easily link different applications and services with their Microsoft Groups feed. This enables users to access information from external sources such as Twitter, Trello, and Slack without switching between tabs in their web browsers. To illustrate, right within Outlook, connector cards enable you to see and interact with your team’s Trello activities. You’d be able to quickly and easily input comments on a Trello event card and even assign new tasks. In addition, Connectors provide notifications about events and changes via pop-up messages or emails. This leads to improved communication across the team. The Connectors feature also allows users to customize the frequency of emails and updates, which will help them keep their Outlook inbox neat and organized. The powerful integration capabilities of Microsoft 365 Groups connectors make it easier than ever to keep everyone on the same page, regardless of the system or platform being used. Configuring a connector Microsoft 365 lets users develop, configure, and share their own connectors across their organization. As soon as a connector is configured for the group, it will be accessible to other members. However, only the one who set up the particular connector can modify its settings. Connectors also enables businesses to embed a “Connect to Microsoft 365” button on sites. Users can use this button to connect with customized services. In essence, this turns your Microsoft 365 client into a centralized hub for third-party apps, allowing your team to connect and collaborate more easily. Accessing connectors Keep your Microsoft 365 Groups connected with essential services and apps by using connectors: Select a Group from your Outlook page. At the top of the page, click on the “Connectors” tab. Select the applications and services best suited for your group, then integrate them with any Outlook groups you have. The Groups app from Microsoft is just one example of how easy it is to integrate various software tools to improve workplace productivity. If you’re interested in learning about what Microsoft apps can do for your business, don’t hesitate to contact our team of IT experts today. We would be happy to discuss the many benefits of using Microsoft products and help you find the best solution for your needs.
Beyond the basics: Mastering essential Excel features in Microsoft 365
Excel has always been a powerful tool for anyone working with data, and with Microsoft 365, it has only become even better. Whether you’re handling financial reports, analyzing trends, or simply organizing information, the latest updates to Excel make it faster, more versatile, and collaborative. Here’s a guide to the most important new features you should take advantage of in Excel for Microsoft 365. Get things done faster with SEARCH If you’ve ever struggled to find a command in Excel’s Ribbon, the SEARCH feature is a game-changer. Simply type what you need, such as “pivot table” or “sum,” and Excel will show you the best options to get started. It also remembers your previous searches, making frequent tasks more accessible. Managing complex spreadsheets then becomes significantly easier and more efficient, helping you save valuable time. Explore advanced chart types Visualizing data is crucial; that’s why Microsoft has introduced a range of new chart types to help you display your information more effectively. From treemaps (perfect for hierarchical data) to waterfall charts (ideal for financial statements), Excel now offers a variety of ways to see your data come to life. These chart types can help you uncover insights that might otherwise go unnoticed, such as revenue trends or sales patterns. Real-time collaboration The era of exchanging Excel files through endless email chains is over. With Microsoft 365, your team can collaborate simultaneously on the same spreadsheet. As long as the file is saved in SharePoint or OneDrive, your team can work together in real time. You’ll see exactly what others are editing, and you can even leave comments inside cells to discuss changes. Linked data types Excel’s linked data types are a powerful feature that lets you pull in real-time, updated information from the web directly into your spreadsheets. For example, if you’re tracking stock prices, you can enter a company’s ticker symbol, and Excel will automatically fetch the latest stock price. The data in these cells updates regularly, so there’s no need to manually update figures. Dynamic arrays for smarter formulas Dynamic arrays are one of the most exciting additions to Excel for Microsoft 365. These formulas allow you to return multiple results from a single calculation. The FILTER function, for instance, can be used to pull only certain data from a list. As your data changes, the dynamic arrays adjust automatically, making them perfect for ever-changing datasets. Version History and AutoSave Losing your work is probably the most nerve-wracking thing about working on spreadsheets. Fear no more. With AutoSave enabled on files stored in OneDrive, SharePoint, or OneDrive for Business, your changes are saved automatically. If anything goes wrong, Version History lets you easily restore an earlier version of your file. You can review, compare, and recover past versions whenever you need to, giving you complete control and peace of mind. Sheet Views for custom filtering Team members often need to look at data in different ways because of their unique roles or perspectives. With Sheet Views, Excel allows you to create custom filtered or sorted views of your worksheet without affecting the rest of your team’s view. Whether you’re analyzing sales data or project timelines, this feature makes it easy to personalize your experience while keeping everyone else’s work intact. 3D maps to visualize geospatial data For those working with geographical data, Excel’s 3D Maps feature provides an interactive way to display and analyze information on a three-dimensional globe. This feature is great for presenting sales or demographic data across regions and allows you to see patterns that are much harder to spot in flat spreadsheets. Microsoft 365 Copilot For users who subscribe to Microsoft 365 Copilot, Excel now includes an AI assistant that can help you generate charts, summarize data, and even suggest formulas. While it’s still in its early stages, Copilot can offer guidance for users who may not be Excel experts. However, don’t expect it to replace the experience of manually crafting detailed analyses just yet. For more Microsoft 365 tips and technology insights, contact our knowledgeable team. We’re always ready to assist you.
Unlock efficiency with Microsoft Power Automate
Running a small business often means wearing many hats. You’re handling sales, marketing, customer service, and a lot more. It can get overwhelming, and you might find yourself doing the same tedious tasks day after day. But what if there is a way to free up some of your precious time and focus on growing your business? Enter Microsoft Power Automate, a handy tool that acts like your digital assistant, automating those repetitive tasks so you don’t have to keep doing them yourself. What is Microsoft Power Automate? Think of Power Automate as a helpful robot that lives in the cloud and can be trained to do all sorts of routine tasks for you automatically. It works based on two main things: triggers and actions. A trigger is like a starting signal; it tells the robot when to begin. For example, a trigger could be “when a new email arrives” or “when a new customer fills out a form on your website.” Once the trigger happens, the robot performs one or more actions. An action is a specific task, such as “save the email attachment to a folder” or “add the customer’s information to a spreadsheet.” The great thing is that you don’t need to be a computer whiz to set up these automated workflows. Power Automate offers many ready-made templates for common tasks, and you can also create your own custom workflows without writing a single line of code. Power Automate key features Power Automate comes packed with features designed to make automation accessible. Here are some of the key components that make it so user-friendly: Connectors – Connectors allow Power Automate to communicate and work with various apps and services you likely already use, such as email platforms, file storage services, and online forms. Templates – Power Automate offers a library of templates, which are prebuilt workflows for common tasks. Basically, they’re ready-made recipes for automation, such as automatically saving tweets to a spreadsheet or sending a welcome email to new subscribers. Drag-and-drop simplicity – Creating your own automated workflows is surprisingly easy. Simply pick the trigger you want and then drag and connect the actions you want to happen afterward. Different ways to automate – Power Automate gives you different types of (work)flows to choose from: Automated flows – These start automatically when something happens, such as when you receive a new email. Instant flows – You can start these yourself with the click of a button on your computer or phone. Scheduled flows – These run automatically on a schedule you set, such as daily or weekly reports. Getting started with Power Automate If you have a Microsoft account, you can use Power Automate for free on a limited basis to explore some of its capabilities. However, if you want to access key connectors and more advanced tools to really streamline your operations, you may need a paid subscription. The good news is that Power Automate is often included with most Microsoft 365 enterprise plans, so your business might already have access to it. It’s worth checking with your IT administrator or exploring your Microsoft 365 subscription details. If it’s not included, separate Power Automate plans are available, starting at $15 per user per month. Once you have access, just look for the Power Automate app online. You’ll see a dashboard where you can browse the templates to find ready-made automations that suit your needs. If you want to create something unique, head to the “Create” section. You can start from a blank canvas or choose a connector, or the app or service you want to automate something with. The process usually involves selecting a trigger and then adding one or more actions. You can test your flow as you build it to make sure it works correctly. If something isn’t quite right, Power Automate usually provides helpful tips for troubleshooting. Simple ways you can use Power Automate To give you a better idea of how Power Automate can directly benefit your small business, here are a few simple and practical examples: Automated email management – Set triggers to send important email attachments straight to a specific folder, making them easy to find later. File syncing – Automatically copy files between different cloud storage services, such as OneDrive and Dropbox, so your files are always backed up and accessible. Form data collection – If you use online forms to collect customer information, you can automatically save that data to a spreadsheet or database without manual entry. Social media management – Get notifications for new social media mentions or even schedule basic posts (depending on the platform’s connectors). Don’t be intimidated by the word “automate.” With its user-friendly interface and helpful templates, Power Automate can become your secret weapon for boosting efficiency and reclaiming your valuable time. Why not take a few minutes to explore what it can do for you? You can also give our experts a call for more help or information.
Increasing business efficiency with Microsoft 365 Copilot AI agents
AI (artificial intelligence) has come a long way from its early days of powering chatbots and automated emails. With Microsoft’s new Copilot Studio, the evolution continues through AI agents designed to function as digital coworkers that proactively manage tasks and offer smart solutions. This article explains how it works and why it matters for businesses. What are Microsoft 365 Copilot agents? In Microsoft 365 Copilot, agents are AI-driven digital entities built using Microsoft Copilot Studio. Unlike traditional AI assistants that rely on direct prompts, agents are multi-turn, task-oriented, and capable of handling complex business logic. Think of them as guided workflows that can respond, decide, and even take action, making them closer to a virtual team member than a support bot. For example, a company’s finance department could deploy an agent that receives vendor invoice queries, verifies payment status against internal systems, and initiates follow-ups all without human intervention. What makes AI agents a step above simple macros or workflows, which finance teams normally use, is that their decisions and actions are completely autonomous, rooted in data, logic, and context. Benefits of enabling agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot Enabling agents improves automation to the Microsoft 365 environment, offering users the following benefits: Scalable assistance: Agents can manage repetitive or time-consuming queries, freeing up staff to focus on higher-value tasks. Domain-specific expertise: Organizations can design agents for specific workflows such as HR onboarding, IT support, procurement, etc. Contextual interaction: Rather than reacting in isolation, agents pull from your data ecosystem (e.g., SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, internal APIs) to provide grounded, meaningful responses. A support agent, for instance, might access ticket histories, user permissions, and company policies to triage an IT issue before escalating it, something traditional chatbots can’t do effectively. Understanding agent consumption Microsoft is introducing a consumption-based pricing model for agents. Instead of paying a flat rate per user or per month, organizations are billed based on actual usage, measured in messages. A message refers to an interaction between a user and an agent (whether initiated directly or indirectly). This flexible model allows early users to start small and scale as agents integrate into daily operations. Businesses with specific workflows or seasonal needs can use agents without high upfront costs. Classic and generative answers: Two modes of response Agents can respond using two main types of outputs: Classic answers: These are rule-based, deterministic responses driven by decision trees or flows defined by the developer. They’re reliable for consistent, structured tasks like policy queries or form completions. Generative answers: These use large language models to formulate responses dynamically. They’re particularly useful when users ask open-ended or nuanced questions where a classic answer doesn’t suffice. For example, a generative agent might summarize key updates from multiple meeting transcripts stored in Microsoft Teams, while a classic agent might simply provide a prewritten policy explanation. Both types of answers can coexist within an agent, depending on the use case, which allows for a more personalized and versatile user experience. Grounding messages with tenant data One of the standout capabilities of Copilot agents is tenant graph grounding, which means the agent’s responses are rooted in your organization’s internal data as well as generic web knowledge. Tenant Graph Grounding enables agents to pull contextually relevant insights from your Microsoft Graph, including user calendars, emails, documents, shared chats, and more. This makes the agent’s replies hyper-relevant and less prone to errors or misunderstandings. Imagine asking an agent, “What’s the latest update on the Q2 marketing campaign?” Instead of giving a vague answer, the agent might pull recent planning docs from SharePoint, quote an email from the campaign lead, and even suggest next steps based on recent meetings. Currently, Microsoft is rolling out autonomous AI agents in paid preview, with broader availability expected soon. So if you want to take your productivity and collaboration to the next level, keep an eye out for this exciting new feature. For more exciting updates about Microsoft developments, our experts can help you stay ahead of the curve and even assist you with implementing these new features in your business.
Harnessing the full potential of Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot and other AI tools are changing how people work, research, and create. But are you using these tools to their full potential? This guide provides tips to get the best results from Copilot, whether you’re summarizing information, drafting content, or creating AI-powered images. Use Copilot to summarize web pages If you’re browsing with Microsoft Edge, Copilot can summarize web pages for you. Just click the Copilot icon and select Create a summary to get a concise version of lengthy articles. This feature is incredibly useful when conducting research, as it helps you quickly grasp the key points without reading through entire pages. For an even more refined summary, you can customize the output by asking Copilot to highlight specific aspects, such as: Key statistics and data points Main arguments and conclusions Counterpoints and alternative perspectives Generate first drafts quickly Struggling with writer’s block? Copilot can help jump-start your writing process by generating structured, high-quality drafts. Whether you need an email, a blog post, a report, or a presentation, simply provide a detailed prompt and specify the desired tone (e.g., formal, casual, or professional) to get the words flowing. To make the most of this feature: Provide clear, specific instructions for better results. Include key points or ideas you want covered. Indicate formatting preferences, such as bullet points or paragraph structure. Additionally, Copilot can suggest alternative phrasing, improve readability, and format text in specific ways, such as outlines, making your writing process smoother and more efficient. Sign in for a personalized experience While you can use Copilot without signing in, logging in with your Microsoft account unlocks additional features, enabling the AI to better tailor responses according to your needs. Benefits of signing in include: Access to past conversations – Pick up where you left off across multiple sessions. Extended voice chat durations – Engage in longer, more detailed discussions. Cross-device synchronization – Seamlessly continue interactions across different platforms. Personalized settings also allow Copilot to refine its responses based on your history, improving accuracy and relevance. Use Think Deeper for in-depth analysis For those needing more than just a basic answer, Copilot’s Think Deeper feature enhances responses by breaking down complex queries into well-structured, insightful explanations. This tool is particularly useful for analyzing multifaceted problems, conducting comparative research, and seeking detailed step-by-step guidance. Enabling Think Deeper provides thorough responses that may include: Pros and cons of different solutions Case studies and real-world examples Expert opinions and industry best practices Create AI-generated images Copilot isn’t limited to text-based assistance; it can generate custom images as well. Whether you need illustrations for presentations, marketing materials, or creative projects, Copilot can generate it for you with a simple prompt and description of the image you need. To get the best results: Provide a detailed description, including color, style, and composition. Refine the generated images by adjusting prompts or requesting variations. Download high-quality visuals for professional use. Microsoft Copilot is a game-changing tool, but unlocking its full potential requires a deep understanding of its features. For expert guidance on getting the most out of Microsoft products and other tech solutions, reach out to our IT specialists today.
Unlocking the full potential of Outlook in Microsoft 365
Managing your emails doesn’t need to be overwhelming. With Outlook in Microsoft 365, you can effortlessly organize your inbox, simplify scheduling, and communicate more efficiently than ever. Classic Outlook vs. new Outlook Microsoft offers two versions of Outlook: classic Outlook and new Outlook. The former is the current version bundled with Microsoft 365, while the latter is intended to replace the built-in Windows Mail and Calendar apps. Although the new Outlook is available for testing, it currently lacks some key business features. So for now, it’s best to stick with classic Outlook, which Microsoft will support until at least 2029 Key features to improve your Outlook experience in Microsoft 365 Take full advantage of the following Outlook features in Microsoft 365: Customizing the ribbon toolbar Outlook’s ribbon toolbar, which provides access to various features, comes in two styles: Simplified and Classic. The Simplified Ribbon, the default interface, offers a sleek design that highlights frequently used tools for a more streamlined experience. Meanwhile, the Classic Ribbon — familiar to long-time Outlook users — offers a complete view of all available options. To switch between these views, click the downward-pointing caret (˅) in the bottom right corner of the Ribbon and select either Simplified Ribbon or Classic Ribbon. You can also customize the Ribbon by selecting File > Options > Customize Ribbon, where you can add or remove tabs and commands. To hide the Ribbon for more screen space, press Ctrl + F1 or click the caret at the far right to toggle between different display modes. Using the search bar beyond finding emails Outlook’s search bar does more than just locate emails. It also helps you access Outlook functions quickly. This feature replaces the Tell Me function found in Outlook 2016 and 2019. To use Outlook’s search bar, either click on the search box or press Alt + Q, then type a command such as “filter email” to filter messages by unread status, attachments, importance, and more. Compared to navigating through menus, using the search bar is a faster, more efficient way to access less common features. Plus, the search bar remembers your previous searches, making it easy to find your most-used tools. Researching without leaving Outlook Outlook allows you to perform web searches directly within the app, eliminating the need to switch between windows. Just highlight a word or phrase in any email, right-click, and select Search. Outlook will then use Bing to display definitions, Wikipedia entries, images, and other web results in a pane on the right. Take note that you need to enable Microsoft’s Intelligent Services to use this built-in search feature. Enabling Focused Inbox Struggling with email overload? Focused Inbox is here to help. Powered by artificial intelligence, this feature organizes your inbox by separating essential emails from less critical ones, letting you sift through the noise. To turn on Focused Inbox, go to the View tab and click Show Focused Inbox. Outlook will create two tabs: Focused (for high-priority messages) and Other (for general emails). Train Focused Inbox by moving messages between tabs or setting rules for specific senders. If Focused Inbox doesn’t suit your workflow, you can disable it anytime by selecting View > Show Focused Inbox. Using the Archive folder for a cleaner inbox Rather than deleting emails, try using the Archive feature to clear your inbox while keeping messages easily accessible. Archiving is perfect for emails you’ve already addressed but may need to reference later. There are three ways to archive emails. After selecting the emails you want to archive, you can click Archive on the Home tab, press the Backspace key, or drag them into the Archive folder. You can retrieve archived emails anytime by browsing the Archive folder or using the Search function. If you’d like to move an email to another folder, just drag and drop it to your desired location. Attaching files the smart way Outlook simplifies file attachments by displaying your 12 most recently used files. Simply click the Attach icon and choose from the suggested list. You can choose to attach the file itself or include a link to it, which is especially useful for files stored in the cloud. If the file you want to attach isn’t in the recent list, you can browse your PC or web locations such as OneDrive and SharePoint. With these Outlook features, you can organize your inbox, automate repetitive tasks, and improve your productivity. For more tips on getting the most out of Outlook, Microsoft 365, and other tech tools, turn to our IT experts.
Microsoft 365 Copilot: Flexible purchase options for SMBs
Microsoft 365 Copilot offers a suite of tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that can revolutionize the way you work. From automating tasks to generating creative content, Copilot can help your team achieve more in less time. Discover three new ways to purchase Copilot and unlock its potential for your small or medium-sized business (SMB). What is Microsoft 365 Copilot? Microsoft 365 Copilot integrates advanced AI tools directly into familiar Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. By using your SMB’s data, it streamlines processes, enhances creativity, and helps employees focus on strategic tasks. It’s an all-in-one solution to empower teams and drive growth. At Microsoft Ignite 2024, Microsoft announced exciting updates, including enhancements to Copilot Studio, Copilot Actions, and the Copilot Control System. Combined with greater purchasing flexibility, these features make Microsoft 365 Copilot a must-have for SMBs. 3 New purchasing options for Microsoft 365 Copilot To make Microsoft 365 Copilot more accessible, Microsoft introduced three new ways to purchase it: 1. Monthly billing for annual subscriptions For SMBs managing tight budgets or fluctuating cash flows, upfront annual payments can be straining. To address this, Microsoft now offers monthly billing for annual-term subscriptions. This allows businesses to: Spread costs over manageable monthly payments Align AI investment with monthly revenue cycles Avoid large upfront expenses This option is available for various Microsoft 365 Copilot subscriptions, including Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales and Microsoft 365 Copilot for Service. 2. Self-service purchasing Microsoft has also introduced a self-service purchase option, enabling business users to buy Microsoft 365 Copilot directly for their existing plans. This straightforward process allows users to: Use a credit card to add Copilot to their plan Start using the AI features immediately Notify administrators about the purchase for seamless management Admins can monitor and manage these self-service purchases through the Microsoft admin center, ensuring proper oversight while empowering teams to adopt AI tools quickly. 3. In-app purchases and license requests Microsoft further simplifies Copilot license purchasing and management by integrating these processes directly within the applications you use every day. Soon, users will be able to: Purchase Copilot licenses while signed in to Microsoft applications Request licenses directly from administrators when needed Admins can approve or assign unused licenses through the admin center, providing businesses with greater scalability and convenience in managing AI tools. Getting started with Microsoft 365 Copilot Microsoft 365 Copilot is designed to integrate seamlessly into your daily work environment. It adheres to enterprise-level data protection and governance standards, ensuring security and compliance. Additionally, tools such as the Copilot Prompt Gallery, Copilot Dashboard, and Copilot Academy help businesses maximize the value of their investment. Here’s how to get started: Explore the new purchasing options to find the best fit for your SMB. Reach out to a Microsoft Cloud Solution Partner for assistance or guidance. Take advantage of resources such as the Copilot Success Kit for SMBs to streamline adoption. Take the first step toward transforming your business with Microsoft 365 Copilot. Get in touch with us today to explore the new purchasing options and the benefits of this powerful AI tool.