At this time, we embark on the subsequent chapter of the Microsoft Groups story with the general public preview of the brand new Microsoft Groups app for Home windows.
From its inception in 2017, our imaginative and prescient for Groups has all the time been to convey collectively all of your communication and collaboration instruments in a single place, from chat and conferences to apps and recordsdata. Whether or not used for work, college, or life, over 280 million individuals depend on Groups each month to remain productive and related with colleagues, companions, prospects, pals, and household. Groups has additionally enabled wonderful innovation from third-party unbiased software program distributors (ISVs), company builders, and system integrators—leading to over 1,900 apps within the retailer in addition to over 100,000 customized apps that combine seamlessly with the Groups platform. These functions, when mixed with a broad ecosystem of Groups licensed gadgets and rooms, enable you keep productive and within the circulate of labor.
Now we have been listening to your suggestions which has culminated in a reimagining of Groups from the bottom up. The brand new app is constructed on a basis of velocity, efficiency, flexibility, and intelligence—delivering as much as two occasions sooner efficiency whereas utilizing 50 p.c much less reminiscence so it can save you time and collaborate extra effectively. Now we have additionally streamlined the person expertise in order that it’s less complicated to make use of and simpler to seek out all the pieces in a single place. These enhancements additionally present the inspiration for game-changing new AI-powered experiences, akin to Copilot for Microsoft Groups, introduced earlier this month.1
Whereas we have now already been making a gradual stream of enhancements within the current Groups apps, the largest breakthroughs will solely be accessible with new Groups. Beneath is a abstract of essentially the most vital areas of enchancment however you’ll be able to deep dive into the total checklist in our Tech Neighborhood weblog.
The brand new Microsoft Groups: Sooner, less complicated, extra versatile, and smarter
Sooner. Our North Star for brand new Groups is to make it twice as quick whereas utilizing half the system assets. To attain this, we have now made a ground-up funding to overhaul the platform to optimize the information, community, chat, and video structure for velocity and efficiency. We’re not at all finished optimizing the efficiency of latest Groups, however we have now already seen very promising information even from the general public preview construct rolling out at this time. Now we have labored with the unbiased benchmarking agency GigaOm to quantify among the efficiency positive aspects, which reviews that each app launch and be part of assembly are already twice as quick, and reminiscence consumption has decreased by half when testing the brand new Groups preview in contrast with traditional Groups.2
Less complicated. We’re all the time on the lookout for methods to supply an easier but feature-rich expertise for our various and rising person base. That’s why we’re excited to roll out enhancements to the core Groups expertise that can make it simpler so that you can keep on high of your notifications, seek for data, handle your messages, and arrange your channels—all with fewer clicks. For extra data on the design journey of latest Groups, check out this weblog publish from Microsoft Design.
Extra versatile. We all know that a lot of our prospects have organizations that span a number of tenants and accounts. That’s why we have now made a significant funding in our help for these situations. Now we have improved our authentication mannequin, synchronization, and notification techniques to supply a seamless and constant expertise. For instance, many shoppers must collaborate with individuals throughout organizational boundaries, which typically means they use Groups throughout a number of tenants or accounts. As an alternative of logging out and in of various tenants and accounts, now you can keep signed in throughout all of them—receiving notifications irrespective of which one you’re presently utilizing.
Smarter. The brand new Groups would be the basis for next-generation AI experiences, together with these we’ve beforehand introduced, akin to clever recap and Copilot for Microsoft Groups. We are going to use AI to take the work out of working collectively by getting you up to the mark on what occurred earlier than you joined a gathering or chat and answering your questions all within the circulate of the dialogue. We’re solely simply starting to see the potential of AI within Groups, and we can have tons extra to share sooner or later.
We’re concentrating on the overall availability of latest Groups later this yr in 2023. Within the meantime, we encourage our business prospects utilizing Home windows to strive the general public preview, which is rolling out beginning at this time. We intend to increase the preview launch to a broader set of consumers, together with these utilizing Macs later this yr. Whereas customers in our Public Preview program can have entry to new Groups instantly, our broader set of business prospects will want an admin to first opt-in, after which customers will see a easy toggle to modify to the brand new Groups. You’ll additionally have the ability to change again to traditional Groups at any time.
Get began at this time
At this time marks the brand new period of Microsoft Groups, and we’re simply getting began. Because the world continues to evolve, Groups is right here to be your fashionable office. For a sneak peek of all the brand new experiences we’re constructing on new Groups, watch the video beneath.
Whereas new Groups is a giant leap ahead within the Groups journey, it’s not the one factor we’re asserting at this time. For a deep dive into the 50-plus extra new options coming to Groups, you should definitely take a look at this Tech Neighborhood weblog publish which summarizes all of the bulletins we’re making this week at Enterprise Join.
Thanks for utilizing Groups—we’re thrilled to introduce the sooner, less complicated, and extra versatile app beginning at this time. I’d encourage you to strive it out and share your ideas with us. We look ahead to listening to from you and serving to you get essentially the most out of Groups.
When you’re an admin, learn to allow the brand new Groups at this time.
1Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot—An entire new technique to work, Colette Stallbaumer, Microsoft 365 Weblog. March 16, 2023.