The COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to shift to remote work, and some were left scrambling to invest in the right technology to support their new work environment. Now restrictions have lessened in regional areas and businesses are adapting to the conditions, many companies are opting to continue remote working practices.

In order to support long-term remote working, companies need to choose the right tools and technology to seamlessly connect their employees and help them stay productive. Keep reading to learn about Microsoft Lists, the ultimate tool for organising packed workloads.

Lists is integrated into Microsoft Teams and available for all customers as of September 2020. The Lists app, embedded within Microsoft 365, enables users to track information, organise work streams, and build custom to-do lists. Employees can collaborate and communicate effortlessly, regardless of location.

Lists can offer solutions for organisations that have remained busy and active (or have ramped up again) during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also adjusting to a new way of working. The benefits of remote working are apparent for many businesses, including less time spent commuting, flexible working hours, and increased communication through technology. As businesses attempt to capitalise on these benefits, they need the proper tools to support their teams and increase productivity.

Lists offers the productivity features that many businesses seek, designed to keep teams focused and on the same page. Key benefits of Microsoft Lists include:

• Integration within Teams: Direct integration with Microsoft software and the Teams app enables companies to work without disruption across their existing platforms. Microsoft Lists fits perfectly with the tools your team already uses every day.

• Quick lists: Creating lists within Teams takes no more than a few clicks. Custom lists help organise your projects, events, assets, and more.

• Easy collaboration: Microsoft Lists and Teams can be viewed side by side. Rules, reminders, and comments help you track the most important aspects of any project and keep everyone in sync.

• List templates: Pre-made templates help you generate lists in seconds. Get a jumpstart with a ready-made template and then share your list with relevant people in one click.

• Custom lists: You are not confined to the templates within Microsoft Lists. Create custom lists to meet the unique needs of your team and view the lists in the way you prefer. Form elements can be configured, and you can use conditional formatting to highlight the most important details.

• Issue tracker: Keep track of issues and resolve them quickly. You can set priorities within your list to closely manage outstanding items or issues. Notifications help your team stay on track and properly assign issues as needed.

• Onboarding checklist: Onboarding a new employee remotely can be a struggle. Create an onboarding checklist to serve as a guide for all new employees to make sure they start with success.

• Asset manager: Keeping a track of hardware and assets when employees are in different locations can be complicated. Create a record of all physical assets, detailing who is in possession of each item, items in repair, and check-out logs.

There are valuable industry-specific tools built into the Lists app to meet sector-specific needs. Healthcare organisations can use Microsoft Lists to track patient progress; government-focused templates enable departments to track and respond to incidents, and marketing teams can create detailed content schedules that suit their methods.

With custom lists, you can create templates that work for your industry. From event planning tools to custom productivity apps, Microsoft Lists has a wide range of applications. No matter your industry or company size, you can organise your work and stay in sync from anywhere.

New updates are rolling out every month, and it can be tricky to stay on top of the latest tools and features. Make sure you are getting the most out of your Microsoft Teams app by reaching out to our team and letting us talk you through the features. We can help you stay up to date with the latest developments and help identify which tools are useful specifically for your business.

The workplace has changed dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Organisations have been forced to adopt a remote culture in order to survive. Office workers have been forced to work from their homes to stay safe. Microsoft Teams, already a ground-breaking collaboration tool, has become even more paramount for millions of organisations around the world.

In 2019, Teams was already enjoying a whopping 32 million daily active users. That figure more than doubled in a matter of months following the arrival of the pandemic, and remote working became the ‘new normal’. Teams for remote working is a perfect match, but how can it support businesses in unifying remote and office working?

The pandemic isn’t disappearing at any rate yet, and social distancing is likely to be required for the next few years. Many organisations have found that remote working doesn’t hinder employee performance; quite the opposite in fact. For organisations capable of operating online, remote working should be embedded in their strategy and culture for the long-term.

Teams supports remote working seamlessly, but also provides the distinct ability to integrate and connect remote and office workers. For those looking to return to the office or enjoy the best of both working worlds, Microsoft Teams can offer you sustainable flexibility.

Teams integrates fully with the Microsoft 365 suite, giving users a familiar experience, regardless of location, that they will have already become accustomed to with Windows. Employees can switch seamlessly between office and remote, and with the ability to blur camera backgrounds, employees no longer need to worry about where they are in the house or what’s behind them. Whether in the office, at home or on the train, your employees will have the same working experience.

The last six months have been trying for employees and businesses in almost every industry. It seems that there is no perfection solution when it comes to adapting your operations during a pandemic. The beauty of Teams is that, although it might not suit every organisation, you can tailor the software based on your preferences and build a more personalised system.

Microsoft is committed to developing Teams in line with the future of working; every month, new features that support a hybrid working style are being added to the ever-popular collaboration hub. It’s comforting to know that Teams has Microsoft’s enterprise grade security behind it and sits securely inside the Microsoft 365 protective layer.

Key features for hybrid working:

• Full integration with Microsoft 365
• A proven track record for flexible working
• On-the-go, seamless switching from office to remote
• Mobile app, desktop app and web access
• Wireless hardware compatibility
• Regular updates and new features focused on flexible working

There are a few similar products available on the market that, like Teams, offer collaboration and connectivity through software. In truth, few come close to being able to offer the integration, security and connectivity that Teams provides. Microsoft Teams gives users and businesses the opportunity to digitally transform their workspace, removing the pressure of full-time office working and giving employees the flexibility to work anywhere, on any device in the cloud.

Talk to us today to find out how you can achieve a hybrid working style with Teams.