Microsoft has introduced a unified calendar experience across Outlook and Teams, making scheduling, organising, and managing meetings more seamless. This integration brings many powerful new features, allowing users to access advanced calendar functionalities directly within Teams. This is the latest in a raft of new changes that Microsoft has made to Teams and Microsoft 365. Have a look below at the key features of the Unified Microsoft 365 Calendar:
Key Features of the Unified Microsoft 365 Calendar
1. Enhanced Meeting Scheduling
The new Calendar app in Microsoft Teams enables quick and efficient meeting scheduling with an improved scheduling form and quick view. Users can easily set up meetings, leveraging enhanced options that streamline the process.
2. Advanced Calendar Views and Settings
The update introduces:
- Month View – Offering a broader perspective for better planning.
- Split View – Allowing users to view multiple calendars simultaneously.
- Customisable Time Scales – Tailor your calendar view to match your work style.
- Saved Views – Preserve your preferred layout for future use.
- Printing Capabilities – Easily print calendar views for offline reference.
3. Improved Meeting Management
Users can now access meeting artefacts directly from the calendar, including recaps of completed meetings. This ensures that key discussions, shared documents, and follow-up actions are easily retrievable.
4. Integrated Work Location & Weather Information
With integration from Microsoft Places, the Unified Calendar allows users to:
- Specify their work location (office, remote, hybrid) and view colleagues’ availability in the office.
- Access weather information based on their current location, ensuring better planning for travel and meetings.
5. Place Finder for Meeting Rooms
Finding the right meeting space is now more intuitive with Place Finder. This feature helps users:
- Switch between different office floors.
- View available room capabilities before booking.
6. Pop-Out Calendar for Multitasking
For enhanced productivity, the Teams Calendar can now be opened in a separate window. By right-clicking the Calendar icon, users can manage their schedule while working on other tasks.
7. Propose New Time Feature
This update brings Outlook’s popular “Propose New Time” feature to Teams, allowing meeting participants to suggest alternative times without disrupting workflows.
8. Join Meetings with Ease
The new command bar in Teams introduces primary actions, including:
- Meet Now – Instantly start a meeting.
- Join with ID – Enter a meeting ID to connect quickly.
A Unified Experience for Greater Efficiency
The Unified Microsoft 365 Calendar bridges the gap between Outlook and Teams, creating a more efficient and user-friendly scheduling experience. Whether managing personal schedules or coordinating with a team, these new enhancements bring greater flexibility, improved collaboration, and better time management.
Stay tuned for further updates as Microsoft continues to refine and improve the team’s experience!
