It pays to be ahead of the curve when it comes to business software. Forbes reports that 25% of all professional jobs will be remote by the end of 2022, and that number is expected to rise in years to come. Remote work has made the modern office more efficient in many ways, but it also presents unique challenges to a large and interconnected team. Microsoft has been hard at work designing cutting-edge applications to meet and exceed these challenges.
What Sets Newer Business Software Apart From Older Software?
New software has the power to streamline workflow and boost productivity across dozens of diverse industries. Microsoft Azure’s cloud integration, for example, makes data easily accessible across global sectors without compromising security. That said, updating the digital landscape of an enterprise-level business is no small task. The experts at Horizons Consulting, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, are important allies for businesses looking to update their digital infrastructure. With emerging technology, consultants can customize a plan for even the most complex businesses or Mergers & Acquisition scenarios.
Why is it important to level up your business’s software? There are hundreds of possible answers. One particularly exciting facet of Microsoft’s newest products is integrated AI technology.
How Does Microsoft 365 Use AI To Enhance Business Software?
Artificial intelligence may have a presence in sci-fi, but its most practical applications aren’t robotic minds or sentient beings. Instead, most AI technology handles simple organizational tasks. It can also help point out trends in data analytics and even provide smoother video calls. Here are three ways Microsoft is leveraging innovative AI in their latest software.
1. Context IQ
Microsoft has branded many of its AI innovations in Microsoft 365 as “Context IQ.” This system makes smart suggestions during a busy professional’s workday. These suggestions save time on minor tasks such as looking for files or notifying relevant departments.
How does it work? Context IQ uses context (what the employee is currently doing) as well as patterns gathered from every employee’s data and application usage to make these suggestions.
Context IQ is now a part of Microsoft Editor, a real-time business writing tool similar to Grammarly or Pro Writing Aid. While Microsoft Editor provides grammar and spelling suggestions in over 20 different languages, Context IQ offers suggestions for relevant files to attach or coworkers to tag. This can make replying to emails and composing documents much faster in any industry.
2. Dynamics 365 Analytics
In oversimplified terms, AI is great at identifying patterns and weaker at abstract reasoning. That makes AI technology ideal for gathering and processing data before it meets human eyes for deeper analysis.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 uses AI as a preliminary sweep to organize raw data into more accessible and readable formats. This technology is especially important in consumer industries, as understanding consumer trends and demographics is key to all decision making. Consumer trends change rapidly, so using AI to speed up the data analysis process keeps a business one step ahead of the market. AI can also flag fraud or theft patterns in sales data before a widespread problem emerges.
3. Microsoft Teams Video Calls
A simple but critical use of AI in the workplace is making video calls more seamless and accessible. Time spent adjusting audio or video settings in calls cuts deeply into productivity over the course of a year.
AI technology in Microsoft Teams separates background noise from speaker audio. This means that annoying noises such as microphone echoes, barking dogs, traffic or alarms won’t disrupt virtual meetings for remote workers. Advanced software can also make adjustments to brightness and video settings automatically.
Context IQ makes an appearance in Microsoft Teams as well. Its AI language capabilities can transcribe meetings for review. This technology can even offer real-time suggestions on sales calls based on data it’s currently collecting.
What Business Software Developments Might Be Next?
Microsoft has announced more plans to integrate AI technology into its software suite. More broadly, trends in business technology aim to streamline the work experience. This means using comprehensive systems to eliminate the glut of applications many businesses use to cover technological gaps. This may usher in a new and improved digital work landscape ideal for global businesses.