The Microsoft 365 monthly is a comprehensive look back at recently released features across Microsoft 365. You can take a look back at previous monthly updates here, plus take a look at our weekly roadmap roundup.
This month’s highlights include a new document processing model in Microsoft Syntex that leverages OCR and AI to identify primary language, key value pairs with more besides, Math Progress in Teams for Education to create assignments and provide insights into student performance,
SharePoint
Microsoft Syntex – simple document processing model
This new prebuilt model utilizes Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and AI to identify the primary language, key-value pairs, tables, selection marks, and barcodes in files. It can be configured to extract information for specific library columns and will be listed with other pre-built models like contracts and receipts. When enabled, it will show up as a new option in the menu. Additionally, it can provide the primary language for use in further content processing, such as document translation.
Note: Microsoft Syntex services are billed on a pay-as-you-go basis. These services use an Azure subscription for billing and track usage and cost with a Syntex meter.
Find out more: Use a prebuilt model to extract information from simple documents in Microsoft Syntex – Microsoft Syntex | Microsoft Learn
Filter search results by “Messages” in SharePoint
The Messages search feature from microsoft365.com will soon be available for organization-wide searches in Microsoft SharePoint, where search verticals act like tabs showing specific types of results, such as the Files vertical that helps users easily find documents. If you have disabled the Messages search vertical for microsoft365.com, the Messages search vertical will also be disabled in SharePoint.
This feature will begin rolling out early January 2025 and expect to complete by mid-January 2025.
Find out more: Manage search verticals | Microsoft Learn
SharePoint eSignature coming to Australia Pacific
Microsoft SharePoint eSignature simplifies the process of requesting eSignatures on PDFs in SharePoint Online, allowing signers to easily add their electronic signature and securely save the signed documents back to SharePoint. This feature will soon be available in Australia Pacific, with it already being available in the US, UK, Canada, and rolling out in Europe.
Find out more: Overview of SharePoint eSignature – Microsoft Syntex | Microsoft Learn
Teams
Intelligent recap in Teams for calls from chat and ‘Meet now’ meetings
Soon, AI-generated summaries will be available for unscheduled meetings, including impromptu calls from ‘Meet now’ and chat. Users can browse recordings by speakers and topics, and access AI-generated notes, tasks, and name mentions after the meeting.
Find out more: Intelligent meeting recap in Teams Premium, now available | Microsoft Community Hub
Ability to take control during screensharing on Web
This update enables meeting participants using the Microsoft Teams web app to use the “Take control” function to request control while another person is screen-sharing.
Find out more: Microsoft 365 Roadmap | Microsoft 365
Download Transcription and view RTMP-In 708 captions for Town hall and webinar
Event organizers can now download transcripts for their town hall or webinar instances. This update also adds support for displaying RTMP-In 708 captions in transcription. RTMP-In 708 captions are a closed captioning standard that provides enhanced captioning capabilities, including improved compatibility with modern digital video formats.
Find out more: Overview of meetings, webinars, and town halls – Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Learn
Whiteboard enhancements on Teams Rooms on Android
You can use the whiteboard during meetings or when working with colleagues offline. Your content is saved on the whiteboard even when a meeting starts. It is shared instantly with remote participants. The ‘Follow me’ function helps guide participants as you navigate, and collaborative cursors let you see everyone working together in real-time.
Find out more: Use Whiteboard in Teams meetings for Microsoft Teams Rooms – Microsoft Support
Microsoft Teams Call Quality Data (CQD) QER v5.0
To ensure high-quality calling experiences in Microsoft Teams, the Call Quality Dashboard (CQD) is essential for IT admins. Microsoft have developed and launched intelligent media quality classifiers for CQD, adding a valuable analysis tool for identifying call quality issues. These classifiers have also been integrated into the popular tool for admins using the call quality connector via Power BI Desktop: the Quality of Experience Report (QER), now at v5.0.
Intelligent media quality classifiers are advanced tools in CQD that use machine learning to assess the quality of audio, video, and video-based screen sharing (VBSS) streams. Unlike the legacy stream classifiers, which used basic rules to determine stream quality, intelligent classifiers provide a detailed analysis. They not only recognize good or poor streams but also uncover the root issues impacting call quality.
Find out more: Introducing intelligent media quality classifiers in Microsoft Teams Call Quality Data (CQD) QER v5.0! | Microsoft Community Hub
Math Progress in Teams for Education
Microsoft have announced that Math Progress, a new Learning Accelerator, is now available. Math Progress makes it easier to create assignments and provides insights into student performance, helping teachers spot trends at the individual or class level. It also helps keep students on track by addressing errors or common misunderstandings to foster learning.
Find out more: Getting started with Math Progress – Microsoft Support
Power Apps
React and Fluent based virtual code components are now generally available
Microsoft has announced the availability of React and Fluent-based virtual code components, allowing users to utilize Power Apps libraries to create various code components without packaging the libraries. Virtual code components unify control styling, optimize solution packaging, increase runtime transfer, scripting, and control rendering and align design and theming with the Power Apps Fluent design system.
Find out more: React controls & platform libraries – Power Apps | Microsoft Learn
Power BI
Important update for R and Python visuals
Microsoft has announced updates to the runtime environments for R and Python visuals in Power BI. Starting in late January or early February, Power BI will offer more resources (up to 2 vCores) and upgrade to Python 3.11 and R 4.3.3. With this change, support for older versions, Python 3.7.7 and R 3.4.4, will end. Due to differences in syntax and library functionality, existing R or Python visuals may face inconsistencies or errors.
This update will first be available to reports using a Premium or Fabric capacity in commercial clouds. Other paid commercial cloud customers will receive the changes later. During the rollout, customers can track R or Python visuals usage in Premium or Fabric using the Capacity metrics. For the first month, R and Python visual usage will not count towards your Microsoft Fabric capacity.
Find out more: Important Update coming to R and Python visuals in Power BI | Microsoft Power BI Blog | Microsoft Power BI
Paginated reports supports all languages in the Power BI service
Paginated Reports now support all languages, impacting number, currency, and date formatting, as well as report expressions. This change may lead to errors in expressions, such as using a CDate function with specific date formats in different Power BI languages. The recommended approach is to use VB date literals (e.g., #9/30/2024#), which ensure consistent behavior across all Power BI languages.
Find out more: Paginated reports supports Power BI language in the Power BI service | Microsoft Power BI Blog | Microsoft Power BI
‘Teams activity analytics’ report deprecation for Power BI in Teams
As shared in Power BI October 2024 Feature Summary | Microsoft Power BI Blog, Microsoft will retire this feature on January 31, 2025, extending the previous deadline of December 31, 2024. Starting February 1st, 2025, the ‘Teams activity analytics’ report will be officially deprecated.
For those who need to monitor Teams usage in their organization, Microsoft recommend using the native ‘Teams Analytics’ feature, which offers comprehensive insights into team and channel activities.
Find out more: View analytics for your teams in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Support
On-premises data gateway November 2024 release
The November 2024 release of the on-premises data gateway (version 3000.246.5) is now available. It introduces Fabric Pipeline integration for production Pipelines using on-premises data sources. A bug fix resolves issues with using Azure Data Explorer with Fabric Pipeline. Users may see SQL errors from self-signed certificates, which can be fixed by updating the SqlTrustedServers setting. This update is in line with the November 2024 release of Power BI Desktop for consistent query execution.
Find out more: On-premises data gateway November 2024 release | Microsoft Power BI Blog | Microsoft Power BI
Copilot
Viva Learning – AI & Copilot Resources provider
The AI and Copilot Resources provider will power the out-of-the-box Copilot Academy and will be visible by default to users who have Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses. This will appear in the admin tab alongside other providers, enabling admins to control content that powers Copilot Academy in the same way they can control other content providers. This includes the ability to enable, disable, and apply permissions on this content.
Find out more: Microsoft Copilot Academy | Microsoft Learn
OneNote Copilot available on Mac + Copilot Chat on OneNote for iPad
OneNote Copilot on Mac and iPad is an intelligent assistant that transforms note management through natural language commands, helping users understand, summarize, and rewrite notes. It offers a seamless chat experience for faster task completion, enhancing productivity and creativity on the go.
Find out more: Welcome to Copilot in OneNote – Microsoft Support
Copilot adoption metrics & completing total actions taken in Viva Insights
Microsoft has introduced seven new Copilot adoption metrics in the Copilot dashboard and Viva Insights, updating the “total actions taken” metric to incorporate these changes. The Microsoft Copilot Dashboard assists organizations in maximizing Copilot’s value by providing insights for AI deployment, promoting adoption, and measuring its impact on workplace behaviour.
Find out more: Connect to the Microsoft Copilot Dashboard for Microsoft 365 customers | Microsoft Learn
Clean Data with Copilot in Excel
Microsoft have introduced a new AI-powered feature in Excel – Clean Data. With Copilot in Excel, you can clean data with just one click. Clean Data detects and offers solutions for text inconsistencies, number format issues, and extra spaces. This feature is now available to Excel for the web users and will be rolling out to Windows desktop users in the coming months. Simply select the Clean Data option in the Data tab of the ribbon or interact with the pop-up banner to get started.
Find out more: Announcing Clean Data with Copilot in Excel
Read Aloud support added to Copilot chat responses
Now, users can now ask Copilot to read aloud responses in the chat pane, enabling more dynamic interactions with Copilot.
Find out more: Microsoft 365 Roadmap | Microsoft 365
Add an image or banner with Copilot in Word
Users can add images in Copilot, allowing them to ask questions, extract text, describe charts, translate, or generate alt text, facilitating continuous workflow on documents or presentations. This feature is available for Word and PowerPoint on web and desktop as of December.
Find out more: Add an image or banner with Copilot in Word – Microsoft Support
Copilot for Sales Metrics & Power BI Report in Viva Insights
The Copilot for Sales adoption report helps leaders understand Copilot for Sales usage across their organization. This update provides Copilot for Sales metrics for Viva Insights analysts in Advanced insights. Copilot for Sales adoption PBI report to provide a starter template to explore Copilot for Sales adoption across the organization.
Find out more: Copilot for Sales adoption report | Microsoft Learn
Microsoft 365 Copilot GCC general availability
Microsoft 365 Copilot GCC is an AI assistant designed for the GCC environment, leveraging Large Language Models to assist with drafting, summarizing, and organizing content. It provides answers through open prompts using data from the Microsoft Graph and is available in Teams, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and on microsoft365.com.
Find out more: Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 GCC GA Update: Empowering Public Sector Innovation
Viva Insights – New Copilot with enterprise data protection prompt metric
A new metric counting the prompts submitted through Business Chat (web) or Copilot with enterprise data protection metric will be added to Viva Insights advanced insights and Copilot dashboard.
Find out more: What’s new in Viva Insights | Microsoft Community Hub
