Exciting Updates to SharePoint: Fall 2023 Edition
In May 2023, at the Microsoft 365 Conference, Microsoft outlined their plans to enhance SharePoint's user experience. Their goal? To make SharePoint site and page creation more intuitive, engaging, and efficient. This update is structured around four pivotal themes: simplified authoring, compelling content, deeper engagement, and a flexible platform.
Effortless Content Creation
SharePoint's journey began with a commitment to simplify site management and creation. This year, Microsoft have made significant strides in this area with the integration of Copilot in SharePoint. This feature combines Large Language Models and Microsoft Graph data to assist in content creation, imagery selection, and layout suggestions. They have also introduced a new start experience for personal pages, making it easier to connect intranet resources with common communication needs. Additionally, real-time co-authoring and section-level commenting on pages enhance collaborative efforts.
Recent advancements include simplified canvas actions, private drafts for sensitive content, an advanced image editor, and a range of site templates. Upcoming features include real-time page coauthoring and an enriched start experience, offering a wealth of creative possibilities.
Crafting Compelling Content
Microsoft are elevating SharePoint's aesthetic capabilities, enabling the creation of bold and sophisticated site and page designs. The new Brand Center allows for consistent application of organisational branding elements like fonts, colors, and logos across sites. Additionally, a forthcoming content pane will streamline the process of finding and incorporating various content types into pages.
Microsoft Stream, integral to Microsoft 365, now offers a webpart and video-focused page templates, enhancing video content integration. Microsoft Clipchamp, a user-friendly video editor, is also now available for certain Microsoft 365 plans.
Deepening Engagement
Engaging a diverse and dispersed workforce is a growing challenge. SharePoint and Viva Amplify address this by facilitating effective internal communications. Viva Amplify, now generally available, offers centralised campaign management and multi-channel publishing. Furthermore, SharePoint News in Outlook and multiple Viva Connections Experiences enable reaching audiences effectively across various platforms.
Key features already available include Viva Amplify for holistic communication campaigns, News in Outlook for email integration, and dedicated search and analytics in Viva Connections. Future enhancements include a refreshed Viva Connections landing experience and new theming options for brand consistency.
A Platform for Innovation
SharePoint continues to be a vital platform for developers, integrating seamlessly into business workflows. The SharePoint Framework (SPFx) offers a user-friendly approach to building enterprise solutions within Microsoft 365. Recent updates to SPFx include expanded Viva Connections card layout options and Fluid UI React v8 support.
The introduction of the SharePoint Web UI kit marks another step forward, providing designers with advanced tools for customizing SharePoint. The roadmap for developers and extensibility as SharePoint moves into 2024 includes enhancements like Bot Framework powered Viva Connections extensibility, Microsoft Graph support in Viva Connections Card Designer, and improved SharePoint Framework and Copilot integration scenarios.
The Road Ahead
Below is the roadmap for developer and extensibility as Microsoft heads into 2024.
Next is an updated look at Microsoft's roadmap for sites and pages in SharePoint heading into 2024.
Making sure you're ready for 2024
At Dapt, we're always wanting to make sure our customers, both existing and potential have the best advice and are set up for success. Throughout December 2023, we are offering a free Employee Engagement health check where we will provide insight into your existing usage of Microsoft 365, SharePoint and Viva platforms. If you are interested in this fantastic offer, please reach out to us at info@dapt.uk for more information.