Microsoft Teams is not just a collaboration tool anymore - it's a powerhouse of productivity, integrating AI capabilities that reshape how businesses work. Microsoft Teams Phone integrates seamlessly with Copilot to enhance productivity by providing real-time call transcriptions and actionable summaries. With Copilot, users can capture key insights during calls, generate follow-up tasks, and draft emails effortlessly. This powerful AI tool ensures that every interaction, whether through VoIP or PSTN, is documented and optimized for maximum efficiency.
Recently announced at Microsoft Ignite 2024, nearly 70% of Fortune 500 companies now leverage Microsoft 365 Copilot to transform the way they work. This widespread adoption underscores Copilot’s ability to boost productivity, streamline workflows, and deliver actionable insights through AI-driven features. From generating summaries to automating routine tasks, Microsoft 365 Copilot empowers businesses to stay competitive and agile in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. It’s clear that industry leaders recognize the value of integrating AI into their collaboration and productivity tools.
In a recent Pure IP webinar, experts from Microsoft and Pure IP shared their insights on Teams Phone, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and how AI transforms workflows. You can watch the webinar below:
Microsoft Teams Phone: Beyond Communication
Microsoft Teams Phone goes beyond traditional communication by integrating advanced features like AI-powered transcription, intelligent call summaries, and seamless collaboration tools. It transforms phone systems into a productivity hub, enabling businesses to streamline workflows, enhance customer interactions, and support hybrid work environments effortlessly. Teams Phone has evolved into a robust phone system for businesses, offering flexibility and enhanced productivity. Here's what you need to know:
- Licensing Options:
- Included in Microsoft E5 or as an add-on for other Microsoft 365 plans.
- Discounts for frontline workers and enterprise agreements.
- Hardware Support:
- Compatible with soft clients (Windows, Mac, Mobile, Web) and physical phones.
- Connectivity Options:
- Calling Plans: Microsoft-provided numbers and minutes.
- Operator Connect: Certified operators provide numbers directly into Teams.
- Direct Routing: For on-premises or cloud session border controllers (SBCs).
- Teams Phone Mobile: Merges mobile and Teams numbers via cellular carriers.
- Reliability and Resilience:
- Microsoft offers a 99.999% SLA for Teams Phone.
- Features like Survivable Branch Appliances ensure 7-day resiliency during internet outages.
AI in Teams: The Copilot Revolution
AI in Microsoft Teams isn’t just a buzzword - it’s a transformative tool with real-world applications. The Copilot revolution is redefining workplace productivity by bringing the power of AI to everyday tasks in Microsoft 365. As of 2024, Microsoft Copilot had 28 million active users across Windows website and app.
Teams Premium Features
- Voice Isolation: Filters out background noise to enhance clarity in calls and meetings.
- Intelligent Meeting Recap:
- Auto-generated AI notes and tasks.
- Timeline markers for key moments like shared content and @mentions.
- Now available for VoIP and PSTN calls.
Microsoft 365 Copilot
Copilot goes a step further, enabling deeper interaction with meeting and chat content:
- Real-Time Meeting Assistance:
- Summarize ongoing discussions.
- Generate action items and key takeaways.
- Chat Insights:
- Summarize threads or highlight key points.
- Identify follow-up tasks across multiple chats.
- Post-Meeting Features:
- Transcribe meetings and calls.
- Provide actionable summaries, even integrating with other Office apps like Word and Excel.
Use Cases: Real-World Impact of Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot is making a real-world impact by transforming how businesses operate and collaborate. It simplifies complex workflows, automates repetitive tasks, and delivers actionable insights, saving time and improving decision-making. For customer service teams, Copilot reduces workload by summarizing interactions and capturing key details, while in sales, it streamlines follow-ups with automated notes and emails. Across industries, Copilot enhances productivity and ensures that teams can focus on high-value work, driving tangible results in efficiency and innovation. The webinar explored compelling use cases across industries:
- Customer Service:
- Automatically capture call notes and action items for follow-up.
- Reduce agent workload by summarizing customer inquiries in real time.
- Regulated Industries:
- Enable compliance-safe transcription and note generation.
- Optimize meeting follow-ups by using AI to create attendee tables and summaries.
- Sales Enablement:
- Turn sales calls into actionable insights with Copilot-generated follow-ups and emails.
Getting Started: Trials and Best Practices
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Businesses can start by piloting Copilot with a select group of users, allowing them to gather feedback and identify practical use cases. Based on the trial's outcomes, they can expand licenses to employees who will gain the most value.
- Admins can use retention policies to manage transcription data and ensure compliance.
- Educate users on enabling features like voice isolation and meeting transcription to maximize productivity.
Best practices include training teams to integrate AI into workflows effectively and using data retention policies to manage compliance and maximize the value of insights.
Looking Ahead: AI for Admins
Upcoming updates promise to simplify administrative tasks using Copilot. Microsoft 365 Copilot for admins simplifies complex administrative tasks, such as assigning licenses, creating policies, and managing phone numbers, with AI-powered precision. By automating repetitive processes, it allows administrators to focus on strategic initiatives, improving overall system management and user satisfaction.
- Assign licenses, create policies, and manage phone numbers with AI assistance.
- Expect detailed announcements during Microsoft Ignite on November 16, 2024.
Why Invest in Teams AI?
Adding AI to your Teams environment transforms communication and collaboration. By integrating Microsoft 365 Copilot and Teams Phone, organizations can streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and ensure every interaction adds value.
Investing in Microsoft Teams AI enhances productivity by automating routine tasks, delivering actionable insights, and enabling smarter collaboration across teams. With features like Copilot and intelligent meeting recaps, businesses can save time, improve decision-making, and stay competitive in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world.
Next Steps
- Evaluate your organization’s needs for Teams Premium or Microsoft 365 Copilot.
- Explore use cases like call transcription, meeting recaps, and administrative automation.
- Reach out to Pure IP for guidance on deploying Teams Phone and maximizing AI capabilities.
Whether you're improving customer experiences or managing hybrid teams, the possibilities for Copilot are endless. Pure IP offers tailored services including Operator Connect and Direct Routing, to suit diverse cloud telephony needs. Our proven track record in managing complex deployments ensures reliable connectivity, compliance with local regulations, and integration with existing infrastructure. By collaborating with Pure IP, businesses can simplify the transition to Teams Phone and maximize the value of their investment in Microsoft Copilot.
Book a scoping call today to explore how Pure IP can support your business.
