Steve Thomas - IT Consultant

With the rise of remote work, there’s a need for more efficient tools to keep teams connected and productive. In this article, we will explore the best online tools for any successful virtual team. By using these solutions, you’ll be able to overcome the challenges remote work brings and get tasks done efficiently.

Remote working offers a win-win situation for both employers and employees. Beyond financial savings, many remote workers report increased job satisfaction due to improved work-life balance, which helps them stay focused and motivated. Also, stress levels are drastically reduced, as there’s no need to commute daily, creating an overall happier workforce.

Additionally, remote work gives organizations access to an extensive pool of highly skilled workers at more affordable rates. And with potential disasters in mind, distributed teams provide businesses with continuity assurance — it’s a way to keep productivity up while ensuring employee safety and well-being, even when traditional on-site operations are impossible.

Remote work is now easier, thanks to the availability of various online tools that allow teams to stay connected and productive from anywhere, such as the following:

Project management tools

Juggling a multi-team project can quickly turn into an organizational nightmare. Time zones, language boundaries, and geographical distances can further complicate things. But don’t fret. There are project management apps designed to help simplify operations and keep collaboration on track.

Our picks: Trello and Basecamp
Trello’s user-friendly interface and robust features make it a popular choice for teams looking to streamline their project management processes. Trello uses a system of boards, lists, and cards to enable users to track progress, assign tasks, and collaborate with team members in real time. With Trello, users can create custom workflows, set due dates, and attach files and comments to cards. The platform also integrates with many other tools, including Slack, Google Drive, and Dropbox, making it a versatile option for managing projects of all sizes and complexities.

On the other hand, Basecamp offers a variety of features such as to-do lists, file sharing, scheduling, and group messaging — all in one centralized location. This tool’s intuitive user interface allows teams to create their own workflows that are customized to their unique needs. One of Basecamp’s standout features is automatic check-ins, which allows team members to provide daily updates on their progress, leading to increased transparency and accountability. Overall, Basecamp is a can help teams stay organized, productive, and connected throughout the entire project life cycle.

Real-time communication and collaboration software

The path to successful business operations requires effective communication. Without it, employees and teams can suffer in productivity and morale — something that is especially true for distributed or remote workforces. Fortunately, these apps offer powerful solutions; enabling easy dialogue among colleagues with the added bonus of real-time interaction.

Our picks: Slack, Mattermost, Rocketchat, Microsoft Teams, and Join.me
Slack is a widely recognized leader in workplace communication and collaboration tools. It allows organizations of all sizes to easily unite remote teams with its basic functions. Messaging and “collaboration hubs” are just two of the many features that workers can use to effectively connect with colleagues about projects or any other topic.

Other options that are similar to Slack include Mattermost and Rocket Chat. These are open-source platforms that can provide your team the same seamless communication experience that Slack offers.

On the other hand, Microsoft Teams and Join.me are popular video conferencing platforms that also offer collaboration and communication features. Teams, in particular, includes Voice over Internet Protocol and direct messaging, which allows workers to communicate with one another and with clients regardless of location. . Teams also allows seamless integration with Office 365 apps such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Meanwhile, Join.me has a whiteboard tool that enables real-time document sharing and brainstorming among meeting participants.

Remote desktop applications

Working on the go or away from your office has never been easier, thanks to remote desktop apps. These innovative applications make it possible for business users to securely and efficiently access their work computers anytime, anywhere – even if those PCs don’t have some of the same software as in-house computing systems.

Our picks: Teamviewer and Splashtop
With TeamViewer, users can quickly and easily share screens, transfer files, and more. It’s free for personal use on Windows, macOS, or Android systems. But for larger data transfers, you might want to take a look at Splashtop. This is an excellent option due to its low-latency performance capabilities.

Having the right remote working tools is critical to business success. Choosing the wrong tools can lead to frustration, miscommunication, and a lack of trust from stakeholders. Our team of experts stands ready to help you assess the best options for your organization’s needs, so don’t hesitate to speak with us today.

Staying connected and productive when working remotely may seem like a daunting task, but there are tools that can help. In this blog, we’ll dive into the must-have online tools to keep your remote team running smoothly.

Remote working offers a win-win situation for both employers and employees. Beyond financial savings, many remote workers report increased job satisfaction due to improved work-life balance, which helps them stay focused and motivated. Also, stress levels are drastically reduced, as there’s no need to commute daily, creating an overall happier workforce.

Additionally, remote work gives organizations access to an extensive pool of highly skilled workers at more affordable rates. And with potential disasters in mind, distributed teams provide businesses with continuity assurance — it’s a way to keep productivity up while ensuring employee safety and well-being, even when traditional on-site operations are impossible.

Remote work is now easier, thanks to the availability of various online tools that allow teams to stay connected and productive from anywhere, such as the following:

Project management tools

Juggling a multi-team project can quickly turn into an organizational nightmare. Time zones, language boundaries, and geographical distances can further complicate things. But don’t fret. There are project management apps designed to help simplify operations and keep collaboration on track.

Our picks: Trello and Basecamp
Trello’s user-friendly interface and robust features make it a popular choice for teams looking to streamline their project management processes. Trello uses a system of boards, lists, and cards to enable users to track progress, assign tasks, and collaborate with team members in real time. With Trello, users can create custom workflows, set due dates, and attach files and comments to cards. The platform also integrates with many other tools, including Slack, Google Drive, and Dropbox, making it a versatile option for managing projects of all sizes and complexities.

On the other hand, Basecamp offers a variety of features such as to-do lists, file sharing, scheduling, and group messaging — all in one centralized location. This tool’s intuitive user interface allows teams to create their own workflows that are customized to their unique needs. One of Basecamp’s standout features is automatic check-ins, which allows team members to provide daily updates on their progress, leading to increased transparency and accountability. Overall, Basecamp is a can help teams stay organized, productive, and connected throughout the entire project life cycle.

Real-time communication and collaboration software

The path to successful business operations requires effective communication. Without it, employees and teams can suffer in productivity and morale — something that is especially true for distributed or remote workforces. Fortunately, these apps offer powerful solutions; enabling easy dialogue among colleagues with the added bonus of real-time interaction.

Our picks: Slack, Mattermost, Rocketchat, Microsoft Teams, and Join.me
Slack is a widely recognized leader in workplace communication and collaboration tools. It allows organizations of all sizes to easily unite remote teams with its basic functions. Messaging and “collaboration hubs” are just two of the many features that workers can use to effectively connect with colleagues about projects or any other topic.

Other options that are similar to Slack include Mattermost and Rocket Chat. These are open-source platforms that can provide your team the same seamless communication experience that Slack offers.

On the other hand, Microsoft Teams and Join.me are popular video conferencing platforms that also offer collaboration and communication features. Teams, in particular, includes Voice over Internet Protocol and direct messaging, which allows workers to communicate with one another and with clients regardless of location. . Teams also allows seamless integration with Office 365 apps such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Meanwhile, Join.me has a whiteboard tool that enables real-time document sharing and brainstorming among meeting participants.

Remote desktop applications

Working on the go or away from your office has never been easier, thanks to remote desktop apps. These innovative applications make it possible for business users to securely and efficiently access their work computers anytime, anywhere – even if those PCs don’t have some of the same software as in-house computing systems.

Our picks: Teamviewer and Splashtop
With TeamViewer, users can quickly and easily share screens, transfer files, and more. It’s free for personal use on Windows, macOS, or Android systems. But for larger data transfers, you might want to take a look at Splashtop. This is an excellent option due to its low-latency performance capabilities.

Having the right remote working tools is critical to business success. Choosing the wrong tools can lead to frustration, miscommunication, and a lack of trust from stakeholders. Our team of experts stands ready to help you assess the best options for your organization’s needs, so don’t hesitate to speak with us today.

Working in a virtual environment can be challenging for any team, but it doesn’t have to be. Using tools and technologies that allow distributed teams to stay connected no matter their geographical location can make remote working easier and more effective. Let’s explore some of the best online tools available today that will help improve your remote staff’s collaboration and productivity.

Remote working offers a win-win situation for both employers and employees. Beyond financial savings, many remote workers report increased job satisfaction due to improved work-life balance, which helps them stay focused and motivated. Also, stress levels are drastically reduced, as there’s no need to commute daily, creating an overall happier workforce.

Additionally, remote work gives organizations access to an extensive pool of highly skilled workers at more affordable rates. And with potential disasters in mind, distributed teams provide businesses with continuity assurance — it’s a way to keep productivity up while ensuring employee safety and well-being, even when traditional on-site operations are impossible.

Remote work is now easier, thanks to the availability of various online tools that allow teams to stay connected and productive from anywhere, such as the following:

Project management tools

Juggling a multi-team project can quickly turn into an organizational nightmare. Time zones, language boundaries, and geographical distances can further complicate things. But don’t fret. There are project management apps designed to help simplify operations and keep collaboration on track.

Our picks: Trello and Basecamp
Trello’s user-friendly interface and robust features make it a popular choice for teams looking to streamline their project management processes. Trello uses a system of boards, lists, and cards to enable users to track progress, assign tasks, and collaborate with team members in real time. With Trello, users can create custom workflows, set due dates, and attach files and comments to cards. The platform also integrates with many other tools, including Slack, Google Drive, and Dropbox, making it a versatile option for managing projects of all sizes and complexities.

On the other hand, Basecamp offers a variety of features such as to-do lists, file sharing, scheduling, and group messaging — all in one centralized location. This tool’s intuitive user interface allows teams to create their own workflows that are customized to their unique needs. One of Basecamp’s standout features is automatic check-ins, which allows team members to provide daily updates on their progress, leading to increased transparency and accountability. Overall, Basecamp is a can help teams stay organized, productive, and connected throughout the entire project life cycle.

Real-time communication and collaboration software

The path to successful business operations requires effective communication. Without it, employees and teams can suffer in productivity and morale — something that is especially true for distributed or remote workforces. Fortunately, these apps offer powerful solutions; enabling easy dialogue among colleagues with the added bonus of real-time interaction.

Our picks: Slack, Mattermost, Rocketchat, Microsoft Teams, and Join.me
Slack is a widely recognized leader in workplace communication and collaboration tools. It allows organizations of all sizes to easily unite remote teams with its basic functions. Messaging and “collaboration hubs” are just two of the many features that workers can use to effectively connect with colleagues about projects or any other topic.

Other options that are similar to Slack include Mattermost and Rocket Chat. These are open-source platforms that can provide your team the same seamless communication experience that Slack offers.

On the other hand, Microsoft Teams and Join.me are popular video conferencing platforms that also offer collaboration and communication features. Teams, in particular, includes Voice over Internet Protocol and direct messaging, which allows workers to communicate with one another and with clients regardless of location. . Teams also allows seamless integration with Office 365 apps such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Meanwhile, Join.me has a whiteboard tool that enables real-time document sharing and brainstorming among meeting participants.

Remote desktop applications

Working on the go or away from your office has never been easier, thanks to remote desktop apps. These innovative applications make it possible for business users to securely and efficiently access their work computers anytime, anywhere – even if those PCs don’t have some of the same software as in-house computing systems.

Our picks: Teamviewer and Splashtop
With TeamViewer, users can quickly and easily share screens, transfer files, and more. It’s free for personal use on Windows, macOS, or Android systems. But for larger data transfers, you might want to take a look at Splashtop. This is an excellent option due to its low-latency performance capabilities.

Having the right remote working tools is critical to business success. Choosing the wrong tools can lead to frustration, miscommunication, and a lack of trust from stakeholders. Our team of experts stands ready to help you assess the best options for your organization’s needs, so don’t hesitate to speak with us today.

A power outage can be disastrous for a business. Not only does it interrupt work, but it can also lead to data loss and equipment damage. That’s why an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) is so important. In this blog, we will discuss the importance of UPS systems for businesses of all sizes.

Protect your network equipment


A UPS is a device that acts as backup power in the event of a power outage. It offers protection to electronic devices, such as computers and servers, against power surges and other similar problems. Generally powered by batteries, a UPS acts like an emergency parachute that enables you to properly process the shutdown of necessary equipment and protect all crucial data on your computers and/or servers.

With the help of UPS-supported modems or routers, you can stay connected for up to 90 minutes even if power goes out. That should provide plenty of time for you to get organized while waiting for power to be restored. It can also enable your team to remain productive and accomplish their tasks and cater to the immediate needs of your customers.

Furthermore, with a UPS system in place, you won’t be dependent on cellular data, which is both expensive and unreliable, as an alternative. You can save money by avoiding extra expenses incurred from overdependence on mobile networks.

UPS or generator: Which is better?


Generators are essential for some businesses, but they come at a great cost. Not only would you need to purchase the generators themselves, but also employ an entire team dedicated to managing and maintaining them. This could be quite pricey and not feasible for small- or medium-sized organizations.

Generators can be a helpful backup plan in case of extended power outages, but a proper UPS system should provide ample support to keep your business functioning during an emergency.

What’s more, generators can prove to be a hazard, especially if they’re not operated correctly. In contrast, if you fail to manage your UPS unit properly or if it fails entirely, the worst that can happen is you lose a day’s worth of work.

It’s better to be prepared


Even if your business is not located in a disaster-prone region, you should still consider having UPS systems for your computers, modems, and routers. Having a UPS system in place will give you peace of mind knowing that it will keep your equipment operating when the unexpected occurs and that your business will be protected from data and revenue loss.

There is no doubt that a power outage can cause significant disruptions to your business operations, but you can minimize disruption with a UPS. If you’re not sure what type of UPS system is right for your business, contact us and we’ll be happy to help you find a solution that meets your needs.

Power outages are a huge inconvenience to businesses. They can lead to lost productivity and revenue, and they can cost you a lot in damages. That’s why it’s important for businesses like yours to invest in an uninterrupted power supply (UPS). Let’s take a closer look at some of the key reasons why every business should have a UPS system in place.

Protect your network equipment

A UPS is a device that acts as backup power in the event of a power outage. It offers protection to electronic devices, such as computers and servers, against power surges and other similar problems. Generally powered by batteries, a UPS acts like an emergency parachute that enables you to properly process the shutdown of necessary equipment and protect all crucial data on your computers and/or servers.

With the help of UPS-supported modems or routers, you can stay connected for up to 90 minutes even if power goes out. That should provide plenty of time for you to get organized while waiting for power to be restored. It can also enable your team to remain productive and accomplish their tasks and cater to the immediate needs of your customers.

Furthermore, with a UPS system in place, you won’t be dependent on cellular data, which is both expensive and unreliable, as an alternative. You can save money by avoiding extra expenses incurred from overdependence on mobile networks.

UPS or generator: Which is better?

Generators are essential for some businesses, but they come at a great cost. Not only would you need to purchase the generators themselves, but also employ an entire team dedicated to managing and maintaining them. This could be quite pricey and not feasible for small- or medium-sized organizations.

Generators can be a helpful backup plan in case of extended power outages, but a proper UPS system should provide ample support to keep your business functioning during an emergency.

What’s more, generators can prove to be a hazard, especially if they’re not operated correctly. In contrast, if you fail to manage your UPS unit properly or if it fails entirely, the worst that can happen is you lose a day’s worth of work.

It’s better to be prepared

Even if your business is not located in a disaster-prone region, you should still consider having UPS systems for your computers, modems, and routers. Having a UPS system in place will give you peace of mind knowing that it will keep your equipment operating when the unexpected occurs and that your business will be protected from data and revenue loss.

There is no doubt that a power outage can cause significant disruptions to your business operations, but you can minimize disruption with a UPS. If you’re not sure what type of UPS system is right for your business, contact us and we’ll be happy to help you find a solution that meets your needs.

Are you tired of dealing with power outages? They can be a major inconvenience to businesses, leading to thousands of dollars in lost productivity and revenue. Fortunately, there’s something you can do about it: use an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) for your computers and networking equipment. Read on to learn more about the business benefits of using a UPS.

Protect your network equipment


A UPS is a device that acts as backup power in the event of a power outage. It offers protection to electronic devices, such as computers and servers, against power surges and other similar problems. Generally powered by batteries, a UPS acts like an emergency parachute that enables you to properly process the shutdown of necessary equipment and protect all crucial data on your computers and/or servers.

With the help of UPS-supported modems or routers, you can stay connected for up to 90 minutes even if power goes out. That should provide plenty of time for you to get organized while waiting for power to be restored. It can also enable your team to remain productive and accomplish their tasks and cater to the immediate needs of your customers.

Furthermore, with a UPS system in place, you won’t be dependent on cellular data, which is both expensive and unreliable, as an alternative. You can save money by avoiding extra expenses incurred from overdependence on mobile networks.

UPS or generator: Which is better?


Generators are essential for some businesses, but they come at a great cost. Not only would you need to purchase the generators themselves, but also employ an entire team dedicated to managing and maintaining them. This could be quite pricey and not feasible for small- or medium-sized organizations.

Generators can be a helpful backup plan in case of extended power outages, but a proper UPS system should provide ample support to keep your business functioning during an emergency.

What’s more, generators can prove to be a hazard, especially if they’re not operated correctly. In contrast, if you fail to manage your UPS unit properly or if it fails entirely, the worst that can happen is you lose a day’s worth of work.

It’s better to be prepared


Even if your business is not located in a disaster-prone region, you should still consider having UPS systems for your computers, modems, and routers. Having a UPS system in place will give you peace of mind knowing that it will keep your equipment operating when the unexpected occurs and that your business will be protected from data and revenue loss.

There is no doubt that a power outage can cause significant disruptions to your business operations, but you can minimize disruption with a UPS. If you’re not sure what type of UPS system is right for your business, contact us and we’ll be happy to help you find a solution that meets your needs.

Read, the app that lets meeting organizers read the virtual room and see how engaged (or not) participants are, is now one of Zoom’s Essential Apps. This means Zoom customers, Zoom One Pro Business and Business Plus users will have free access to Read’s premium features, like real-time and advanced meeting metrics, for 12 months. The app is also compatible with other video conferencing platform such as Google Meet, Microsoft Team and Webex.

Read is also releasing its Meeting Summary feature, which combines its sentiment analysis tools with OpenAI’s GPT language models to produce meeting summaries that are annotated with sentiment and engagement scores. Other new features include Meeting Playback, which shows when engagement increased or dropped, Read Workspace for organizations to set benchmarks for meetings and Augmented Reality, which displays engagement and talk time in each participant’s window.

Launched in 2021 by the team behind location analytics startup Placed—former Foursquare CEO David Shim, Rob Williams and Elliot Waldron—Read is backed with $10 million in seed funding from investors like Madrona Venture Group and PSL Ventures.

Read's Meeting Summary tool

Read’s Meeting Summary tool

Read uses a combination of artificial intelligence, computer vision and natural language processing to gauge meeting participant engagement and sentiment. Some of the things it tracks includes if a small number of people are dominating the conversation, leaving others unheard, or if people seem bored.

Read’s engagement and sentiment analysis is meant to create better meetings (including shorter ones), but understandably, some people might be worried about having their reactions tracked. Shim told TechCrunch that Read protects user privacy and control by letting participants opt into meetings that measure audio and voice through a recording notification. They can declined to be recorded or, if they change their mind partway through a meeting, type “opt-out” into the chat to delete meeting data.

An example of how organizations have utilized Read to improve their virtual meetings include a 400-person technology company that used Read Recommendation to cut 8 hours of meetings a month for each employee.

Shim said Read Meeting Summaries’ pilot clients include venture capitalists, whose days are usually packed with pitches, updates and board meetings. They use Read has a virtual assistant to produce summaries of all meetings and follow-up items. Other users of Read includes salespeople who use the app to see what resonates with their customers, and follow up on those points.

Read, which lets you measure how well a meeting is going, is now a Zoom Essential App by Catherine Shu originally published on TechCrunch

Millions of people worldwide rely on Microsoft Word for their day-to-day tasks. However, most users are unaware of its full range of features that can help them work smarter and faster. Here are some handy tips that will help you maximize your productivity with Microsoft Word.

Use Grammarly for Windows

Microsoft Word might be great for identifying spelling and grammar mistakes, but it can’t guarantee error-free writing. To take your content to the next level, try Grammarly for Windows. Not only does it check for basic errors, but it also reviews the clarity and engagement of your content.

Hide the toolbar

To ensure a distraction-free writing session, you can easily minimize the toolbar located at the top of your screen by pressing Ctrl + F1. To make the toolbar reappear, just press Ctrl + F1 again.

Tell Word what to do

While many of Microsoft Word’s features are easily visible, others require a bit more digging before you can find them. Thankfully, newer versions of Word come with the Tell Me. This feature lets you enter search words or phrases in a text box that says “Tell me what you want to do” to perform an action, find features, or get help on how to complete your task.

Track only the changes you make

If you work with other people on a single document, you should be familiar with the Track Changes feature. It allows you to see every change made by others working on the document. Microsoft recently updated this feature, which allows users to only track their own changes.

This is a fantastic option for those occasions when tracking everyone else’s modifications isn’t necessary, and all you want is to see your own progress. Here’s how to use this feature:

  1. Click on the Review tab on your Word document.
  2. Click on the Track Changes button and choose the Just Mine option.

Save and reuse images, texts, signatures, and more with Quick Parts

If you find yourself typing or inserting the same thing multiple times in your Word document, then you should try using Quick Parts. This feature allows you to save and reuse images, texts, signatures, tables, and more. It streamlines your document and email workflows by speeding up repetitive tasks.

Here are the steps for using Quick Parts:

Creating a Quick Part

  1. Choose the words, images, or other elements you want to save on your Word document.
  2. Click Insert > Quick Parts and choose Save Selection to Quick Part Gallery.
  3. Change the name of your chosen element, and click OK to save your changes.

Adding a Quick Part to your document

  1. Place your cursor in a spot where you want to add a Quick Part.
  2. Click Insert > Quick Parts and click on the word, phrase, sentence, or image you want to add to your document.

If you’re looking for other ways to leverage Microsoft Word and other Office apps to boost your productivity, give us a call today.

Microsoft Word continues to be a popular office suite for many businesses because of its versatile features. It’s user-friendly and straightforward, but once you take some time to understand it more, you’ll learn that there is so much more than meets the eye. Here are some tips and tricks that will enhance your Microsoft Word experience.

Use Grammarly for Windows

Microsoft Word might be great for identifying spelling and grammar mistakes, but it can’t guarantee error-free writing. To take your content to the next level, try Grammarly for Windows. Not only does it check for basic errors, but it also reviews the clarity and engagement of your content.

Hide the toolbar

To ensure a distraction-free writing session, you can easily minimize the toolbar located at the top of your screen by pressing Ctrl + F1. To make the toolbar reappear, just press Ctrl + F1 again.

Tell Word what to do

While many of Microsoft Word’s features are easily visible, others require a bit more digging before you can find them. Thankfully, newer versions of Word come with the Tell Me. This feature lets you enter search words or phrases in a text box that says “Tell me what you want to do” to perform an action, find features, or get help on how to complete your task.

Track only the changes you make

If you work with other people on a single document, you should be familiar with the Track Changes feature. It allows you to see every change made by others working on the document. Microsoft recently updated this feature, which allows users to only track their own changes.

This is a fantastic option for those occasions when tracking everyone else’s modifications isn’t necessary, and all you want is to see your own progress. Here’s how to use this feature:

  1. Click on the Review tab on your Word document.
  2. Click on the Track Changes button and choose the Just Mine option.

Save and reuse images, texts, signatures, and more with Quick Parts

If you find yourself typing or inserting the same thing multiple times in your Word document, then you should try using Quick Parts. This feature allows you to save and reuse images, texts, signatures, tables, and more. It streamlines your document and email workflows by speeding up repetitive tasks.

Here are the steps for using Quick Parts:

Creating a Quick Part

  1. Choose the words, images, or other elements you want to save on your Word document.
  2. Click Insert > Quick Parts and choose Save Selection to Quick Part Gallery.
  3. Change the name of your chosen element, and click OK to save your changes.

Adding a Quick Part to your document

  1. Place your cursor in a spot where you want to add a Quick Part.
  2. Click Insert > Quick Parts and click on the word, phrase, sentence, or image you want to add to your document.

If you’re looking for other ways to leverage Microsoft Word and other Office apps to boost your productivity, give us a call today.

Microsoft Word is one of the most widely used office suites by businesses around the world. However, many users don’t know about its various features that can help them become more productive. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to maximize the potential of Microsoft Word to improve productivity.

Use Grammarly for Windows

Microsoft Word might be great for identifying spelling and grammar mistakes, but it can’t guarantee error-free writing. To take your content to the next level, try Grammarly for Windows. Not only does it check for basic errors, but it also reviews the clarity and engagement of your content.

Hide the toolbar

To ensure a distraction-free writing session, you can easily minimize the toolbar located at the top of your screen by pressing Ctrl + F1. To make the toolbar reappear, just press Ctrl + F1 again.

Tell Word what to do

While many of Microsoft Word’s features are easily visible, others require a bit more digging before you can find them. Thankfully, newer versions of Word come with the Tell Me. This feature lets you enter search words or phrases in a text box that says “Tell me what you want to do” to perform an action, find features, or get help on how to complete your task.

Track only the changes you make

If you work with other people on a single document, you should be familiar with the Track Changes feature. It allows you to see every change made by others working on the document. Microsoft recently updated this feature, which allows users to only track their own changes.

This is a fantastic option for those occasions when tracking everyone else’s modifications isn’t necessary, and all you want is to see your own progress. Here’s how to use this feature:

  1. Click on the Review tab on your Word document.
  2. Click on the Track Changes button and choose the Just Mine option.

Save and reuse images, texts, signatures, and more with Quick Parts

If you find yourself typing or inserting the same thing multiple times in your Word document, then you should try using Quick Parts. This feature allows you to save and reuse images, texts, signatures, tables, and more. It streamlines your document and email workflows by speeding up repetitive tasks.

Here are the steps for using Quick Parts:

Creating a Quick Part

  1. Choose the words, images, or other elements you want to save on your Word document.
  2. Click Insert > Quick Parts and choose Save Selection to Quick Part Gallery.
  3. Change the name of your chosen element, and click OK to save your changes.

Adding a Quick Part to your document

  1. Place your cursor in a spot where you want to add a Quick Part.
  2. Click Insert > Quick Parts and click on the word, phrase, sentence, or image you want to add to your document.

If you’re looking for other ways to leverage Microsoft Word and other Office apps to boost your productivity, give us a call today.

Microsoft Loop is a new app that promises to help boost your productivity. It combines a powerful and flexible canvas with portable components that stay in sync and move freely across all Microsoft 365 apps. Let’s take a closer look at what this app has to offer.

Microsoft Loop is essentially a collaboration tool that allows users to centralize work and efficiently operate synchronously.

Based on Microsoft’s Fluid Framework, Loop provides users with “a powerful and flexible canvas.” The app’s portable components allow users to easily work together and build on each other’s ideas, regardless of location, as project elements can easily be synced and moved across different Microsoft 365 apps.

How does Microsoft Loop work?

Microsoft Loop aims to enable multiple users to collaborate more effectively than ever before through its three structural elements: Loop components, Loop pages, and Loop workspaces.

Loop components
Loop components are live, interactive, and collaborative objects such as tables, notes, and tasks that users can embed in chat and email messages. This makes sharing among teams easier, and allows them to always work with updated information since components are synced across the Microsoft ecosystem.

For example, if you’re working on a Microsoft Word document, you could simply copy the Loop component like a table onto a Microsoft Teams message. Recipients can then just open the message containing the table and start reviewing or editing it. They can make changes from within Teams and Loop will reflect these changes immediately in the original Word document.

Loop pages
A Loop page is a document where users can add various Loop components and other elements like links and files related to a particular project. This gives teams an overview of the project and its progress, and what individual team members have done or contributed. Coworkers can also react to or comment on any component on the Loop page.

Loop workspaces
With Loop workspaces, teams can easily organize multiple Loop pages and other content types like Word documents, recordings, etc.

For example, a user could create a Loop workspace that will serve as the hub for all resources related to a project. This is essentially a space where people can track the progress of shared initiatives, which makes communication and collaboration among teams easier and more efficient.

How Microsoft Loop can benefit your business

Microsoft Loop has the potential to revolutionize workplace collaboration works, especially for organizations that have adopted a hybrid work model. Even though real-time document collaboration has been around for a while, what makes Loop different is it does not limit collaboration to a single document. With Loop, team members can work on files together rather than working separately on individual files. For instance, if a user is editing a table in Word, another user looking at that same table in Teams would see the changes made in real time. This can eliminate the need to keep multiple versions of a file.

Microsoft Loop shows great promise as it aims to provide users the ability to work from anywhere, which increases flexibility and makes it easier to get tasks done. By using fewer apps, business owners can also save money.

If you would like to learn more about how Microsoft Loop can help you be more productive, contact us today. Our team of experts would be happy to answer any questions.

Microsoft Loop is a new app that will soon be released as part of the Microsoft 365 suite. It is a powerful and flexible canvas that can revolutionize collaboration in the workplace.. As of writing, Microsoft Loop is in private preview, but let’s take a look at some key features you should know about.

Microsoft Loop is essentially a collaboration tool that allows users to centralize work and efficiently operate synchronously.

Based on Microsoft’s Fluid Framework, Loop provides users with “a powerful and flexible canvas.” The app’s portable components allow users to easily work together and build on each other’s ideas, regardless of location, as project elements can easily be synced and moved across different Microsoft 365 apps.

How does Microsoft Loop work?

Microsoft Loop aims to enable multiple users to collaborate more effectively than ever before through its three structural elements: Loop components, Loop pages, and Loop workspaces.

Loop components
Loop components are live, interactive, and collaborative objects such as tables, notes, and tasks that users can embed in chat and email messages. This makes sharing among teams easier, and allows them to always work with updated information since components are synced across the Microsoft ecosystem.

For example, if you’re working on a Microsoft Word document, you could simply copy the Loop component like a table onto a Microsoft Teams message. Recipients can then just open the message containing the table and start reviewing or editing it. They can make changes from within Teams and Loop will reflect these changes immediately in the original Word document.

Loop pages
A Loop page is a document where users can add various Loop components and other elements like links and files related to a particular project. This gives teams an overview of the project and its progress, and what individual team members have done or contributed. Coworkers can also react to or comment on any component on the Loop page.

Loop workspaces
With Loop workspaces, teams can easily organize multiple Loop pages and other content types like Word documents, recordings, etc.

For example, a user could create a Loop workspace that will serve as the hub for all resources related to a project. This is essentially a space where people can track the progress of shared initiatives, which makes communication and collaboration among teams easier and more efficient.

How Microsoft Loop can benefit your business

Microsoft Loop has the potential to revolutionize workplace collaboration works, especially for organizations that have adopted a hybrid work model. Even though real-time document collaboration has been around for a while, what makes Loop different is it does not limit collaboration to a single document. With Loop, team members can work on files together rather than working separately on individual files. For instance, if a user is editing a table in Word, another user looking at that same table in Teams would see the changes made in real time. This can eliminate the need to keep multiple versions of a file.

Microsoft Loop shows great promise as it aims to provide users the ability to work from anywhere, which increases flexibility and makes it easier to get tasks done. By using fewer apps, business owners can also save money.

If you would like to learn more about how Microsoft Loop can help you be more productive, contact us today. Our team of experts would be happy to answer any questions.