380188 – Outlook: New search UI for contacts and global address list (archived)

Product:

Outlook

Platform:

Mac, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

Links:

Details:

A new in-flow experience for searching contacts and the global address list while addressing mail and calendar events.

Change Category:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability

Created:
2024-01-25

updated:
2024-07-17

Docu to Check

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MS workload name

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Direct effects for Operations**

- Impact on IT Operations
- Potential increase in support tickets related to the new search UI functionality
- Roles impacted: IT Support Staff, Helpdesk Technicians
- Need for additional training sessions for IT staff to familiarize them with the new features and troubleshooting methods
- Roles impacted: IT Trainers, IT Operations Managers
- Possible integration issues with existing systems or third-party applications that rely on the global address list
- Roles impacted: System Administrators, Application Managers

- Impact on IT Services
- Temporary disruption of services during the rollout of the new search UI, leading to potential downtime for users
- Roles impacted: Service Managers, IT Service Continuity Managers
- Changes in the user interface may require updates to internal documentation and user guides
- Roles impacted: Documentation Specialists, IT Communication Managers
- Increased load on the email and calendar services as users adapt to the new search functionality
- Roles impacted: Infrastructure Engineers, Network Administrators

- Impact on IT Users
- Users may experience confusion or frustration due to changes in the search functionality, leading to decreased productivity
- Roles impacted: End Users, Business Analysts
- Learning curve associated with the new UI may temporarily hinder users' ability to efficiently find contacts and access the global address list
- Roles impacted: All employees, especially those heavily reliant on Outlook for communication
- Potential for miscommunication or missed connections if users are not adequately trained on the new features
- Roles impacted: Team Leaders, Project Managers

References:
- Microsoft Outlook New Features: [Microsoft Official Blog](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/)
- Change Management Best Practices: [ITIL Foundation](https://www.axelos.com/best-practice-solutions/itil)

Opportunities**

- Enhanced User Experience with New Search UI
- Opportunity to improve user satisfaction and efficiency by providing a more intuitive and streamlined search experience for contacts and the global address list.
- Roles that might profit:
- End Users (employees who frequently use Outlook for communication)
- IT Support Teams (reduced support tickets related to contact searches)
- Reference: Microsoft’s announcement on the new search UI highlights its focus on user experience improvements (source: Microsoft 365 Blog).

- Training and Adoption Programs
- Implement targeted training sessions to familiarize users with the new search UI, maximizing its potential and reducing the learning curve.
- Roles that might profit:
- HR and Training Departments (to facilitate training programs)
- Team Leaders (to ensure their teams are effectively utilizing the new features)
- Reference: Research shows that effective training can lead to higher adoption rates of new technologies (source: Gartner).

- Integration with Other Microsoft 365 Services
- Explore opportunities to integrate the new search functionality with other Microsoft 365 applications (e.g., Teams, SharePoint) to create a seamless user experience across platforms.
- Roles that might profit:
- Project Managers (to enhance collaboration across tools)
- IT Administrators (to streamline IT operations and reduce the complexity of managing multiple platforms)
- Reference: Microsoft’s commitment to integration across its services can enhance productivity (source: Microsoft 365 Integration Overview).

Potentional Risks**

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