MC1130395 – (Updated) Deploy a frontline worker pilot in Teams Admin Center

Product:

Microsoft 365 admin center, Microsoft Viva Engage, Teams, Teams Shifts

Platform:

mobile, Online, Web, World tenant

Status:

Rolling out

Change type:

Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact

Links:

498226

Details:

Summary:
Teams Admin Center will enable deployment, management, and monitoring of frontline worker pilots, allowing admins to configure workloads, assign users, share app access via QR code, and track adoption. Public preview starts November 2025; general availability expected by February 2026. No compliance issues noted.

Details:
Updated January 21, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
Introduction
You can now deploy, manage, and measure a frontline worker (FLW) pilot directly from Teams Admin Center. This new capability enables Teams administrators to define pilot users and owners, configure workloads, and monitor adoption-all in one place. It's designed to help IT admins and business leaders streamline the rollout of Teams features tailored for frontline teams.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 498226
When this will happen
Public Preview: Rolling out early November 2025; expected completion by mid-November 2025.
General Availability: Rolling out late February 2026 (previously mid-November 2025); expected completion by end of February 2026 (previously late November 2025).

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability, Targeted Release

Created:
2025-08-07

updated:
2026-01-22

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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MS workload name

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linked item details

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Adoption Challenges
Without proper preparation, users may struggle to adopt the new Teams features, leading to confusion and decreased productivity.
   - roles: Frontline Workers, IT Administrators
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=498226

Increased Support Requests
Unprepared changes can lead to a spike in support requests from users facing issues with the new functionalities, overwhelming the IT support team.
   - roles: IT Support Staff, Frontline Workers
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=498226

Configutation Options**

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explanation for non-techies**

Imagine you're planning a big event, like a company retreat, and you need to coordinate everything from the guest list to the activities. In the past, you might have had to use different tools for each task: one for sending invitations, another for tracking RSVPs, and yet another for managing the schedule. This could get quite complicated and time-consuming.

Now, think of the Teams Admin Center as your all-in-one event planner for deploying new tools to your frontline workers. Instead of juggling multiple systems, you can handle everything from one place. This new feature allows you to select who will be part of the pilot, decide what tools they will use (like chat, channels, or scheduling shifts), and even give them easy access to these tools through a QR code, much like sending a digital invitation to your event.

Once the pilot is underway, you can monitor how well it's going, just like checking in on your event to see if everyone is having a good time and participating in the activities. This monitoring helps you understand how the tools are being used and if they are meeting the needs of your frontline workers.

As you prepare for this rollout, it's similar to getting ready for your event. You need to decide who will be involved, make sure you have the right permissions (like securing the venue), and communicate with your participants to ensure they know what to expect.

This new capability in the Teams Admin Center simplifies the process of trying out new tools with your frontline workers, making it easier to manage and track everything from one convenient location. Just like a well-organized event, it aims to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.