MC1025215 – (Updated) Microsoft SharePoint: Use SharePoint quick steps to automate common tasks and workflows (archived)

Product:

SharePoint, Teams

Platform:

Online, US Instances, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

New feature, Updated message, User impact

Links:

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft SharePoint will soon allow users to create customized quick steps for common tasks via the Automate menu. The rollout will start in late May 2025 for Targeted Release and early June 2025 for General Availability. No admin action is required, but notifying SharePoint admins and updating documentation is recommended.

Details:
Updated April 17, 2025: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience.
Coming soon to Microsoft SharePoint: In the Automate menu, users will be able to create customized quick steps for common tasks such as composing an email or starting a Microsoft Teams chat to specified People columns, sending an approval request, executing a flow, and setting a column value on one or more items. Users will find a simple sentence builder experience, similar to SharePoint rules.
[When this will happen:]
Targeted Release: We will begin rolling out late May 2025 (previously early April) and expect to complete by early June 2025 (previously late April).
General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High): We will begin rolling out early June 2025 (previously early May) and expect to complete by late June 2025 (previously late May).
General Availability (DoD): We will begin rolling out mid-June 2025 (previously mid-May) and expect to complete by early July 2025 (previously late June).

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:

Created:
2025-03-07

updated:
2025-04-18

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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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Experience Disruption
Users may experience confusion or frustration due to the sudden introduction of new quick steps without prior training or documentation updates, leading to decreased productivity.
   - roles: End Users, SharePoint Admins
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/create-a-quick-step-for-your-list-or-library-b37c2c7f-2ae1-49f9-b4b0-a8d501f5f99e

Increased Support Requests
The lack of preparation may lead to an increase in support requests as users struggle to adapt to the new feature, overwhelming IT support teams.
   - roles: IT Support Staff, SharePoint Admins
   - references: https://support.microsoft.com/office/create-a-quick-step-for-your-list-or-library-b37c2c7f-2ae1-49f9-b4b0-a8d501f5f99e

Configutation Options**

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explanation for non-techies**

Microsoft SharePoint is introducing a new feature that will make life a bit easier for those who frequently use it for their daily tasks. Imagine SharePoint as a well-organized office where you have specific tasks you do repeatedly, like sending emails or starting a chat with a colleague. This new feature is like having a personal assistant who can handle these repetitive tasks for you with just a click.

Starting in mid-2025, SharePoint will allow users to create "quick steps" through the Automate menu. Think of quick steps as shortcuts on your computer desktop. Just like how you might have a shortcut to open your email or a specific folder quickly, quick steps in SharePoint will let you automate common tasks. For example, if you often need to send an approval request or update a column in a list, you can set up a quick step to do it for you.

The process to set up these quick steps is designed to be user-friendly, similar to filling out a simple form or following a recipe. You won't need any technical skills to set them up. This is akin to using a coffee machine where you just press a button to get your coffee without needing to know how the machine works inside.

This feature will be rolled out automatically, so there's no need for any technical setup or action from your IT department. However, it might be a good idea to inform your SharePoint administrators and update any documentation you have, so everyone is aware of this new capability.

In summary, the introduction of quick steps in SharePoint is like having a new tool in your toolkit that can save time and make your workflow smoother. It's a simple yet effective way to handle routine tasks, freeing you up to focus on more important work.