MC798683 – Microsoft Outlook: Microsoft 365 Groups connectors retire starting August 5, 2024 (archived)

Product:

Exchange, Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft 365 for the web, Microsoft 365 Groups, Outlook, Power Automate, Teams

Platform:

Online, Web, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

User impact, Retirement

Links:

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft 365 Groups connectors in Outlook will retire from August 5 to September 5, 2024. Users won't be able to create or manage connections, and existing ones won't receive updates. Microsoft recommends using Power Automate app as an alternative to receive notifications and updates on Group email. Users should prepare for this change by notifying their organization and updating documentation.

Details:
Updated June 6, 2024: For organizations of Microsoft 365 operated by 21Vianet, you can safely disregard this message. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
For Microsoft Outlook on the web and new Outlook for Windows, we will be retiring Microsoft 365 Groups connectors starting August 5, 2024, and ending September 5, 2024. Microsoft 365 Groups connectors deliver notifications and updates from online apps, tools, and services (such as Asana, Trello, or RSS) to Group email. Instead, we recommend using the Microsoft Power Automate app to continue receiving notifications/updates from these apps on Group email.

Change Category:
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Release Phase:

Created:
2024-06-05

updated:
2024-06-07

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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Direct effects for Operations**

- Impact on IT Operations
- Disruption in existing workflows that rely on Microsoft 365 Groups connectors, leading to potential delays in information dissemination.
- Roles impacted: IT Operations Managers, System Administrators
- Increased support requests from users needing assistance with transitioning to Power Automate for notifications.
- Roles impacted: Help Desk Technicians, IT Support Staff

- Impact on IT Services
- Loss of functionality for existing integrations with third-party applications (e.g., Asana, Trello) that utilize Groups connectors, affecting service delivery.
- Roles impacted: Service Managers, Application Owners
- Need for updates to internal documentation and training materials to reflect the new process using Power Automate.
- Roles impacted: IT Trainers, Documentation Specialists

- Impact on IT Users
- Users will experience a gap in notifications and updates from their connected applications until they set up new workflows in Power Automate.
- Roles impacted: End Users, Project Managers, Team Leaders
- Increased complexity in managing notifications, as users must manually configure each trigger in Power Automate.
- Roles impacted: End Users, Business Analysts

- Dependencies and Interdependencies
- The retirement of Groups connectors may affect other Microsoft 365 services that rely on these connectors for notifications, such as Teams and SharePoint.
- Roles impacted: Collaboration Managers, SharePoint Administrators
- Organizations may need to assess their licensing for Power Automate, especially for premium connectors, which could lead to budgetary implications.
- Roles impacted: Financial Analysts, Procurement Officers

- Recommendations for Mitigation
- Proactive communication to users about the upcoming changes and training sessions on using Power Automate effectively.
- Roles impacted: Change Managers, Communication Officers
- Establishing a support plan to assist users during the transition period, including FAQs and dedicated support channels.
- Roles impacted: IT Support Staff, User Experience Designers

References:
- Microsoft Documentation on Power Automate: [Power Automate Documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/power-automate/get-started-logic-flow?tabs=classic-designer&source=docs)
- Microsoft Support on Groups Connectors: [Connect apps to your groups in Outlook](https://support.microsoft.com/office/connect-apps-to-your-groups-in-outlook-ed0ce547-038f-4902-b9b3-9e518ae6fbab)

Opportunities**

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Potentional Risks**

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