MC901823 – Microsoft Places will be generally available in Q4 CY24

Product:

Exchange, Teams

Platform:

Online, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

User impact, Admin impact

Links:

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft Places, an AI-powered app for flexible work, will be available in Q4 CY24 with core and premium service plans. Existing Office 365 subscribers will receive the core service plan, including basic features for workplace coordination. Teams Premium users will get enhanced features. Deployment begins in November across all platforms.

Details:
Microsoft Places, an AI-powered workplace app for flexible work, will be generally available in Q4 CY24. Places reimagines flexible work with AI by intelligently coordinating your hybrid team to make the most of in-office days, modernizing how employees connect, and optimizing space management with occupancy and utilization data.

There will be two new service plans for core and premium features:
Places Core (PLACES_CORE)
Places Enhanced (Microsoft Places Premium) (PLACES_ENHANCED)
As an existing customer, you will see an additional service plan as part of your Office 365 subscription: Places Core. This service plan includes all core features such as setting up and updating location plans, viewing collaborators' location plans, accessing peek card experiences, scheduling in person meetings, managing hybrid RSVP, and workplace presence related capabilities.

If you have Teams Premium, you will have Places Enhanced premium features like Places Finder, intelligent booking, Places Explorer, Places Space Analytics, and auto-release policies.
We will be backfilling these service plans into the following SKUs below.
List of SKUs for Places Core:

Microsoft 365 Business Basic

Microsoft 365 Business Standard

Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Microsoft 365 or Office 365 E1, E3, E5

Microsoft 365 or Office 365 F3

List of SKUs for additional Teams-specific features in Places Core:

Microsoft Teams Essentials

Microsoft Teams Enterprise

Microsoft Teams EEA

List of SKUs for Places Enhanced:

Microsoft Teams Premium Introductory Pricing
We will begin rolling out both service plans in mid- to late-November for all platforms. Once the Places core service plan is deployed to your organization, core features will become available within your Office 365 subscription with basic set up and onboarding buildings to Places directory. Enhanced experiences will require additional deployment planning.
Learn about Microsoft Places and the value that Places delivers for flexible work. Participate in our public preview and begin conversations with your IT Admin, relevant BDMs (RE&F) and leadership teams to understand how they are implementing hybrid work policies and managing occupancy & utilization challenges today. Start to gather workplace locations, existing floor plans, etc. to get ready for onboarding plans.

Learn more:

Microsoft Places
Microsoft Places: Using AI for flexible work | Microsoft 365 Blog

Microsoft Places overview - Microsoft 365 Places | Microsoft Learn

Deployment guide for Places - Microsoft 365 Places | Microsoft Learn

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:

Created:
2024-10-01

updated:
2024-10-01

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Service Disruption
If Microsoft Places is deployed without proper preparation, users may experience disruptions in their ability to coordinate hybrid work schedules, leading to confusion and inefficiencies in workplace management.
   - roles: IT Administrators, End Users
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/places/deployment-guide-for-places, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2024/05/13/ai-brings-new-life-to-flexible-work-with-microsoft-places/

User Experience Degradation
Without adequate onboarding and training, users may struggle to utilize new features effectively, resulting in a negative impact on their overall experience and productivity.
   - roles: End Users, Team Leaders
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/places/places-overview, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-places

Inefficient Space Management
Failure to prepare for the deployment of Places Enhanced features may lead to ineffective space utilization and management, causing frustration among users trying to book workspaces.
   - roles: Facilities Managers, End Users
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/places/deployment-guide-for-places, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2024/05/13/ai-brings-new-life-to-flexible-work-with-microsoft-places/

Configutation Options**

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Opportunities**

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Potentional Risks**

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IT Security**

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explanation for non-techies**

Microsoft is introducing a new tool called Microsoft Places, which will be available by the end of 2024. Think of Microsoft Places as a smart assistant for your office. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help manage flexible work arrangements, making it easier for teams to coordinate when and where they work.

Imagine your office is like a busy restaurant. Microsoft Places acts like a maître d', ensuring that everyone knows their table (or workspace) assignments, and helping to optimize the seating arrangement based on who needs to collaborate. This helps make the most of in-office days and ensures that the space is used efficiently.

There are two versions of Microsoft Places: Core and Enhanced. If you already use Office 365, you'll automatically get the Core version. This includes basic features like setting up and updating where people will be working, seeing where your colleagues are, and managing in-person meetings. It's like having a basic reservation system in our restaurant analogy, where you can see who has booked a table and when.

For those with Teams Premium, you'll get the Enhanced version of Microsoft Places. This includes additional features like finding the best places to work, intelligent booking options, detailed space analytics, and policies for automatically releasing unused spaces. Think of this as an upgraded reservation system that not only shows you who has booked a table but also suggests the best tables based on your preferences and even releases tables if someone doesn't show up.

Starting in November, Microsoft will begin rolling out these features across all platforms. Once the Core service is deployed, you'll be able to start using these basic features right away. The Enhanced features will require a bit more planning to implement.

To get ready, you might want to start gathering information about your workplace locations and existing floor plans. This will help make the onboarding process smoother. If you have any questions or need more information, you can check out the resources provided by Microsoft, including their blog and detailed guides.

In summary, Microsoft Places aims to make flexible work more efficient and organized, much like a well-managed restaurant ensures a pleasant dining experience for its guests.