Microsoft Teams

The popularity of Microsoft Teams skyrocketed during the pandemic. Several factors caused its rise, but the main drivers are the company’s continuous digital transformation programs and an increase in working and learning from home individuals. In effect, Microsoft Teams has become a must-have for collaboration, productivity, conferencing, and communication tool. But, like any other software, Microsoft Teams sometimes comes with a flaw.

Lucky for you though, ECF Data is here to help! Continue reading as we help you solve the most common Teams problems:

Audio or Camera not working properly ?

We get it. It can be a nerve-wracking moment when you are about to have a major call and then suddenly, your webcam or your audio unexpectedly stopped working. When this is happening to you, two things may be to blame – the hardware of your webcam or your microphone. Here’s what you can do:

Check if your microphone and webcam are selected before starting or joining the call. This can be done by looking at the left part of Teams app as there is a toggle switch for your microphone.
Make sure that you’ve chosen the default speaker and microphone from the pool. Go to your settings and select “PC Mic and Speakers”.
You can also check if the issue comes from your permissions. Usually, this happens when you’re using the Teams web app. Ensure that your webpage and web browser are granted permission for your webcam and mic. An Allow prompt usually pops up. If not, change your privacy settings.

New messages not loading ?

If you can’t see the latest threads or messages on your Teams apps, what you can do is restart your Teams app and manually force a refresh. This usually solves the problem, and the steps only vary depending on the OS that you’re using.

For Windows users: Right-click the Teams’ icon then choose “Quit.” This step completely shuts down Microsoft Teams, which is different when you simply close the program.

For Mac users: On your dock, locate your Teams icon. Right-click it and choose “Quit.” Reload Microsoft Teams after and your new messages will appear.

If the issue persists, another option that you can try is the Teams web app instead of the desktop app. Logging in and out of your account is another option that you can investigate. Simply hit your profile picture and pick the “Sign Out” option.

Notifications not showing up

As a productivity and communications app, notifications are a fantastic feature of Teams because it gives you the extra prompt that you need. If you’re not receiving notifications, these are the steps that you can follow:

Enable the proper settings on the Teams app. You can do this by going to the App, navigating the Three Dots next to your Profile Picture, then try selecting “Settings”, then “Notifications”. Check if the notifications are on and the permissions indicated are what they should be. Adjust what is necessary.
If you are on the web app, try to check if you have enabled them. You can see the notifications prompt on the bottom right corner of the screen and click Turn on.

Freezing Microsoft Teams

If you’re experiencing a slow and freezing Microsoft Teams, the suspected reason for that is your device is processing power or memory. When this happens, it may translate to a larger problem. But worry not. We can help you.

If you are using the Teams App, press Ctrl, Alt, and Delete. A menu will appear then select “Task Manager,” then “Microsoft Teams” from the active apps and processes list. A Task Manager window will appear and click “End Task” on the bottom right. Click the Teams App as you would before and see if the problem persists.

If you’re using a web app, conducting a hard refresh may alleviate the problem. First step for this is to press “CTRL+R.” This process reboot’s the browser’s cache and loads your latest correspondence. If this step doesn’t solve it, you can try pressing “Ctrl + Alt + Delete.” A menu will appear and simply select “Task Manager.” A list of active apps and processes will appear and click the browser that you’re using. Click “End Task” after.

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The tools we use every day can affect how we work together and get things done. I’ve seen firsthand how Microsoft Teams has become a cornerstone in the Microsoft product suite, constantly evolving to meet the needs of a global workforce.

Microsoft Teams offers two strong options: Teams Copilot and Teams Premium. Both have truly transformed the way organizations work, boosting productivity and enhancing collaboration.

But how do you pick the one that’s best for your team? Whether you’re aiming to simplify your daily tasks with AI (Artificial Intelligence) assistance, or you need top-notch security and advanced meeting features, this guide will help you make the right decision for your organization.

Let’s explore the differences between Teams Premium and Microsoft 365 Copilot in terms of their AI features.

What is Teams Copilot?

Copilot is a generative AI digital assistant that combines extensive language model data from Microsoft Graph and Microsoft 365 apps for productivity and task automation.

Copilot for Microsoft Teams is included as part of the Copilot for Microsoft 365 license. It uses generative AI to enhance the Teams meeting experience with features including the following:

Automatic meeting summarization
Chatbot for meeting attendees to ask questions or catch up on missed information
Creation of meeting agendas from chats
Capture and assignment of meeting action items

Copilot for Teams can summarize chat discussions and lets users query past chats and data stored in Microsoft files. Additionally, it can create documents based on chat conversations. Microsoft plans to bring Copilot to Teams Phone to enable call summarization and analysis.

What is Teams Premium?

Teams Premium, a sophisticated upgrade within the Microsoft Teams ecosystem, leverages artificial intelligence to deliver a personalized, efficient, and secure meeting experience. The focus of this is to make meetings more productive. It allows participants to concentrate on discussions rather than getting bogged down in notetaking and task management. Below are some of the Teams Premium features you can access:

AI-Powered or Intelligent Meeting Recaps: Picture leaving a meeting with a complete summary already waiting for you. That’s what Teams Premium offers with its “Intelligence Recap” feature. GPT’s AI automatically creates detailed notes and action items, so you don’t have to worry about jotting everything down yourself.
Enhanced Security Features: Teams Premium takes security seriously, offering advanced protections like watermarking and end-to-end encryption. These features ensure your meetings and shared data stay safe and address the critical need for privacy and data protection in today’s digital world.
Customized Meeting Environments: Teams Premium goes beyond just efficiency. It allows businesses to add an individualized touch to their meetings. With custom themes and backgrounds, you can reflect your brand identity and create a more engaging, professional atmosphere.

Comparing Microsoft Teams Premium and Copilot for Teams

On the surface, Teams Copilot and Teams Premium have major differences and overlap. Teams Premium marks Microsoft’s initial step into incorporating generative AI within Teams.

This add-on for Microsoft Teams includes features like Copilot, such as the automatic intelligent recap of meetings (if transcripts are available).

However, there are two critical distinctions between Teams Premium and Microsoft 365 Copilot:
Teams Premium does not offer a chat function for writing prompts.
Teams Premium does not integrate with data stored in other Microsoft 365 apps.

As a result, unlike Copilot, Teams Premium does not enable users to create custom prompts or generate updated content using data from apps like Word or Excel.

On the other hand, Copilot lacks several features offered by Teams Premium, such as real-time subtitle translation, enhanced meeting security, branding options, and interaction with external users.

Teams vs. Teams Premium: Microsoft Teams Premium Licensing

Microsoft Teams Premium is an add-on license for businesses with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, designed to enhance their Teams experience with additional features. Let’s begin by looking at the advanced meeting protection features that Teams Premium provides:

The pricing for the two products varies significantly. Both Copilot and Teams Premium include the popular feature of Intelligent Meeting Recap. Here are some key points to consider:

Teams Premium is available for $7 per month with an annual commitment, and you can choose to pay monthly.
Copilot is offered only as an annual plan, requiring a one-time payment of $360.
Under NCE terms, Teams Premium can be purchased monthly at a 20% premium of $8.40.
Trials are available for Teams Premium but not for Copilot.

If you consider bringing these solutions into your daily workflow, our team is here to help.

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