Planning a Virtual Meeting? Check Out Microsoft Teams

Submitted by abshaver on

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, many of us switched from in-person meetings to virtual meetings. Our organization has been using two different virtual meeting platforms—Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams. We are adopting Microsoft Teams for all virtual meetings and team collaboration. The goal is to phase out Webex by Sept. 30. Groups who currently use Webex Training Center will not be affected at this time.

How To Prepare

If you currently use Webex, now is a good time to start using Microsoft Teams. You already have access to Microsoft Teams today as part of Office 365. Microsoft Teams is available as a desktop app and a mobile app for iOS and Android. You can also run Microsoft Teams as a web app by going to teams.microsoft.com and signing into your account with your AD credentials.

promotional photo for Microsoft Teams

Why Is Microsoft Teams the Better Choice?

Microsoft Teams makes team meetings and collaboration easy. You can chat, host meetings, share files, collaborate on documents and work with teams across the organization anytime, on any device.

Microsoft Teams supports the same virtual meeting features as Webex, such as:

  • Video and audio conferencing
  • Content sharing
  • Screen control

Many enhancements have been made to Microsoft Teams over the past few months to match or exceed Webex. For example:

  • You can now invite external (non-Carilion) participants to Microsoft Teams meetings.
  • You can record meetings.
  • You can host an event.

Microsoft Teams has additional features not available in Webex, such as:

  • The ability to co-author documents in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote
  • File sharing
  • Pre- and post-meeting communication tools

More To Come

Microsoft Teams training will be offered through Cornerstone OnDemand (CSOD) in the coming months. Look for details in future editions of the ePulse. Employees who currently host meetings through Webex will receive additional communication about training opportunities.   

But you don't have to wait for training — start using Teams today! Check out the free educational resources at support.microsoft.com to learn more about Microsoft Teams. There is also a playlist in CSOD with online video tutorials, job aids and articles about Teams meetings. A FAQ about Teams is posted on the Education & Organizational Development hub.

If you have questions, contact the Technology Service Center via Edison or by phone at 540-224-1599 (71599).

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Key points
Check out Microsoft Teams if you haven't already! There have been many enhancements over the past few months.
You can now invite non-Carilion participants to meeetings, record meetings and host events through Teams.
We plan to phase out most uses of Webex by Sept. 30.
In the coming months, we'll have new education opportunities for learning to use Teams.
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