Microsoft Office 365 is comprised of many tools that can help streamline your daily workflow, while getting your job done more quickly and effectively. An Office 365 project management tool that's been recently updated is Microsoft Planner.
Similar to Trello, Planner enables your company’s teams or groups to create multiple task lists associated with different projects or daily to-do checklists. Microsoft Planner helps remove chaos from team collaboration environment.
The best part about Microsoft Planner is that it syncs directly with the associated Office 365 group. This allows you to embed your team’s plans into your 
- Microsoft Planner Guest User Access (Estimated Release Q3 CY 2018)
- New Planner SharePoint Web Part enabling users to bring their project tasks directly into a SharePoint page or news article. (Estimated Release February CY 2018. Have we mentioned that we're an experienced SharePoint developer and consultant?)
- Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Planner integration allowing users to view all of their assigned tasks across plans from Microsoft Teams. (Estimated Release February CY 2018)
- Ability display and share views of Planner tasks on a timeline (Estimated Release CY2018)
- Office 365 Business Essentials
- Office 365 Business Premium
- Office 365 Enterprise E1
- Office 365 Enterprise E3
- Office 365 Enterprise E5
- Office 365 Education
- Office 365 Education E5
Integrating Microsoft Planner
If you're interested in learning more about integrating Microsoft Planner or other Office 365 tools into your organization, we'd love to hear what you're looking to accomplish! Feel free to start a live chat with our solution consultant on this page, email us, or call us at (214) 301-0000 to get started today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUt2HwnkXtAIntegrating Office 365 can be frustrating.
We Can Help »
About HingePoint
HingePoint offers cloud and mobile applications for construction and real estate that are easy to adopt and employees love. Specializing in the systems that run the construction and real estate business including SharePoint, Salesforce, Procore, MS Dynamics, and Autodesk. Scale and grow profitably with Financial and Project Management Dashboards, document management, and workflow automation for field to office collaboration. HingePoint 8105 Rasor Blvd. Suite 241 Plano, TX 75024 (214) 301-0000 www.hingepoint.com [post_title] => Using Microsoft Planner to Manage Project Tasks More Efficiently [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => using-microsoft-planner-manage-project-tasks-efficiently [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-02-19 09:18:33 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-02-19 15:18:33 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.hingepoint.com/?p=14212 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 14108 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2018-02-20 12:01:55 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-02-20 18:01:55 [post_content] =>
Best Posts of 2017 - Microsoft SharePoint
HingePoint takes great pride in being an industry leader for Real Estate & Construction companies when looking for SharePoint Consulting and Development services. 2017 was our most successful year to date and we thought it would be helpful to provide a recap of our most popular SharePoint blog posts from the previous year. Here's a quick overview of our 2017 insights about SharePoint and what’s new in terms of SharePoint updates, best-practices, tips, tricks, and more:#5. How To Use Office 365 & SharePoint Online To Build A Perfect Intranet
Looking for the perfect intranet solution? Want to maximize your Office 365 investment? This article outlines key tools and features to get you started.#4. SharePoint Out-Of-The-Box Tips And Tricks From SharePoint Experts
A great read for those looking for some the practical SharePoint tips and tricks from our guru project manager that he learned through first-hand training and heads-down hard-work with our clients.#3. 4 Ways To Use SharePoint For Company Data Management
Do you consistently find yourself wasting time hunting for files and documents? We detail four areas where SharePoint helps companies become more efficient and have more accurate, accessible information for employees.#2. 7 Trends In 2017 For Commercial Real Estate: SharePoint Remains Top Collaborative Tool
In the commercial real estate industry, there are trends that can directly influence how companies work and achieve maximum growth. Here you will find HingePoint’s take on the top technological trends for commercial real estate developers.#1. Top 5 Integration Features of Office 365 and SharePoint Online
Finally, our most popular SharePoint post of 2017. Read up on SharePoint upgrades and improvements over the last year that drastically impact users in terms of transporting cloud-based Office 365 capabilities onto the SharePoint platform. We identify five improvements we use to get the most out of Office 365 and SharePoint. This article was so great that @SharePoint Retweeted it!
Thanks for Reading!
We hope that you found this recap beneficial as we took a look back at 2017. There are big things coming in 2018 that we are extremely excited about.
Artificial Intelligence
Microsoft makes Artificial Intelligence look like one of the greatest helpers to humanity. A hint of the scary-technology stigma that creates things like the robots in The Matrix was squashed. (Not sure what Elon Musk was referring to.)
Microsoft is working to deepen it’s artificial intelligence based solutions. For example, the keynote was being live streamed across the world, and artificial intelligence was translating the keynote in 12 languages simultaneously and instantly.
At the event, Microsoft had a station with facial recognition technology. Artificial intelligence could determine if you were happy, sad, angry, scared, in additional to several other emotions. It can also determine your age fairly accurately (It determined this writer is 40 years of age. It was way off… I’m almost 38; let’s keep it the 30s Artificial Intelligence!)
Artificial intelligence will also be used to communicate. According to Microsoft: “Organizations can now create and deliver rich conversational support solutions across multiple channels and improve support team productivity thanks to intelligent customer-facing virtual assistants that support live agents and conversation management.”
Mixed Reality
Microsoft is going after mixed-use reality to increase collaboration. It’s where virtual reality, augmented reality and holograms are added into an immersive and often physical work environment.
Ford is using Microsoft’s mixed-use reality to design cars. Before car companies would make huge clay models to review their designs. Take bumpers. Designers would physically change the bumpers so engineering and designer can approve a new model.
Now, Ford designers and engineers can put on a virtual reality headset like Hololens, and see digital models. They can interchange multiple bumper models.
Enabling the Digital Transformation
To enable the digital transformation, Microsoft works in four key areas: empowering employees, engaging customers, optimizing operations and transforming products.
At HingePoint, we still see small businesses working exclusively in Outlook, Excel, PDFs and not optimal versions of SharePoint. They have not reached the digital transformation Microsoft hopes. These companies are having problems where CEOs cannot see the whole picture about their business, and fear prevails of under-utilizing employees and making major financial mistakes.
This is what Microsoft hopes the digital transformation alleviates.
Moving You to the Cloud
Microsoft is determined to move you to the cloud. So much so they have a team of trusted partners to help your company migrate to the cloud. Called FastTrack, the Microsoft teams are designed to help IT professionals and partners get the tools, resources, and guidance needed to move to Microsoft 365, Azure, and Dynamics 365. “FastTrack can provide you with personalized assistance at any time, as long as your subscription is active.”
Microsoft Teams
If you ever thought Microsoft was lacking in ability or coolness, you should probably think and look again. Teams just leapfrogged Microsoft into one of the coolest, practical platforms an enterprise-style business can use while being confident of security and ease of use.
Microsoft Teams allows you to bring together conversations and content in a single app. Basically, anything you want can be accessed in Teams. The basic principle is to have one place for all communication needed internally and externally when working with a team.
The best way to learn about it is to try it. Give it a whirl here.
Microsoft is sophisticated.
If you’re a small business and want to go on the road to digital transformation, Microsoft tools can get you there. But technology is limited in what it can do for you.
The only piece to the puzzle that is really missing is the ability to find and collect the data you need to make great decisions about your business. If you are having trouble seeing the whole picture of your business in a timely manner or asking questions with no answer, technology is not going to solve your woes.
You need a data management strategy. You need a HingePoint. You can read our free ebook that is completely online to learn how to get a better data-management strategy.
Quit the Spreadsheet
Use the tools large enterprises use, control your data with SharePoint
Managing Data with SharePoint Will Transform Your Business
Are you managing your entire company from a spreadsheet? How are you going to grow with those document management tools? Does your SharePoint work the way you want it to? If you properly implement SharePoint, it will transform your company's productivity. Employees will be more efficient, you'll have better access to your company's data, and you'll be able to better report on key metrics. HingePoint’s custom SharePoint solutions have helped many companies struggling with unorganized data and manual, multi-step processes. Those same customers have transitioned into a more organized, productive organization by eliminating busy work and easy-to-find and search information. HingePoint covers the AEC Industry and is the author of The AEC Industry 4.0 Report and the Autodesk Industry Report 2017. HingePoint helps construction and real estate development companies take control of their company’s information. We combine systems, software, and data so all company information can be seen and accessed from one screen, like a smartphone or computer. HingePoint provides Procore, SharePoint and Saleforce consulting for Commercial Real Estate and Construction companies. HingePoint also helps the AEC industry with development & integration of AutoDesk and Procore products with enterprise systems. We are a trusted partner with over 25 years experience of systems development and integration work in the AEC industry. Our clients range from top hotel brands and restaurant chains to AEC firms and real estate developers and Facilities Management. We provide BIM with ROI. Results Guaranteed…Literally Guaranteed. [post_title] => Top Trends from Microsoft Ignite 2017 [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => top-trends-microsoft-ignite-2017 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2018-02-12 02:39:42 [post_modified_gmt] => 2018-02-12 08:39:42 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.hingepoint.com/?p=13144 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [5] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 13140 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2017-09-26 09:24:21 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-09-26 14:24:21 [post_content] =>Business Intelligence in the age of artificial intelligence
Business intelligence -- which is the ability to make better decisions on real-time, visual data -- will be the reason for the next renaissance. The last renaissance was after the printing press revolutionized humanity by causing literacy to increase after its invention in the 1440s. But literacy didn't actually skyrocket until the Industrial Revolution made literacy economically valuable. Instruction manuals for machines became important to read during the Industrial Revolution. Books were cheaper and more subjects were available. Kamal Hathi, a general manager at Microsoft, said spreadsheets were the printing press of data literacy. But artificial intelligence will make data literacy skyrocket like the industrial revolution made literacy skyrocket. Artificial intelligence will remove the need to understand statistics and code because it will automatically find interesting trends and outliers for users. Business intelligence and artificial intelligence will democratize data so it will be available to everyone, not just data scientists.Cool Stuff We Learned about Power BI at Microsoft Ignite Power BI now has the ability to turn on forecasting, see trends, and automatically see clusters with one click. Go to analysis tab and click add forecast and it automatically and immediately adds a forecast. No statistics or coding is required. Now Power BI has the ability to show drive times and demographic data by merging existing information with Geospatial data by Esri. Companies can also publish and share Power BI reports from local servers, instead of using it through the web. That’s good for organizations that don’t want or can’t put certain data in the cloud, but they can still get the Power BI functionality.
Quit the Spreadsheet
Use the tools large enterprises use, control your data with SharePoint
Managing Data with SharePoint Will Transform Your Business
Are you managing your entire company from a spreadsheet? How are you going to grow with those document management tools? Does your SharePoint work the way you want it to? If you properly implement SharePoint, it will transform your company's productivity. Employees will be more efficient, you'll have better access to your company's data, and you'll be able to better report on key metrics. HingePoint’s custom SharePoint solutions have helped many companies struggling with unorganized data and manual, multi-step processes. Those same customers have transitioned into a more organized, productive organization through automated workflows and easy-to-search information. HingePoint covers the AEC Industry and is the author of The AEC Industry 4.0 Report and the Autodesk Industry Report 2017. HingePoint helps construction and real estate development companies take control of their company’s information. We combine systems, software, and data so all company information can be seen and accessed from one screen, like a smartphone or computer. HingePoint provides Procore, SharePoint and Saleforce consulting for Commercial Real Estate and Construction companies. HingePoint also helps the AEC industry with development & integration of AutoDesk and Procore products with enterprise systems. We are a trusted partner with over 25 years experience of systems development and integration work in the AEC industry. Our clients range from top hotel brands and restaurant chains to AEC firms and real estate developers and Facilities Management. We provide BIM with ROI. Results Guaranteed…Literally Guaranteed. [post_title] => Why are Business Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence Important? [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => why-is-business-intelligence-so-important [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2018-02-09 03:12:02 [post_modified_gmt] => 2018-02-09 09:12:02 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.hingepoint.com/?p=13140 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [6] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 13136 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2017-09-26 08:34:55 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-09-26 13:34:55 [post_content] => Microsoft is starting to break down the development wall between desktop and cloud services with Azure. Azure, Microsoft’s comprehensive set of cloud services for developers and IT professionals, will be able to work in the cloud or in a local server. During Microsoft’s technology keynote at Ignite, it was clear that Microsoft is breaking down the development workflows to be both desktop and cloud integrated with Azure. For example, Microsoft unveiled an integrated management portal that lets you see your whole infrastructure. It means you can see all the servers that are part of the data center, including the ones that are in the cloud and the ones on-premise on the same screen. Azure also lets you insert and create code snippets right into your app. Simple right-click options will automatically insert the code into your app. If you need specific functionality you can just right click and get a block of code. Azure Functions is a great solution for processing data, integrating systems, working with the internet-of-things (IoT), and building simple APIs and microservices. Here are some examples of functions:- HTTPTrigger - Trigger the execution of your code by using an HTTP request. For an example, see Create your first function.
- TimerTrigger - Execute cleanup or other batch tasks on a predefined schedule. For an example, see Create a function triggered by a timer.
- GitHub webhook - Respond to events that occur in your GitHub repositories. For an example, see Create a function triggered by a GitHub webhook.
Quit the Spreadsheet
Use the tools large enterprises use, control your data with SharePoint
Managing Data with SharePoint Will Transform Your Business
Are you managing your entire company from a spreadsheet? How are you going to grow with those document management tools? Does your SharePoint work the way you want it to? If you properly implement SharePoint, it will transform your company's productivity. Employees will be more efficient, you'll have better access to your company's data, and you'll be able to better report on key metrics. HingePoint’s custom SharePoint solutions have helped many companies struggling with unorganized data and manual, multi-step processes. Those same customers have transitioned into a more organized, productive organization through automated workflows and easy-to-search information. HingePoint covers the AEC Industry and is the author of The AEC Industry 4.0 Report and the Autodesk Industry Report 2017. HingePoint helps construction and real estate development companies take control of their company’s information. We combine systems, software, and data so all company information can be seen and accessed from one screen, like a smartphone or computer. HingePoint provides Procore, SharePoint and Saleforce consulting for Commercial Real Estate and Construction companies. HingePoint also helps the AEC industry with development & integration of AutoDesk and Procore products with enterprise systems. We are a trusted partner with over 25 years experience of systems development and integration work in the AEC industry. Our clients range from top hotel brands and restaurant chains to AEC firms and real estate developers and Facilities Management. We provide BIM with ROI. Results Guaranteed…Literally Guaranteed. [post_title] => Microsoft Azure Goes Hybrid with Development, Cloud Services [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => microsoft-azure-goes-hybrid-development-cloud-services [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2018-02-21 00:01:26 [post_modified_gmt] => 2018-02-21 06:01:26 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.hingepoint.com/?p=13136 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [7] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 13123 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2017-09-25 07:26:19 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-09-25 12:26:19 [post_content] => CEO of Microsoft Satya Nadella said businesses are in the middle of a digital transformation. Microsoft has one of the most diverse crowds of 30,000 people at its annual conference, Microsoft Ignite. The diversity of roles and functions is unlike anything Microsoft has seen. "The most critical thing for us is to bring all of us across functional roles and expertise to support this process of continuous change and renewal." Technology should enhance work and life. It should help humans be more productive while helping embellish human life. Nadella rhetorically asked, How are we going to use technology to empower people?
That is precisely Microsoft's mission. Empower every person and organization on the planet to do more.
"We do not want to degrade humanity" with technology, he said during his keynote in Orlando, Florida.
To enable the digital transformation, Microsoft works in four key areas, empower employees, engage customers, optimize operations and transform products.
To do so, Microsoft is working in artificial intelligence. For example, the keynote was being live streamed across the world, and artificial intelligence was translating the keynote in 12 languages simultaneously.
They're also making a big push in alternative reality. While virtual reality has been big in companies like Autodesk. Microsoft is honing in on a more encompassing reality, mixed-use reality.
Mixed use reality
Microsoft is going after mixed-use reality to increase collaboration.
It's where virtual reality, augmented reality and holograms are added into an immersive and often physical work environment.
Ford is using Microsoft's mixed use reality to design cars. Before car companies would make huge clay models to review their models.
Take bumpers. Designers would physically change the bumpers so engineering and designer can approve a new model.
Now, Ford designers and engineers can put on a virtual reality headset like Hololens, and see digital models. They can interchange multiple bumper models.
The digital models even have safety and regulatory data in them. For example, if a designer changes how a rear view mirror looks, the Hololens will show how the new design changes what the driver sees.
The mixed-use reality reduces leaks because it controls who has access to confidential information. You can even verify your identity with your phone and it securely logs you into the team collaboration platform.
Someone can even work in two different physical places in the same virtual environment while working on the same physical product and seeing the same digital models.
Windows is creating a new mixed reality headsets to help with mixed-use reality.
Microsoft has positioned itself as the software platform to conduct business. With the advent of the cloud and it's many offerings, it's going to be hard to find a better solution for business.
Outlook now connects to LinkedIn. You can see LinkedIn profiles in outlook and connect
HingePoint is headed to Microsoft's Ignite conference. It is day one. We will be updating our blog here for updates.
Quit the Spreadsheet
Use the tools large enterprises use, control your data with SharePoint
Managing Data with SharePoint Will Transform Your Business
Are you managing your entire company from a spreadsheet? How are you going to grow with those document management tools? Does your SharePoint work the way you want it to? If you properly implement SharePoint, it will transform your company's productivity. Employees will be more efficient, you'll have better access to your company's data, and you'll be able to better report on key metrics. HingePoint’s custom SharePoint solutions have helped many companies struggling with unorganized data and manual, multi-step processes. Those same customers have transitioned into a more organized, productive organization through automated workflows and easy-to-search information. [post_title] => Microsoft Shows 'Mixed-Use Reality' as Collaborative Tool at Microsoft Ignite [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => microsoft-ignite-day-1 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2018-02-12 01:52:02 [post_modified_gmt] => 2018-02-12 07:52:02 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.hingepoint.com/?p=13123 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [8] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 13120 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2017-09-25 05:13:31 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-09-25 10:13:31 [post_content] =>SharePoint Two-Way API Integration Brings Microsoft’s Enterprise-Grade Document Libraries Right into Procore
Procore customers can now automatically update SharePoint and Procore libraries simultaneously with a new SharePoint Two-Way Sync integration and connector, built on Procore Construction OS and is available in the App Marketplace. SharePoint Two-Way Sync shares and mirrors files and documents in both SharePoint and Procore libraries through a new connector created by HingePoint, a Dallas-based company that integrates and architects SharePoint for better data management. The SharePoint Two-Way Sync brings Microsoft’s enterprise-grade document libraries right into Procore, with two-way, real-time sync of folders and documents. When a folder is updated in SharePoint, it updates in Procore. If a file is deleted in Procore, it is deleted in SharePoint. “This is not an embedded form that anyone can access, it's an actual API integration that lets SharePoint and Procore libraries mirror one another while having the security of both systems," HingePoint CEO and Founder Bryce Finnerty said. “If you are a user with rights to a Procore project and you’re a SharePoint user with rights to a document library, you can access the synced files." A growing number of construction companies use SharePoint as their system of record to store important data about employees, contracts and project status. This connector eliminates multiple repositories of documents in both Procore and SharePoint and connects the construction unit to the rest of the company. The new integration HingePoint provides for Procore reflects each organization’s commitment to openness and building out the construction technology ecosystem. With the new connector, companies can automatically and securely sync files between Procore and SharePoint or Office 365, which will save time and confusion when managing project documents. It also creates better collaboration with the teams that are not in the construction space.
Leveraging SharePoint’s API with Procore’s open system, this integration automates document sync, saving time and effort of updating two systems that tracks and reports documents. This integration allows everyone – from the owner to the general contractor – to have access to relevant documents needed to finish a project.
“We’re excited for the SharePoint connector from HingePoint to launch on the App Marketplace as it will have an immediate impact for our users who will be able to take advantage of it,” said Laura Paciano, Senior Manager, Partner Programs, at Procore. “We first began talking with HingePoint about an integration at Groundbreak, which was just over five months ago, so for the connector to now be ready is a testament to their commitment to the construction industry and value of the App Marketplace.”
HingePoint integrates software so data can move from one system to another. They specialize in building custom tools that detect and collect data, so a business can project trends about their business.
For more information, contact our Solutions Consultant, Dylan Seelie today!
214-301-0000