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Modern Collaboration Gets Social with Viva Engage

Person - Michael D'Onofrio
Michael D'Onofrio
Principal Consultant

January 24, 2025 | 3 Minute Read

Keeping employees connected and engaged in the digital workplace is more crucial than ever. Modern collaboration tools are revolutionizing how we think about workplace interaction, and one such tool making waves is Viva Engage. This powerful platform transforms employee interaction by building vibrant online communities and facilitating knowledge sharing. Let's explore the basics, key features, and impactful use cases of Viva Engage. 

The Evolution of Workplace Collaboration 

The concept of workplace collaboration has evolved significantly over the years. Traditional tools like email are no longer sufficient to maintain relationships, especially in a remote work environment. Viva Engage bridges this gap by enhancing relationship maintenance and knowledge exchange, capturing the human element of engagement that is often missing in digital communication. 

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Understanding Viva Engage 

Viva Engage is an evolution from its predecessor, Yammer, which Microsoft acquired in 2012. While Yammer faced adoption issues, the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for robust digital platforms. With the growing usage of Microsoft Teams, Microsoft refined its strategy, enhancing Viva Engage as part of the broader Viva suite. 

Key Features of Viva Engage 

Viva Engage offers several key features that set it apart from other collaboration tools: 

  1. Connecting People Across Companies: Viva Engage helps build relationships and social capital by connecting people across different departments and even organizations. 

  2. Fostering Diverse Communities: It allows the creation of communities around shared interests, promoting engagement and interaction. 

  3. Amplifying Company Culture: The platform supports leadership engagement and helps amplify company culture. 

  4. Facilitating Knowledge Exchange: Viva Engage makes it easy to share knowledge and stories, enhancing the overall learning experience within the organization. 

Integration with Microsoft Teams 

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One of the standout features of Viva Engage is its seamless integration with Microsoft Teams. While Teams focuses on collaborative work, document management, and project-specific groups, Viva Engage promotes broader interaction through open communities. It incorporates social media aspects like trending topics, likes, and shares, which employees expect in modern communication tools. 

User-Friendly Navigation and Community Building 

Navigating Viva Engage is straightforward, with options for discussions, questions, praise, polls, and announcements. The platform's search functionality is comprehensive, integrating topics and hashtags to facilitate content discovery. 

Building a community on Viva Engage requires a clear purpose, adoption goals, user engagement strategies, and content planning. Community managers play a crucial role in overseeing these aspects, ensuring meaningful involvement and preventing community abandonment. Viva Engage also includes AI support through Copilot for enhanced content creation. 

Real-World Use Cases

Viva Engage can be used in various ways to enhance workplace collaboration: 

  • Knowledge Sharing and Education: Facilitates the exchange of knowledge and educational content across the organization. 

  • Cross-Department Collaboration: Encourages collaboration between different departments, breaking down silos. 

  • Event Coordination and Real-Time Project Updates: Helps coordinate events and provide real-time updates on projects. 

  • Leadership and Employee Engagement: Enhances engagement between leadership and employees, fostering a sense of community. 

  • Social Communities for Personnel Recognition and Interests: Creates social communities for recognizing personnel achievements and shared interests. 

To Conclude...

Viva Engage is a game-changer in modern workplace collaboration. By connecting people, fostering diverse communities, amplifying company culture, and facilitating knowledge exchange, it addresses the challenges of remote work and enhances employee engagement. Its integration with Microsoft Teams and user-friendly features make it a valuable tool for any organization looking to improve communication and collaboration. 

If you're interested in learning more about Viva Engage or other Microsoft tools, feel free to reach out for further information. 

Microsoft

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MICROSOFT

Modern Collaboration Gets Social with Viva Engage

Viva Engage transforms remote work with vibrant communities and seamless knowledge sharing.