How valuable would it be to be able pick the brains of more than 40 individuals with expertise in a wide range of Office 365 and SharePoint topics all at the same time and in one room? That’s what happened at the “Ask Me Anything” one-on-one discussion event at SPTechCon Boston in August. The event hosted by New England area Office 365 and SharePoint user groups was likened to “speed dating with IT experts.” As many as 210 one-on-one conversations took place.
Alongside experts from Microsoft, WSC President Mike Dixon and other local experts fielded questions around the use and evolution of Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and Office 365. Experts with broad experience in topics like Office 365 strategy, architecture and governance; user adoption; custom development; search and security were on hand. Also popular were up-and-coming hot topics among Office 365 users, like PowerApps and Flow. A “who’s who” of Office 365 and SharePoint expertise — 42 pros in all — were available to meet individually with attendees and answer their most pressing questions.
One common theme that emerged from the session is that a fair amount of confusion remains over the relationship between Teams and SharePoint and how the incorporation of Skype for Business and the evolution of SharePoint’s new “modern” pages relate and work together for Office 365 users. This is a topic that Wellington Street Consulting frequently addresses in client engagements. There’s fodder for several detailed discussions there, and we’ll cover them all in upcoming posts.
It's starting! pic.twitter.com/vyr3Bx2aF7
— WSC (@BostonO365) August 28, 2018
It’s important to know that Teams is becoming the center of Office 365 activity for many companies, Dixon notes. “The integration of Skype for Business communications tools as a core part of the Teams platform is going to drive even more users to use Teams as a hub for all their collaboration activities,” he said.
SPTechCon Boston is a week-long global educational conference for SharePoint and Office 365 professionals and users. The Boston Office 365 User Group and the Boston, New Hampshire and Rhode Island SharePoint Users Groups teamed up to present the special session.
Mr. Dixon is a frequent presenter at area Office 365 and SharePoint events, and is co-founder of the Boston Office 365 Users Group. He will be speaking about the next generation of features included in Microsoft Teams in October at SharePoint Saturday New England Oct. 20, and at the Oct. 18 meeting of the Boston Office 365 User Group in Burlington, which hosts free monthly educational events. Both events are free and open to the public.