Message ID: MC921116
With this rollout, we are delivering automatic location updates with building details on bookable desks and bring your own device (BYOD) rooms to make it easier for users to keep their workplace presence up to date and connect with others in the office.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 422807.
[When this will happen:]
Targeted Release: We will begin rolling out early December 2024 and expect to complete by mid-December 2024.
General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out early January 2025 and expect to complete by mid-January 2025.
[How this will affect your organization:]
Bookable desks refers to unassigned seats in the office that are equipped with devices such as monitors or other peripherals. To set up bookable desks, admins must associate these devices to a workspace account through the Teams Rooms Pro Management portal. Similarly, to set up BYOD rooms (rooms without Microsoft Teams Rooms that are equipped with devices such as a speaker puck or other peripherals), admins must associate these devices to a room account through the Teams Rooms Pro Management portal. Finally, in order for a user’s work location to be updated to a specific building, an admin must onboard their buildings and parent the workspace or room resource account to the buildings.
After these steps are complete, admins have the option to opt-in for automatic location updates. This can be enabled at a tenant level or for a specific user group. Once admins have enabled this feature, users will have the opportunity to opt-in. They can do so in Teams under Settings > Privacy. After users have opted-in, their work location will automatically update to a specific building when they connect to a bookable desk or BYOD room. Note that if a workspace or room resource account does not have a building, the user’s work location will automatically update to “In the office” upon plug-in rather than update to the specific building
To facilitate discovery of this feature, after tenant opt-in, the following banner will be shown the first time a user plugs into a bookable desk or BYOD room.
Once a user enables automatic location updates, the following banner will be displayed only once for the user’s convenience and confirmation that the location update was successful on their first subsequent plug-in to bookable desks or BYOD room.
[What you need to do to prepare:]
To prepare for this feature, we strongly recommend communicating this new feature to your users and admin team and sharing instructions if needed. Please note that if an admin or user had previously opted in when the automatic work location detection only updated to “In the office” (MC808158), there is no additional setting to enable for one’s work location be automatically updated with building information. The same setting will carry over.
For more information about sharing location, visit User experience with location details in Teams.
Source: Microsoft
The upcoming update for Microsoft Teams is set to revolutionize the way users and admins manage their workplace presence. By providing automatic location updates with building details for bookable desks and BYOD rooms, this enhancement will make it easier for everyone to stay connected and up to date while working in the office.
For admins, this update means a smoother process of setting up bookable desks and BYOD rooms through the Teams Rooms Pro Management portal. By associating devices to workspace or room accounts and onboarding buildings, admins can enable automatic location updates at a tenant level or for specific user groups. This feature offers greater flexibility and efficiency in managing workspace resources.
Users, on the other hand, will have the option to opt-in for automatic location updates in Teams settings under Privacy. Once enabled, their work location will automatically update to a specific building when connecting to bookable desks or BYOD rooms. This seamless transition ensures that users’ presence is accurately reflected, enhancing communication and collaboration within the workplace.
Overall, the impact of this update is expected to be significant in streamlining workplace management and enhancing user experience. It encourages a more connected and efficient work environment, benefiting both admins and users alike. I’m excited to see how this change will positively influence the way teams collaborate and interact in the office. Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with this upcoming update in the comments below!