Whiteboard is Microsoft’s ‘digital canvas’. Like a physical whiteboard, teams can write notes, draw diagrams, annotate ideas, and link concepts – in real time. All using a virtual, cloud-based interface.
Following the widespread shift to remote working, businesses are investing more into digital technologies to support virtual meetings. The problem? While many of these technologies enable dispersed teams to communicate, they don’t always enable them to collaborate. Not easily, at least.
When technology isn’t easy for end users, it may as well not be available at all.
Remote working isn’t going away. So today’s organisations must be looking to make technology simple. We need to find solutions that make virtual meetings more engaging, and more effective.
That’s where Microsoft Whiteboard comes in.
Whiteboard is Microsoft’s ‘digital canvas’. Like a physical whiteboard, teams can write notes, draw diagrams, annotate ideas, and link concepts – in real time. All using a virtual, cloud-based interface. It’s designed to integrate seamlessly with remote meeting technologies to provide employees with the same engaging experiences they’d have in an animated conference room… from the kitchen table.
What can Whiteboard do?
The quality of software is often linked to the number of features it has and how much it can do. But things are different with Whiteboard. Whiteboard isn’t intended to be an all-singing, all-dancing solution. Its mission is simple: to bring the classic meeting room whiteboard into the digital space.
And that’s exactly what it does.
Whiteboard provides access to a small yet mighty selection of features that you’d typically find in the average conference room. Sticky notes. Colour coded flags. Highlighters. A laser pointer. And so on. All digital, and all ready to be added to the virtual whiteboard to bring meaning to ideas and suggestions.
Any participant – from anywhere, and from any compatible device – can interact with the whiteboard. Even if it’s just to send a ‘reaction’ to tell the team that they like (or dislike) a specific concept.
Getting the most from Whiteboard doesn’t mean hunting around for hidden features and functions. You won’t find any. It simply means understanding how, when, and where Whiteboard can be used to boost engagement, learning, collaboration, and productivity. And it’s useful in more places than you’d think.
Whiteboard can be used to…
Host workshops
Conduct training sessions
Make meetings more effective
Brainstorm and innovate
Plan projects
Solve problems
Play games
…and practically anything else you can think of.
A definite highlight, however, is Whiteboard’s ability to integrate effortlessly with Microsoft Teams. If you’re using Teams to hold virtual meetings, participants can work together on Whiteboard during the meeting. They can continue collaborating on the whiteboard even after the meeting has ended.
Available with Microsoft 365
Whiteboard is a default tool within Microsoft 365 Enterprise, so if you have a 365 business account, you should already have access to this digital canvas. Being part of the 365 productivity suite has a number of benefits. Firstly, it’s easy to access – from anywhere, and at any time. Secondly, it gives you confidence that your Whiteboard data is safe and secure. Every whiteboard that’s created is automatically saved in the cloud, and protected through Microsoft’s stringent security protocols.
We’re here to help bring your people together
During this remote revolution, businesses need to ensure they’re able to bring their people together efficiently, wherever they are. At Reliable Networks, we’re here to help you do just that. Get in touch with us to learn more about Whiteboard, and other Microsoft 365 products. Leverage our expertise to implement and utilise technologies that will help your business grow.
