Microsoft Viva Connections - My Sites Card: Transform

Key insights

• My Sites Card: A new out-of-the-box card in Microsoft Viva Connections that provides users with quick access to frequently visited SharePoint sites.


• Personalized Links: The card displays links to SharePoint sites a user frequently accesses, offering personalized navigation and enhancing productivity.


• Dynamic Content: Automatically updates to reflect the user's most visited or relevant sites, ensuring pertinent links are always displayed.


• Add My Sites Card: Access your SharePoint home site, manage Viva Connections from settings, view the dashboard, and add the "My Sites" card while in edit mode.


• Card Configuration: Edit properties such as title and description, apply audience targeting for specific user groups, and publish changes to make them live.


• User Empowerment: By integrating this card into the dashboard, users gain streamlined access to essential resources, boosting efficiency and improving user experience.

Introduction to the My Sites Card in Microsoft Viva Connections

In a recent YouTube video, Microsoft introduced a new feature for Viva Connections called the *My Sites* card. This out-of-the-box card is designed to enhance user experience by providing quick access to frequently visited and followed SharePoint sites directly from the Viva Connections Dashboard. The card displays personalized results based on user behavior, allowing for a more tailored and efficient navigation experience. The video also outlines the future roadmap for Viva Connections and invites feedback from users to improve the feature.

Key Features of the My Sites Card

The *My Sites* card offers several notable features aimed at improving productivity and streamlining navigation.

• Personalized Site Links: The card displays links to SharePoint sites that users frequently access, facilitating quick navigation to important resources.
• Dynamic Content: The card updates automatically to reflect the user’s most visited or relevant sites, ensuring that the displayed links remain pertinent.

These features are designed to save time and enhance efficiency by centralizing essential resources in one easily accessible location.

Adding the My Sites Card to Your Dashboard

Integrating the *My Sites* card into your Viva Connections dashboard is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Access the Dashboard: Navigate to your SharePoint home site and click on the settings gear icon located at the top-right corner of the page. Select “Manage Viva Connections” and choose “View dashboard” to open the dashboard editor.
• Add the Card: While in edit mode, select “+ Add a card” from the dashboard. From the list of available cards, select “My Sites.”
• Configure the Card: Click on the pencil icon to edit the card’s properties. Customize the card’s title, description, and other settings as needed. Apply audience targeting if you want the card to be visible only to specific user groups.
• Publish the Dashboard: After configuring the card, select “Publish” or “Republish” at the top-right corner to make the updated dashboard available to users.

This process empowers users with streamlined access to their essential SharePoint sites, enhancing overall efficiency and user experience.

Challenges and Tradeoffs

While the *My Sites* card offers significant benefits, there are challenges and tradeoffs to consider. One challenge is ensuring that the card accurately reflects the most relevant sites for each user. This requires sophisticated algorithms to analyze user behavior and update the card dynamically. Additionally, organizations must balance the need for personalization with privacy concerns, ensuring that user data is handled securely and responsibly. Another tradeoff involves the customization options available for the card. While customization can enhance user experience, it may also complicate the setup process for administrators. Organizations must weigh the benefits of customization against the potential for increased complexity in dashboard management.

The Future Roadmap for Viva Connections

In the video, Microsoft presenters Pooja Gulati and Vesa Juvonen discuss the future roadmap for Viva Connections. They highlight plans for further enhancements to the platform, including additional features and improved integration with other Microsoft 365 services. These developments aim to create a more cohesive and efficient digital workplace, enabling organizations to better support their employees' needs. Feedback from users will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Viva Connections. Microsoft encourages users to share their thoughts and experiences with the *My Sites* card, as this input will inform future updates and improvements.

Conclusion

The introduction of the *My Sites* card in Microsoft Viva Connections represents a significant step forward in enhancing user experience and productivity. By providing quick access to frequently visited SharePoint sites, the card streamlines navigation and centralizes essential resources. However, organizations must carefully consider the challenges and tradeoffs involved in implementing this feature, balancing personalization with privacy and customization with complexity. As Microsoft continues to develop Viva Connections, user feedback will be instrumental in guiding future enhancements. By engaging with this new feature and sharing their experiences, users can help shape the future of digital workplace solutions.

Keywords

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