SharePoint roadmap pitstop February 2025

Key insights

• Viva Connections Integration: Viva Connections is now directly accessible from the SharePoint app bar, enhancing connectivity between your intranet and Viva Connections. This feature requires a configured and published dashboard with an enabled Viva Connections experience.


• Pay-as-you-go Billing for SharePoint Agents: A new billing model allows organizations to use an Azure subscription to pay for SharePoint agents based on queries used. This enables admins to provide access to users without Copilot licenses, while those with Microsoft 365 Copilot seat licenses continue under existing terms.


• Re-imagined Hero Web Part with Carousel Layout: The Hero web part now includes a carousel layout, enabling authors to create dynamic slideshows with up to five slides. This update enhances content engagement through imagery, bold text, and calls to action.


• SharePoint Enhancements in February 2025: Key updates include user-created cards in Viva Connections, Copilot Visual Creator powered by Clipchamp, updated document libraries in SharePoint, improved Microsoft Lists links in Teams chats and channels, and preview mode for SharePoint Pages.


• Retirement of SharePoint Spaces: February 2025 marks the retirement of SharePoint Spaces as part of ongoing enhancements and updates within the platform.


• Upcoming Microsoft Events: Notable events include the SharePoint Hackathon (March 3-17), Ability Summit (March 18), MVP Summit (March 24-27), Microsoft's 50th Anniversary (April 4), and Microsoft Build (May 19-22).

Introduction to SharePoint Roadmap Pitstop February 2025

In February 2025, Microsoft unveiled a series of updates and enhancements to SharePoint and related technologies. Despite the month being shorter than usual, the product team managed to introduce a variety of new features and improvements. These updates include Viva Connections integration, a new billing model for SharePoint agents, and a revamped Hero web part with a carousel layout. Additionally, there were several other enhancements such as user-created cards, Copilot Visual Creator powered by Clipchamp, and updates to Microsoft Lists. This article delves into these developments, exploring their implications, challenges, and the trade-offs involved.

Viva Connections Integration

One of the standout updates in February 2025 is the integration of Viva Connections directly into the SharePoint app bar. This integration provides a seamless entry point alongside existing navigation elements such as Global navigation, My sites, My news, My files, My lists, and the Create experience. The primary goal of this integration is to enhance the connection between an organization's intranet and Viva Connections. However, it's important to note that this feature is only available to customers with a configured and published dashboard and an enabled Viva Connections experience in their tenants. The integration of Viva Connections offers several benefits, including improved employee engagement and streamlined access to essential resources. However, there are also challenges involved in implementing this feature. Organizations need to ensure that their dashboards are properly configured and published, which may require additional time and resources. Furthermore, the success of this integration largely depends on the adoption and usage by employees, which can vary across different organizations.

Pay-as-you-go Billing for SharePoint Agents

Another significant update is the introduction of a new pay-as-you-go billing model for SharePoint agents. This model allows organizations to use an Azure subscription to pay for the SharePoint agents service based on the number of queries used. This enables administrators to provide users without Copilot licenses the ability to use and create agents on any SharePoint site or document library they have access to. Users with Microsoft 365 Copilot seat licenses can continue using SharePoint agents according to their license terms. The pay-as-you-go model offers flexibility and cost-effectiveness, as organizations only pay for the queries they use. This can be particularly beneficial for organizations with fluctuating usage patterns. However, setting up this billing model requires administrators to configure billing and activate the service in the Microsoft 365 admin center, which involves an Azure subscription and resource group. This setup process may pose a challenge for organizations with limited technical expertise or resources.

Re-imagined Hero Web Part with Carousel Layout

The Hero web part has undergone a transformation with the introduction of a new carousel layout. This enhancement allows authors to create engaging slideshows with up to five slides in any section type. The carousel layout enables the highlighting of key content with imagery, bold text, and calls to action, creating more dynamic page experiences. The revamped Hero web part offers a visually appealing way to present content, making it easier for users to engage with important information. However, there are trade-offs to consider. While the carousel layout can enhance user engagement, it may also lead to longer page load times if not optimized properly. Additionally, organizations need to ensure that the content displayed in the carousel is relevant and regularly updated to maintain user interest.

Additional Enhancements and Retirements

In addition to the major updates mentioned above, there are several other enhancements and retirements in the SharePoint roadmap for February 2025. These include user-created cards, Copilot Visual Creator powered by Clipchamp, Microsoft Lists: Forms updates, updated document libraries, improved Microsoft Lists links in Teams chats and channels, preview mode for SharePoint Pages, and personal Loop workspaces. One notable retirement is that of SharePoint spaces. While this may disappoint some users, it reflects Microsoft's focus on streamlining its offerings and concentrating on features with the most impact and usage. The decision to retire certain features is often based on user feedback and usage data, highlighting the importance of continuous evaluation and adaptation in technology development.

Insights from Matt Taylor and Upcoming Events

As part of the February 2025 updates, Microsoft featured an interview with Matt Taylor, who shared insights into getting started with SharePoint agents. Taylor's journey from the Teams Rooms team to the world of SharePoint provides valuable perspectives for those new to the platform. His experiences highlight the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. Moreover, Microsoft has announced a series of upcoming events, including the SharePoint Hackathon, Ability Summit, MVP Summit 2025, and Microsoft 365 Community Conference, among others. These events offer opportunities for professionals to connect, learn, and share best practices, further enhancing their understanding of Microsoft technologies.

Conclusion

The February 2025 updates to SharePoint and related technologies demonstrate Microsoft's commitment to enhancing user experience and providing flexible solutions for organizations. While the new features and improvements offer numerous benefits, they also come with challenges and trade-offs that organizations must navigate. By staying informed and actively engaging with the Microsoft community, users can maximize the potential of these updates and drive positive outcomes for their organizations.

Keywords

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