Microsoft known for products like SharePoint is intensifying its strategies to advance the usage of its collaboration platform Microsoft Teams in office meeting rooms. 

Users will shortly be capable of conducting a broader range of tasks using Microsoft Teams panels, the touchscreen screens installed outside of conference rooms, according to 2 new entries on Microsoft’s product roadmap. 

Team users, for instance, will be allowed to “check out” of meeting rooms if their meetings wrap up faster than usual, as kindness to coworkers who may require the space. Similarly, current reservations will be able to be extended using Teams panels, providing there is no conflict. 

These changes are still in the works but should be available to all Teams panel users by the end of May. 

With a number of professionals forecasting a broad shift to hybrid working after the epidemic, Microsoft known for Office 365 is eager to promote its collaboration and video conferencing platform as the go-to solution for in-office installations as well. 

The tech giant faces heavy competition from Zoom, which offers its very own suite of conference room options, but the company is doing its part with a number of improvements. 

In addition to the new capabilities that will be available in the spring, the corporation finally unveiled a tool that would assist businesses in monitoring and limiting the occupancy of conference rooms in order to allow social distancing (if it is still necessary for the future). 

The admin determines the intended room occupancy, and overcrowding is identified by cameras with people-counting capability. If a meeting room is full, a warning will show on the in-room display as well as the Teams panel outside. 

the company will expect that capabilities like this, together with a slew of smart conference rooms gear (screens, cameras, microphones, and so forth), would help create the solid foundation laid during the epidemic.