Introduction
In a bid to cater to the changing needs of customers embracing hybrid work, Microsoft has introduced Places, a forthcoming add-on to Microsoft 365. This tool aims to optimize the use of physical space by providing insights into when workers are coming into offices and which meeting times are best suited for in-person versus remote setups.
The Need for Places
Lars Johnson, senior director on Microsoft’s connected workplace and Teams group, highlighted the multiple impetuses behind Places. Employees wanted opportunities to connect in-person with their colleagues, despite the general trend towards remote work. However, they lacked the tools to effectively coordinate.
"As we were discussing [our] collaboration platform, Teams, our users were asking us to help them figure out when people were going to be in the office," Johnson said. "We realized that there was a real need for a tool that would allow teams to plan and manage their physical space."
How Places Works
Places aggregates data from various sources, including Microsoft 365, to provide a comprehensive view of space utilization trends. This information can be used by employees to plan their visits to the office, ensuring they are not overlapping with colleagues who may be in meetings or focused on individual work.
"Places will help teams understand how their physical space is being used, and make informed decisions about how to optimize that space," Johnson explained.
Concerns About Data Use
Some critics have raised concerns about the potential for employers to use Places data to make personnel decisions. However, Microsoft has emphasized its commitment to protecting employee data and ensuring that it is not used in a way that could lead to discriminatory practices.
"We believe that using technology to track employees is both counterproductive and wrong, and we recommend measuring outcomes, not activity," said a spokesperson for Microsoft.
The Market for Office and People Management
Places enters an increasingly crowded field of apps designed to manage hybrid workplaces. French-based Café similarly helps workers see when people in their team are coming to the office so that they can plan when they should go to the office as well. There’s also Officely, which lets workers coordinate office time without having to leave Slack.
Companies including VergeSense, Butlr, and Density sell people-tracking sensors geared toward corporate workplaces
