We use Microsoft Teams for meetings and other operations, such as raising hands, sharing screens, and sending chat messages.
Head of Operations at Investrust Bank Plc
Beneficial calendar invites, high performance, and plenty of features
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature of Microsoft Teams is the ability to create Google calendar invites. When I click on that option to create an invite, it will go straight to Google in my web browser, and it creates a meeting folder. I'm able to share it with the customers. I've not seen that option in Zoom. Additionally, the solution has high performance, and the video and quality of the calls are good. It has all the features that I need."
- "One of my colleagues was trying to use Microsoft Teams on their laptop, and it was slow in terms of booting up when initially starting it. For example, it was not running in the background. In general, it takes some time to load. Zoom tends to have a faster loading time."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
Ms Teams has improved our efficiency. Travelling to and from physical meetings takes time due to traffic situations. Besides it improves physical safety because we spend less time on the road.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of Microsoft Teams is the ability to create Google calendar invites. When I click on that option to create an invite, it will go straight to Google in my web browser, and will creates the meeting placeholder. I'm then able to share it with other people by entering their email addresses in the provisioned location. I've not seen that option in Zoom. Additionally, the solution has high performance, and the video and quality of the calls are good. It has all the features that I need.
What needs improvement?
If the Ms Teams process is closed, the next time a user attempts to open Teams, it takes a while to load. I'm not 100% certain whether system resources have anything to do with this, but in my experience, when the Ms Teams process is already running, Ms Teams loads quicker. On the other hand, Zoom (and even Google Meet) tend to have a faster loading time.
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Microsoft Teams
November 2024
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For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Teams for approximately three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft Teams is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I have found Microsoft Teams to be scalable for what I have used it for. I have not tested the solution for more than 10 users at one time.
We have approximately four people using this solution in my organization. We use the solutions approximately every two weeks.
How are customer service and support?
I have never needed to contact the Microsoft Teams Technical Support channel. I have not had any problems with the application.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have previously used other solutions, such as Zoom.
Zoom is a more lightweight solution and is easier to use than Microsoft Teams.
How was the initial setup?
The setup of Microsoft Teams is easy for a technical person like me. But a regular user may have a slight challenge with the process of activating an account on Ms Teams.
The multifactor authentication of Ms Teams can prove to be a challenge for a non-technical person.
I rate the setup of Microsoft Teams a three out of five.
What about the implementation team?
We install Teams in-house.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We are using the free version of the solutions. Zoom gives a time-limit of 40 minutes for more than two attendees and automatically ends the meeting. You'd need to connect back to be able to resume/continue the meeting. The free version of Ms Teams does not seem to have a time limit. At the time I was doing this review, I was on a Teams meeting that had gone beyond 3 hrs 30 mins and it was still going on.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Microsoft Teams an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Deliver Practice Director at DynTek
Great for project collaborations, and for companies with data retention compliancy requirements
Pros and Cons
- "Message and chat retention is a valuable feature."
- "Technical support could be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We're a tech services company and have numerous use cases for this solution, whether it be for meetings and chat, for collaborations, sharing files, document libraries, collaborating on Word documents and Excel. We use the solution every day, almost as much as we use email. We're partners with Microsoft and I'm the company delivery practice director.
How has it helped my organization?
It's improved our organization by enabling us to create a channel where we collaborate on all the projects and communicate instantly. You can set up a meeting for that channel which links to your personal calendar, it's very good.
What is most valuable?
I believe the chat messaging is a very valuable feature. It's not like Skype or Google Hangouts where you chat and once you're done you'll never find it again. This solution sticks with the chat until it's deleted and it also enables the application of backend retention policies so it can be saved longer. If you need to adhere to any regulation or compliancy regarding data retention you can set policies for that. Within a Teams meeting, you can put in all your meeting notes, whiteboards, all sorts of communication tools that you use. It's a very simple, intuitive platform. The learning curve for clients is minimal.
What needs improvement?
If you're using this product in a big corporation with a lot of data to manage, finding something specific can become very complex and the solution can become a little bit quirky. If I'm searching for a file in Teams, I might not find the relevant information right away. I think the search feature could be improved in that regard although any platform might have issues when dealing with masses of data. It's a management challenge when you're dealing with that amount of data.
I'd like to see better ways of managing data, perhaps create a life cycle, possibilities for deletion or archiving. So, at this point we don't have, there is a way to do that, but it's it's really complex to do. There's a way to do it now but it's very complex.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's a very stable solution. Once in a while we may have some issues when users complain that things are moving slowly, but I've never experienced outages.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It lives in the cloud, so it's scalable. We're a relatively small company and have approximately 300 users but some of our client companies are huge and can have somewhere between 10,000-30,000 users. We don't have dedicated deployment staff but we have an internal IT department that takes care of things.
How are customer service and technical support?
The quality of technical support really depends on the tier of support a company has. We don't have any issues because we have a lot of Microsoft and former Microsoft employees, but if we were a client without premier support, then we'd want to see some improvement in the technical support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used Skype before moving over to Teams. Some of our clients also use Slack so we use it too. Teams is unique because the other solutions are more for chat or video but lack the collaboration of Teams.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. Because the software as a service is part of Office 365, it only requires a user a license, and then you can download the product or push it with whatever tools you have, whether it's configuration manager or Intune, you push it to the endpoints. The other way it can be set up is using an SAAS application, where you don't have to worry about infrastructure in the backend, and you just need a good internet connection.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
From what I know the licensing comes in a bundle. There is an enterprise license that comes with email, Office Suite like Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and a second possible option without the added features. I believe that the fees are charged based on the number of users.
What other advice do I have?
The transition to this solution is very quick so don't hesitate to give it a go, particularly for anyone already using Microsoft products. If they're using Google or Slack, it depends how they want to consolidate it. The adaptation to this solution is very quick, clients love it and can easily see the power of it. It's a cloud collaboration piece and integrates with products.
I would rate this solution a nine out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Teams
November 2024
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Teams. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: November 2024.
816,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Has screen-sharing feature and helps to save time and effort needed for communication
Pros and Cons
- "I think communication is the best feature overall. We use Microsoft Teams for chat, video, and audio communications, so communication is the most valuable feature. Video communication has improved our productivity. We often need to review the code of some developers, which means we need to see their shared screen. So, I think the screen-sharing feature is the best one for us."
- "The tool's AI feature works well for English. However, it should also work for other languages, such as Vietnamese."
What is our primary use case?
We use Microsoft Teams for daily communication because our team comprises developers in different places, such as the US and Vietnam. We need to communicate daily.
What is most valuable?
I think communication is the best feature overall. We use Microsoft Teams for chat, video, and audio communications, so communication is the most valuable feature. Video communication has improved our productivity. We often need to review the code of some developers, which means we need to see their shared screen. So, I think the screen-sharing feature is the best one for us.
What needs improvement?
The tool's AI feature works well for English. However, it should also work for other languages, such as Vietnamese.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the product for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable. Sometimes, the internet connection, like the undersea cable from Vietnam, has issues, but I don't see much impact on the quality. I rate it an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Microsoft Teams is scalable. I rate it a nine out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
We support ourselves.
How was the initial setup?
The solution's deployment is easy.
What was our ROI?
The tool has helped to save our time and effort in communication.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the overall solution a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Aug 1, 2024
Flag as inappropriateSenior Consultant at ICTPro
Works as a communication tool for online meetings but needs to be more intuitive
Pros and Cons
- "For me, Microsoft Teams' most valuable features are online meetings, calls, and chat. While I also use it to access OneDrive and my calendar, the core functions I rely on are meetings and calls."
- "One challenge I've encountered with the tool is that it's not as intuitive as it could be. For example, when making invitations or initiating calls, it often takes two or three clicks to get started, which feels less efficient compared to other tools like Zoom. The interface seems to have too much functionality packed into one environment."
What is our primary use case?
I primarily use Microsoft Teams as a communication tool for online meetings. Over the past year and a half, I’ve started using it more extensively to access other parts of my information system, such as OneDrive and Calendar. I also use it to invite people to meetings and manage various functions from the menu.
What is most valuable?
For me, Microsoft Teams' most valuable features are online meetings, calls, and chat. While I also use it to access OneDrive and my calendar, the core functions I rely on are meetings and calls.
What needs improvement?
One challenge I've encountered with the tool is that it's not as intuitive as it could be. For example, when making invitations or initiating calls, it often takes two or three clicks to get started, which feels less efficient compared to other tools like Zoom. The interface seems to have too much functionality packed into one environment.
I’d recommend adding shortcuts for frequently used activities to improve it. For example, having quick access to OneDrive or creating fast calls to contacts could save time.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the product for four to five years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the solution's scalability an eight out of ten. It is possible to add different teams.
How are customer service and support?
I contact my internal support and have no experience with the solution's direct support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I’ve used Zoom regularly, primarily for online meetings and direct calls. I find Zoom to be more intuitive and user-friendly than Microsoft Teams.
What other advice do I have?
If you’re considering using Microsoft Teams, my advice would be this: If you only need basic functions for online meetings and nothing more for personal use, I would recommend sticking with Zoom’s free version. However, for corporate use or if you already use Microsoft 365 or other Microsoft tools, Microsoft Teams is a better choice due to its integration with the Microsoft ecosystem. Other options like Google Meet or Zoom might be more suitable for those not connected to Microsoft tools.
I rate the overall solution a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Jul 24, 2024
Flag as inappropriateSolution Consultant at Apptio
A stable solution that enables users to share information and collaborate with their team members
Pros and Cons
- "The product enables us to create teams for specific projects."
- "The way we test the audio devices must be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution for customer meetings.
What is most valuable?
It is very easy to set up. The product enables us to create teams for specific projects. We can share information and documents and start collaborating within teams. Setting up meetings is a comfortable experience.
What needs improvement?
The product doesn’t indicate what kind of audio device is connected during the meetings. I do not know whether the participant in the meeting is on a headset or the speaker. The way we test the audio devices must be improved. The test call we make is too complex and takes long. The tool must just provide an option to play a sound and test whether the output is coming from the speakers or headsets.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for less than four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The tool is quite stable. I have never had any issues with stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The tool is scalable.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We use other tools, too. We use what customers prefer. Microsoft Teams provides easy integration with Microsoft Office. It makes collaboration within teams easy. It enables sharing of information, documents, and presentations. The quality of the online meetings with customers and partners is good. The audio setup is the only con in the product.
What other advice do I have?
We started using the solution during COVID-19. In-person meetings enable more interactions and feedback. Online meetings are beneficial when we have to present something to people in different countries, and we cannot afford the time and cost to organize on-site meetings. People who want to use the tool must have it integrated with Outlook. Overall, I rate the product a ten out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Project Manager at a government with 10,001+ employees
A highly stable and easy-to-deploy tool that enables collaboration and saves time
Pros and Cons
- "Sharing screens is valuable."
- "The interface must be more user-friendly."
What is our primary use case?
I use the solution for conference and collaboration purposes.
How has it helped my organization?
The product helps in saving time in meetings and in sharing documents.
What is most valuable?
Sharing screens is valuable. Sharing documents and conducting conferences are also valuable.
What needs improvement?
The interface must be more user-friendly.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for two years. I am using the latest version of the solution.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the tool’s stability a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the tool’s scalability an eight out of ten.
How was the initial setup?
The product was easy to set up.
What was our ROI?
The returns are on the transportation and time consumption we face when we are not using virtual tools like Microsoft Teams.
What other advice do I have?
The more we use and get involved with the product, the more we learn. Overall, I rate the product an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Project and Product Manager at Freelance
Scalable solution with an easy initial setup process
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is relatively stable."
- "The solution could be lighter in terms of storage performance."
What is our primary use case?
Our customers use the solution as a communication tool with functionalities for chatting, scheduling meetings, and integrating with Office 365.
How has it helped my organization?
The solution helps us with scheduling meetings. It also allows us to share information using chat in-between.
What is most valuable?
The solution provides good flexibility in terms of integration with Calendar and Outlook, and Email.
What needs improvement?
The solution could be lighter in terms of storage performance. At present, it is heavier for the machine.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using the solution for more than ten years. At present, we use the latest version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is relatively stable. Although, I initially encountered a downtime issue. Also, last week, Microsoft had a huge problem across the world. While I was starting a meeting, all the instances went off. It is a general problem and not specific to the version or application I am using currently.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is highly scalable. I rate its scalability an eight out of ten. It still has a scope for improvement.
How was the initial setup?
The solution's initial setup process is easy. I never had any problem changing the headset and using the new ones to mirror my screen.
What was our ROI?
The solution generates a good return on investment.
What other advice do I have?
I advise others to have machines with good memory, power capacity, and processor. I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
CTO at Syscodes Communications Ltd
Helps with meetings and has good screen share feature
Pros and Cons
- "I like the tool's screen share feature."
- "The product needs to improve its security."
What is our primary use case?
We use the product for meetings.
What is most valuable?
I like the tool's screen share feature.
What needs improvement?
The product needs to improve its security.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the tool's stability a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate the solution's scalability a nine out of ten. My company has 40-60 users for the product. We use the product at least on a weekly basis.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I find Zoom easier in the browser version.
How was the initial setup?
The tool's setup is straightforward and not technical.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I would rate the solution's pricing a nine out of ten.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate the tool a ten out of ten.
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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