Microsoft has introduced “Places,” an AI-powered feature within Microsoft Teams designed to support flexible work models.
“People continue to want flexibility at work—our research shows that nearly half (48%) of global employees are likely to ask their direct manager for a more flexible work schedule or location in the next year,” Microsoft said in an official blog post.
The tech giant says Places will be licensed under its Teams Premium package and is designed to address the logistical challenges companies face with return-to-office (RTO) and flexible work policies.
Although employees across many sectors have resisted a full RTO for the whole workweek, the structured hybrid approach now leads in countries like the U.S. as the most widely adopted work environment. The Flex Index report for Q2 2024 reveals 37% of U.S. companies have adopted a structured hybrid model — which is a notable increase from 20% in the previous year.
An article published by The Register reveals Places will allow employees to share their office attendance plans and check their peers’ schedules. It will also offer a location finder and integrate with Microsoft’s AI tool Copilot.
The introduction of Places is particularly timely as other large tech corporations like IBM and Dell enforce stricter office presence rules, mandating specific in-office days.
72% of businesses report higher productivity by using AI and collaboration tools, and Microsoft is positioning itself to capitalize on this market, as it designs its AI software develop to cater to hybrid work teams.
