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Over one million U.S. businesses have a Microsoft 365 subscription plan – yet many aren’t fully tapping into the platform’s potential. While popular tools like Outlook, Word, and Excel are widely used, Microsoft 365 includes a host of other productivity-boosting apps that too often go unnoticed.
Because subscription tiers vary, each business gets access to a slightly different mix of tools. And every business is different, which means the combination that works best for your team might not look like the one used by the company next door. At Elevity, we’re frequently brought in to help organizations set up and optimize their Microsoft 365 environments. One of the biggest opportunities we see? Helping clients uncover and apply powerful tools that improve collaboration, streamline communication, and automate routine work.
In this blog we’re spotlighting five underused tools we often recommend to customers. If your business is already using Microsoft 365, these might be the missing links to improving efficiency and team productivity.
We’ll cover:
- Enhancing Collaboration with Microsoft Teams
- Maximizing Your Workflow with Microsoft Planner
- Streamline Tasks with Microsoft To Do
- Automate Processes with Microsoft Power Automate
- Boosting Efficiency with Microsoft Copilot
Enhancing Collaboration with Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is far more than a chat app — it’s a hub for teamwork. With video conferencing, real-time chat, file sharing, and integration with other Microsoft tools, Teams brings people and projects together in one space.
You can create channels for specific projects, share documents directly from OneDrive, and embed tools like Planner to track progress. It’s all designed to make collaboration feel natural, connected, and efficient — whether your team is remote, hybrid, or in-office.
Maximizing Your Workflows with Microsoft Planner
Already using Microsoft 365 but haven’t explored Planner? You might be missing out on a simple yet powerful project management tool.
Planner lets you organize tasks, assign responsibilities, and set deadlines using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It’s like having a lightweight digital project manager to keep your team aligned and accountable.
We’ve seen Planner work especially well for organizations with multiple locations or remote employees. It allows team members to update progress in real time, so everyone stays informed and projects move forward smoothly.
And thanks to seamless integration with Teams and Outlook, Planner helps you stay on track without switching platforms — whether you're on your laptop, tablet, or phone.
Streamline Tasks with Microsoft To Do
Big projects are just a collection of smaller tasks — and Microsoft To Do helps you stay on top of them.
With To Do, you can organize personal and professional tasks, set reminders, and even create shared lists for group projects. Think of it as a supercharged digital checklist that travels with you across all your devices.
It’s especially helpful for breaking large initiatives into bite-sized steps, prioritizing work, and reducing the mental clutter that comes with juggling multiple responsibilities.
Automate Processes with Microsoft Power Automate
Looking to save time and reduce manual effort? Power Automate is your new best friend.
This tool helps you build automated workflows between apps and services — whether it's sending notifications, updating spreadsheets, or posting to social media. It integrates with hundreds of platforms and requires little to no coding.
At Elevity, for example, we use Power Automate to notify team members when key documents are updated. No need for back-and-forth emails — the system handles it. That way, our people can focus on higher-value tasks that move the business (and our clients) forward.
Boosting Efficiency with Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot is your AI-powered productivity partner. Integrated into Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot offers real-time suggestions, generates content, automates routine actions, and adapts to your individual work style.
Whether it’s drafting emails, summarizing meeting notes, or guiding you through complex Excel formulas, Copilot brings an intelligent edge to your everyday tasks.
For instance, it helps me craft more effective email responses. Instead of my usual two-word replies, Copilot suggests complete, friendly messages I can fine-tune to match my tone and audience — saving time while improving communication.
Making the Most of Your Microsoft 365 Investment
Microsoft 365 is packed with productivity tools — but many businesses only scratch the surface of what’s possible.
At Elevity, we help clients unlock the full value of their Microsoft ecosystem by integrating the right tools into their day-to-day workflows. The result? Better communication, streamlined processes, and faster progress toward business goals.
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