I wished extra from this Microsoft software

Microsoft Loop is a kind of Microsoft products that I can see being nice in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later, however proper now, all of it feels a bit disappointing, particularly when apps like Notion exist, which Loop appears to be a clone of in some ways.

Loop launched again in November 2023, and it did not obtain a lot fan fare at first. Nonetheless, after two years of updates, I made a decision that it was time to pay it a go to as soon as once more and see what’s modified for the higher — or worse.

What’s Microsoft Loop?

Microsoft’s newer note-taking and undertaking administration software

Loop is a note-taking platform that additionally capabilities as a option to brainstorm concepts with the remainder of your crew, deal with undertaking administration, and do extra, all inside a single app (or webpage). It needs to be famous that whereas anybody with a Microsoft account can use Loop, you will have to be a Home windows 11 Enterprise person to entry the devoted app. There’s additionally a cellular model from Microsoft that is obtainable for Android.

Microsoft Loop affords a variety of templates and the app itself comes with a clear, minimalist look. For those who’ve used Notion earlier than, you will be very snug throughout the Loop UI, and it is loads cleaner wanting than Microsoft OneNote. There’s an infinite-scroll canvas which lets you create free-form notes or Kanban boards. Loop itself is a block editor that lets you organize blocks by dragging and dropping, making it a extra immersive note-taking expertise and much like newer apps reminiscent of Craft.

As a substitute of getting to hunt by a protracted toolbar or menus, Loop makes use of slash instructions for formatting capabilities and content material templates. While you sort / into the physique of textual content in Loop, an inventory of choices will seem, together with bulleted lists, numbered lists, tables, and extra. This makes it simple to make on-the-fly changes to no matter undertaking you are engaged on, and is one in every of my favourite options of Loop. Granted, it is not distinctive to Loop — it is a characteristic present in each Craft and Notion, too.

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Undertaking administration and Microsoft Loop

From collaborating and sharing with stakeholders to managing private initiatives

Along with note-taking and drafting, Microsoft Loop additionally capabilities as a undertaking administration software. You’ll be able to insert a Kanban into any file within the utility, however there is a devoted undertaking administration template that I like to recommend utilizing in case you are trying to replicate an app reminiscent of Jira, Asana, or Trello.

One factor I actually appreciated about Loop is its integration into platforms within the Microsoft 365 suite, like Excel and Groups. Loop does let you totally create and handle a big undertaking, however it’ll work finest if you happen to aren’t utilizing Slack and Gmail, and slightly Groups and Outlook as an alternative.

You’ll be able to customise any column in Microsoft Loop to no matter fits your wants. Lately, Loop was up to date to characteristic rule-based automation, so you possibly can create alerts for necessary due dates in your columns. Once more, whereas I am glad to see these options being rolled out to Microsoft Loop, they’ve lengthy been obtainable in most, if not all, undertaking administration software program on the market.

The place Microsoft Loop actually shines is in its collaborative capabilities. It is one of many higher collaborative apps I’ve tried out from the corporate, and you’ll inform that Loop was designed for use with a crew. It is easy to ask anybody to a workspace by including their Microsoft account e-mail to the shape, and it is a good way to tie all the things collectively if you happen to work in a crew with a number of folks and completely different stakeholders. Loop is seamlessly built-in with different Microsoft merchandise, particularly Outlook and Groups. You’ll be able to share all the things in Groups and sync your Outlook to Loop and vice versa, making a Loop an incredible choice if you happen to’re already utilizing the Microsoft ecosystem for many issues.

You’ll be able to import lists and paperwork from different Microsoft apps reminiscent of OneNote, Planner, and Phrase into Loop. For instance, a writing crew can write its paperwork in Microsoft Phrase, and with the Loop plug-in, ship a hyperlink to their editor by way of Loop. This could tremendously simplify your workflow, however it’ll work finest in case you are already utilizing the complete Microsoft 365 suite.

Why Microsoft Loop finally lets me down

Loop takes a drained method to productiveness

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

Microsoft is not by any means the worst productiveness software program I’ve examined. It is tightly built-in into the Microsoft 365 suite, incorporates a user-friendly interface and is straightforward to study. It is an incredible choice if you happen to work in an workplace and also you and your crew are already utilizing the Microsoft 365 suite. Nonetheless, it would not differentiate itself sufficient from Notion, Craft, and Coda for me to essentially contemplate abandoning the productiveness apps I am already utilizing day by day.

A big a part of my qualm with Loop is that I do not personally make a lot use of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re managing a crew and utilizing Groups as an alternative of Slack alongside Jira or Asana for undertaking administration, Loop offers a very easy option to hold all the things contained inside one ecosystem. That being stated, Microsoft nonetheless has a protracted option to go to make Loop seamless throughout the Microsoft 365 suite. On this manner, Loop is hindered considerably by being throughout the walled palace of the Microsoft 365 suite, particularly relating to getting folks over from different productiveness apps from outdoors the Microsoft ecosystem.

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Who’s Microsoft Loop for?

Groups already throughout the Microsoft 365 suite

Microsoft Loop is aimed toward enterprise customers, and whereas it is a good way to carry a number of groups collectively simply, it would not carry something new to the desk in its present iteration to make it a killer app. Microsoft’s been steadily updating Loop for the previous two years, so I may see it turning into top-of-the-line productiveness apps sooner or later, however, for now, it would not do sufficient to distinguish itself from the pack.

I might suggest Loop to any enterprise-level crew supervisor. In case your crew is already utilizing the Microsoft 365 suite for many issues, however your undertaking administration is in an app reminiscent of Jira, Asana, or Notion, switching over to Loop is price it. For those who’re working outdoors the Microsoft ecosystem, I do not assume there’s sufficient there to make it price switching.

Microsoft Loop

Microsoft Loop is a collaboration software designed to assist groups work collectively in real-time throughout Microsoft 365 apps, providing dynamic parts like process lists, notes, and undertaking boards that sync immediately throughout platforms.