Manufacturing firms are faced with evolving challenges and are seeking more intelligent operations—driven solutions to develop the most efficient workforce possible. Microsoft has announced a suite of tools designed to accelerate workforce transformation. Here are some of the most notable features coming soon (or recently rolled out) for the industrial industry.
- AI-Empowered Power Virtual Agents(PVA): This application allows streamlined operations with digitized and automated tasks and workflows, resolving traditional manufacturing problems with data and AI. AI-enabled virtual agents will be accessible via all Power Apps, allowing frontline manufacturing workers to intuitively locate relevant answers within the context of their manufacturing applications. This new feature permits frontline workers to utilize the power of data and AI to rapidly identify manufacturing issues and solutions with PVA in Power Platform and Teams. With the help of AI, PVA collects publicly available information from the web, the worker’s company, and more to provide frontline workers with solutions to their most compelling questions. Providing easily accessible data allows workers to gain knowledge about their equipment, identify machinery errors, and search out potential solutions in real-time.
- Copilot Control: This feature enhances workforce operations in a similar manner to Chat GPT. Copilot control will permit Canvas App users to obtain smart insights and analytics about the data in their manufacturing apps via conversational chat, meaning employees can employ natural language to create queries and streamline their analysis, all with the assistance of AI.
- Checklist Requirement for Tasks: This new feature will require all checklist items to be completed prior to the task being shown as complete in the system. The new requirement minimizes mistakes and maximizes accuracy in high-risk environments, reducing the risk of equipment failure and downtime.
- Utilizing Teams as Your Calling Solution: Teams is already providing valuable workflow assistance to manufacturing firms, but it can also be utilized to enable real-time communication and collaboration from remote locations. By leveraging teams as the company calling solution, teammates, customers, and suppliers can communicate easily via the shared use of mobile devices. By the end of 2023, factory floor employees should have the ability to make and receive calls through shared mobile Android phones from any remote location.
- Walkie Talkie in Teams: Manufacturing companies can connect your workforce by providing instant communication and collaboration across your team. The robust features of the Walkie Talkie app in Teams are now available on many cross-industry devices such as Honeywell and Samsung. Each device is outfitted with push-to-talk buttons, eliminating the need for multiple devices for handheld communications. Additionally, “Nudge to Explore” was made generally available this summer and assists frontline industrial workers in learning about, installing, and utilizing the Walkie-Talkie app. All first-time users of Walkie Talkie will now see a red badge notification on the walkie-talkie icon on the app tray to help them get started.
- Microsoft Viva Connections: With access to data being so vital to the safety and productivity of the manufacturing workforce, the recently announced Microsoft Viva Connections pre-configuration for frontline workers is a welcome addition. This pre-configuration increases frontline engagement and productivity by giving companies a single place for workers to access important communications and resources, such as SOPs.
If you are a manager at one of Sarasota’s manufacturing firms and you are looking for new ways to streamline your workflows and increase productivity, call Alliance IT. Our team of experts is skilled at providing a technical assessment and making recommendations to optimize your business.
