Every month Microsoft publishes a SharePoint roadmap recap, and every month I pick the items that will make a real difference for the organisations I work with. The recap published on 6 February 2025, covering January, had three updates I am already demonstrating in customer workshops.
1️⃣ Viva Connections in the SharePoint app bar
Viva Connections now shows up directly in the SharePoint app bar. For employees this means the company dashboard, news and resources are one click away, wherever they are in SharePoint.
Why it matters: most intranet projects fail on findability, not on content. Putting Viva Connections where people already work removes one more reason to say “I didn’t know where to look”.
2️⃣ Pay-as-you-go billing for SharePoint agents
SharePoint agents can now be paid for on a pay-as-you-go basis. Users who do not have a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence can still use agents built on SharePoint content, and the organisation pays for actual usage.
This is a big step. Many of my customers want to start with AI on a few document libraries without buying Copilot licences for everyone. Pay-as-you-go makes that pilot possible.
3️⃣ The reimagined Hero web part
The Hero web part, the large visual block at the top of many intranet pages, has been redesigned with more layout options and a more modern look.
It sounds like a small design change, but the Hero is often the first thing employees see. A better Hero means better engagement with the news and campaigns your communications team works so hard on.
What I would do this month
- Check your SharePoint app bar settings and decide what you want Viva Connections to show.
- Pick one or two document libraries that could benefit from a SharePoint agent and think about how you would pay for it.
- Review your intranet home page and see if the new Hero layouts can simplify it.
Which of these three would help your organisation most? Let me know in the comments. 🚀
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