Microsoft has announced a major update to Loop, a real-time collaboration tool that was added to the company's productivity suite late last year.
At its annual Build event, Microsoft revealed that it will soon preview a system for creating custom loop components based on Adaptive Cards, a framework used by developers to create portable blocks of information.
These custom components will be recommended to end users based on contextual factors and can be shared between apps like Microsoft Teams and Outlook.
microsoft loop
Announced at Ignite in November 2021, Microsoft Loop is made up of three main elements: Components, Pages, and Workspaces.
Loop components are best described as live chunks of data, in the form of lists, tables, notes, etc. - that roam freely in Microsoft 365 services. If a team member makes a change to a loop component in Microsoft Teams, for example, that change will be reflected in all other apps in which they are present.
The function of loop pages, on the other hand, is to act as a flexible canvas that houses various components, files, links, and data, while workspaces can be used to bring together all the materials relevant to a specific project.
“For years, the established work patterns were clear. Communication was via email, and content creation consisted primarily of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations,” Microsoft wrote when Loop was first announced.
“Over the last 18 months, the world has changed and we have adapted to a new work environment where people needed to supplement traditional communication tools and in-person collaboration with alternative solutions. But we must go further. That's why we're reinventing Office, adding new apps to take advantage of new opportunities, and making Office a universal, interactive canvas.
With the next update, the door will be opened to a variety of new Loop components, beyond the limited number developed by Microsoft. It will also allow companies to develop components that address very specific use cases that are unlikely to be covered by more generic tools.
The new system will land in private preview next month, with a full rollout likely to follow soon.