Transforming Virtual Connections: Microsoft Mesh Unleashes New Possibilities in Teams

In today’s rapidly evolving work landscape, the way we work has undergone significant changes, yet the essence of a thriving workplace remains unchanged. Deep human connections are essential to boost engagement, stimulate performance, and retain talent. However, remote and hybrid work settings pose challenges to fostering these connections. According to Microsoft’s Work Trends Index report, 43% of leaders cite building relationships as the primary challenge in remote and hybrid work environments.

Microsoft Mesh: Elevating Virtual Experiences

To address the needs of hybrid work models and distributed organizations, Microsoft introduces Microsoft Mesh. Mesh leverages next-generation technology to deliver immersive 3D experiences, making virtual connections feel more like face-to-face interactions. Available on PC and Meta Quest VR devices, Mesh is already making an impact for clients like Takeda, Accenture, bp, and Mercy Ships.

Microsoft Mesh is now generally available in Teams! Re-imagine the way employees connect and collaborate. Read to see Microsoft Mesh in action. https://t.co/6AVHFzrSFK pic.twitter.com/06OMHgubxB

— Microsoft Teams (@MicrosoftTeams) January 24, 2024

Mesh in Microsoft Teams: A Game-Changer for Collaboration

Now, users can enjoy the benefits of deeper connections through Mesh in Microsoft Teams. This intelligent workspace, used by millions worldwide, enhances Teams meetings with ready-to-use 3D immersive spaces tailored for various needs – from team social gatherings to brainstorming sessions. Design avatars to represent participants and facilitate multiple simultaneous discussions in small groups with spatial audio, mimicking real-world conversations. This reduces cognitive load and enhances the effectiveness of discussions.

Utilize familiar Teams features within a 3D space, such as accessing shared content for collaboration, communicating through Teams chat, and expressing live reactions.

Realizing the Value: Mesh in Teams Success Stories

Leading organizations like Takeda have already witnessed the transformative power of Mesh in Teams. Takeda, a global pharmaceutical company, celebrated a team milestone in a virtual lakefront house using Mesh in Teams, offering an exciting and sustainable way for team members worldwide to participate in a special achievement.

Leo Barella, Takeda’s Chief Technology Officer, emphasizes that Mesh for Teams is a game-changer, making hybrid meetings more collaborative, immersive, and enjoyable. Takeda prioritizes people, aiming to instill a true sense of belonging and unity worldwide, and Mesh is instrumental in achieving this.

Getting started is easy. In a Teams meeting on your PC, simply select the “Immersive Space (3D)” option in the View menu. Learn more about Mesh in Teams and get started.

Reinventing Connection with Custom Experiences in Microsoft Mesh

Organizations can go beyond Teams meetings and host larger events with personalized and immersive experiences using Microsoft Mesh. With the no-code editor, start with ready-to-use immersive spaces and customize them by adding visual elements like organization logos, product videos, presentation content, and more. Effortlessly organize these visual elements to seamlessly fit into your event flow with user-friendly event organization tools. Take it a step further by leveraging the power of Unity with the Mesh toolkit to create interactive custom experiences, including team meetings, onboarding, simulations, or training. With the no-code editor and Mesh toolkit, the possibilities are endless.

Revolutionizing the Future of Work: Client Success Stories

At the forefront of innovative workspaces are clients like Takeda, Accenture, bp, and Mercy Ships. Each organization has crafted unique spaces for onboarding, training, hosting large events, and conducting simulations, all reaping similar benefits. Mesh’s immersive experiences foster highly engaged and productive distributed teams while reducing travel and real estate costs.

Before Takeda extended the benefits of authentic connection to everyday meetings and smaller team interactions, they built specialized spaces like the Hirameki Garden, designed in Mesh, serving as a virtual venue for company-wide events. Takeda’s journey began with a cost-effective solution to connect its diverse workforce and promote a shared cultural understanding.

Accenture, a global consulting giant, partnered with Microsoft to design One Accenture Park, a virtual campus in Mesh, welcoming over 300,000 new hires globally. This solution allows cohorts of new employees to explore educational exhibits, attend expert talks, and engage in meeting spaces, fostering cultural understanding and unity.

Energy company bp collaborated with Microsoft to scale specialized physical meeting spaces, Highly Immersive Visualization Environments (HIVE). Using Mesh, they created a collaborative environment, allowing global teams to connect more effectively and sustainably, reducing costs and carbon footprint.

Mercy Ships, an international charity using hospital ships to provide free surgical care and education in Africa, faced the challenge of training a diverse, geographically dispersed crew. With support from Dell Technologies and Link To VR, they built the Global Mercy in Microsoft Mesh, a digital replica of one of their hospital ships. This enables remote education for volunteers, staff, and potential donors, providing a truly immersive experience while significantly cutting travel costs and time commitments.

Taking the Next Step: Empowering Your Workforce

These success stories represent just a glimpse of how organizations are transforming work with Microsoft Mesh. Discover how your organization can leverage this new technology.

Mesh experiences are now available to the general public. Learn more about Mesh in Teams and start using it today.