Last Updated on January 15, 2025
Need a new employee experience platform?
In this article, let’s talk about Microsoft Viva Connections, what it is, its key features, and more.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents:
What is Microsoft Viva Connections?
Viva Connections is a digital platform designed to connect employees with company resources, news, and updates.
It integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Teams and SharePoint, creating a unified hub for workplace communication.
Here’s why you might want to use it:
- Employees can quickly find tools, documents, and news in one place.
- Encourages alignment with company goals and values.
- Supports hybrid and remote teams with accessible digital tools.
- Helps employees stay up to date with personalized feeds and announcements.
It’s an employee experience platform (EXP) because it prioritizes workplace culture, communication, and efficiency.
It simplifies access to vital resources and encourages engagement, which makes it a powerful tool for modern workplaces.
By the way, it’s part of a larger Microsoft Viva Suite, with tools like Viva Engage, Viva Learning, and more.
👉 Related: What Is Microsoft Viva: The New Employee Experience Platform
Sign up for exclusive updates, tips, and strategies
Key Features of Viva Connections
Basically, its features are designed to boost engagement and streamline workflows.
Here are some of them:
1. Company Branding
Microsoft Viva Connections allows companies to reflect their unique identity within the platform.
Employees see a custom-branded interface that feels familiar and aligned with the organization’s values.
Here’s what stands out:
- Logo integration
- Custom color themes
- Tailored layouts
Organizations can make it more relatable for employees simply by personalizing the platform.
Not to mention, a branded experience builds a stronger sense of belonging and ensures consistency in messaging.
2. Dashboard
The Viva Connections dashboard serves as a central hub for employees.
It organizes essential tools, tasks, and information in one place, making access easier, which looks like this:
Key features include:
- Quick links
- Task widgets
- Interactive tools
What’s nice is that the dashboard is fully customizable to fit the organization’s priorities.
Managers can also highlight critical updates or tools relevant to specific teams.
This streamlined access helps employees focus on what matters most without unnecessary distractions.
3. Personalized Feed
The personalized feed in Microsoft Viva Connections ensures employees see content relevant to them.
It delivers updates, news, and resources specific to individual roles and preferences:
Key elements include:
- Target news
- Role-based content
- AI-powered suggestions
This feed helps reduce information overload by filtering out irrelevant content.
In turn, employees stay informed without wasting time searching for updates.
It also promotes engagement by prioritizing content that resonates with each person.
4. Resource Links
Microsoft Viva Connections simplifies access to important company resources with its resource links feature.
Employees can quickly find what they need without searching multiple platforms:
Highlighted features include:
- Direct links
- Apply audience targeting
- Import links from the global navigation
These resource links save time and improve productivity by cutting down on navigation efforts.
Employees feel more confident knowing essential information is just a click away, reducing dependency on IT teams.
Integration with Microsoft 365
Microsoft Viva Connections works seamlessly with Microsoft 365, making it a natural extension of the tools employees already use.
Key integration features include:
- Microsoft Teams: Accessible directly within Teams for a unified experience.
- SharePoint Integration: Leverages SharePoint to create and manage content.
- Outlook Connectivity: Links content and tasks with employee calendars and emails.
This strengthens productivity as employees can move between tasks, meetings, and resources without switching apps.
This integration also ensures data consistency across platforms, which reduces confusion and saves time.
Getting Started with Viva Connections
If you want to get started, you can set up and launch Connections in the Microsoft admin center for your tenant.
Take note, however, that you need an enterprise or a frontline license type to create a Viva Connections experience.
To proceed, go to the Microsoft 365 admin center:
When you get to the Microsoft 365 admin center, click the “Setup” button from the sidebar menu.
On the next page, click “Microsoft Viva” under feature collections.
Like this:
On the next page, scroll down until you see the different modules of Microsoft Viva.
Click on Viva Connections:
From there, you will be able to create and manage experiences and deploy Viva Connections app in Microsoft Teams.
After setup, provide employees with training or tutorials to navigate the platform.
Use Cases and Real-World Applications
It’s sometimes confusing how this tool can help, especially as a solution to common workplace challenges.
Here are examples of how you can use Viva Connections:
- Onboarding new hires: Centralized access to training, policies, and team introductions.
- Remote work support: Provides remote employees with tools and updates in one place.
- Team collaboration: Shares resources and news to keep teams aligned on projects.
- Crisis communication: Rapidly delivers critical updates during emergencies.
Organizations use Viva Connections to create a cohesive employee experience.
Retail companies, for instance, equip frontline workers with immediate access to schedules and announcements.
Meanwhile, tech firms use it to foster collaboration across global teams.
Do you have any questions about Microsoft Viva Connections and its features? Let me know below.
For any business-related queries or concerns, contact me through the contact form. I always reply. 🙂
