SharePoint - Dashboard Cards with Copilot

Key insights

• Microsoft Copilot is an AI tool that boosts productivity in SharePoint and Viva Connections. It lets users interact with Viva Connections dashboard cards directly from any SharePoint agent, making work easier and faster.
  
• Viva Connections Dashboard Cards are customizable cards that display important information or give access to apps like Approvals, Learning, or Shifts. These cards can now show up automatically in SharePoint based on what the user needs.
  
• SharePoint Agents are panels inside SharePoint where users can see and use Viva Connections cards. With this new feature, the right card appears automatically when a user asks for it or searches for related content.
  
• Enhanced Productivity: Users save time because they do not need to switch between different apps. Everything they need is available in one place within SharePoint.
  
• Customizability and Accessibility: Organizations can tailor dashboard cards to fit their needs using the adaptive cards framework. This makes it easy for employees to find relevant information and take action without leaving their workspace.
  
• Preview Feature and Feedback Loop: The automatic display of Viva Connections cards in SharePoint agents is currently a preview feature. Microsoft is gathering feedback to improve this integration and make it even more useful for all users.
  

Introduction: Microsoft Unveils Viva Connections Cards in SharePoint with Copilot

Microsoft has introduced a new preview feature that brings Viva Connections dashboard cards directly into SharePoint via Copilot. This innovation aims to streamline the user experience by allowing SharePoint users to interact with dynamic cards without switching platforms. The recent YouTube video, presented by Luca Bandinelli and Vesa Juvonen from Microsoft, offers both a demonstration and a roadmap for this technology, highlighting its potential to transform workplace productivity.

As organizations increasingly rely on digital tools for corporate communications and employee engagement, integrating AI capabilities like Copilot into SharePoint represents a strategic move. This article summarizes the key takeaways from Microsoft’s video and explores the opportunities and challenges associated with this new approach.

How Copilot Enhances SharePoint with Viva Connections Cards

At the core of this update is Microsoft Copilot, an AI-powered assistant that now interacts seamlessly with SharePoint’s environment. When users engage with SharePoint agents, Copilot automatically checks for available Viva Connections dashboard cards relevant to the user's context and displays them within the agent panel. This automatic rendering means employees can access approvals, training materials, or event information directly within their workflow.

This integration reduces the need for users to switch between applications, thus saving time and improving focus. By embedding actionable cards into the SharePoint interface, Copilot helps create a more unified and intuitive user experience.

Key Advantages: Productivity and Customization

There are several clear benefits to this approach. First, it significantly enhances productivity by minimizing context-switching. Employees can perform tasks such as booking meeting rooms or requesting time off directly from the SharePoint agent, without navigating to separate dashboards. This streamlined process supports faster decision-making and smoother operations.

Furthermore, the cards themselves are highly customizable. Organizations can use the adaptive cards framework to tailor content and actions to their specific needs. This flexibility allows companies to address unique business requirements while maintaining a consistent user experience across teams.

Technical Components and Tradeoffs

The system relies on three main components: Viva Connections dashboard cards, SharePoint agents, and Copilot’s AI engine. Dashboard cards provide interactive content and access to business applications. SharePoint agents serve as the interface where these cards appear, while Copilot orchestrates the fetching and rendering of cards based on user queries.

However, balancing automation and relevance poses challenges. Automatically surfacing cards could risk information overload if not carefully managed. Additionally, while customization offers flexibility, it requires thoughtful governance to ensure consistency and security across different departments.

Roadmap and Future Challenges

According to the video’s presenters, this feature is currently in preview, which means Microsoft is actively seeking feedback to refine the experience. The roadmap includes expanding card capabilities and improving AI-driven relevance so that users see only the most pertinent information. As organizations begin to adopt this integration, they may face challenges related to change management and user training.

Another key consideration is balancing the need for automation with maintaining control over which cards are displayed to which users. Ensuring that sensitive or role-specific content is surfaced appropriately will require ongoing attention as the feature matures.

Conclusion: A Step Forward in Workplace Integration

The integration of Viva Connections cards into SharePoint via Copilot marks a notable advancement in Microsoft’s vision for a connected workplace. By blending AI, customization, and productivity tools, this update promises to make daily tasks more accessible and efficient for employees. While the technology is still evolving, early feedback and continued development will be critical to addressing the nuances of automation, user control, and content relevance.

Ultimately, this feature reflects Microsoft’s commitment to creating a more cohesive digital experience, empowering organizations to adapt quickly to changing business needs while keeping employees engaged and informed.

Keywords

SharePoint dashboard cards Copilot SharePoint display cards SharePoint Copilot integration dashboard design SharePoint analytics cards AI-powered dashboards