May 5, 2020 by Tim
Everybody loves free stuff, right? Well, you’re going to love this article. There are tons of useful features hiding in the technology that you already have, but most people are not using them. In most cases, folks simply don’t know what they’re missing! Read on as I reveal the top hidden features in commonly used platforms.
Formerly called Office 365, Microsoft 365 is an online productivity suite that many businesses use for email, cloud file storage, and more. Today, we’re focusing on the “more” part. 365 has many features that folks are paying for but often not using.
If you use your personal vehicle for work and don’t get reimbursed by your employer, you should be tracking your miles. If you aren’t tracking, you are throwing money away! In 2020, the deduction rate is 57.5 cents per mile. So, if you drive 20 miles a week for work, you could save more than $500 on your taxes for the year.
It’s important to note that only certain drives qualify. For example, commuting to work does not count, but traveling from the office to meet with a client does. Be sure to read up on what qualifies here.
The tricky part is that you need to keep an accurate log of all your drives for the year. This is where MileIQ comes in. MileIQ is an app that you can install on a smartphone that will automatically track your drives. At the end of the week, you review your trips and mark those that qualify as business-related.
MileIQ normally costs $6 per month, but if your company uses Microsoft 365, MileIQ is included free for all users. To set up MileIQ for 365, click here.
MileIQ automatically tracks your business mileage for you
Anyone who’s been stuck emailing back and forth to schedule an appointment will appreciate Microsoft Bookings. Bookings allows clients to view your calendar online and choose an available slot to make an appointment. No more scheduling nightmares! Just send clients to your Bookings page and they can find a time that works for both of you in one easy step.
Microsoft Bookings lets your clients view your calendar and choose a free slot for an appointment.
Microsoft Bookings is also included with 365. Set it up here.
This one is especially useful with many workers still stuck at home due to COVID-19. Microsoft Teams is a live collaboration app that allows employees to work together in real time. Teams includes messaging and file sharing, as well as video meetings, which is great for companies that have multiple offices, remote workers, or staff that travel on the road. If you find yourself emailing or texting your colleagues repeatedly throughout the day, you may want to give Teams a try.
Microsoft Teams allows employees to communicate and work together in real-time
Once again, Teams is included free for 365 users. Try it here.
Note: We will be publishing a dedicated post on Microsoft Teams in the near future.
With Windows 7 reaching End-of-Life in January 2020, most businesses have migrated to Windows 10. Here’s a few useful hidden features of the new operating system.
Are you a chronic multi-tasker? Do you have a hard time focusing on one thing at a time? If so, virtual desktops are for you. Virtual desktops allow you to use multiple computer sessions simultaneously, each with its own set of open programs and windows. It’s kind of like having two computers (or more) in one!
For example, let’s say you are working on writing a report, but you also need to fill customer orders as they come in during the day. You could have one virtual desktop running with Microsoft Word to write your report, as well as a webpage you are doing research on. Meanwhile, you’d have a second virtual desktop open with your email and sales order software running. You can work on the report distraction-free on Desktop 1, then switch to Desktop 2 when an order comes in.
To use virtual desktops in Windows 10, click the so-called Task View icon in the taskbar, to the right of the Start Menu and Search Box.
Click the Task View icon to start using virtual desktops
Forget about paying hundreds of dollars for speech-to-text software like Dragon Dictation. Windows 10 includes a free dictation feature that will automatically type your spoken words. To set up dictation, press the Windows Key (⊞) and the letter H on your keyboard simultaneously. The first time you do this, you may see a small bar appear at the top of the screen prompting you to visit Settings and enable speech recognition.
Press the Windows Key (⊞) + H to start using dictation
Once you’re all set up, simply press Windows Key (⊞) + H anywhere you’d normally type (of course, you’ll also need a working microphone). Dictation on Windows 10 works remarkably well, in my experience.
Hopefully, you learned something new today. Have fun trying out these features, and have a great day!
