This archive report was first published on 12 September 2021.
On September 12, 2021, Microsoft and LinkedIn unveiled several new features and product innovations to support companies in transitioning to hybrid work and creating a digital employee experience that everyone can access from anywhere.
Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, emphasized the need for effective hybrid meetings, stating, "Right now, every leader is grappling with how to have effective hybrid meetings, often with limited equipment and resources. Hybrid meetings are an entirely new kind of meeting and require rethinking how we approach and conduct them to ensure we’re putting every attendee on equal footing, no matter where they’re sitting."
Microsoft introduced several new features, including Microsoft Teams Rooms innovations featuring intelligent cameras that support AI-powered active speaker tracking and multiple video streams. The company also launched cameo, a new PowerPoint experience that integrates the Teams camera feed into a presentation, allowing presenters to customize how and where they appear on the screen with their slides.
Additionally, Microsoft introduced a new Outlook RSVP feature that lets people specify whether they will attend a meeting in person or remotely, enabling users to include work schedule specifics directly in their calendar.
LinkedIn, on the other hand, rolled out new fields within job postings where organizations can signal if the open job is remote, hybrid, or on-site, helping job seekers search and discover jobs that align with their desired work arrangements.
LinkedIn's CEO, Ryan Roslansky, noted that through its skill-building platform, LinkedIn Learning Hub, companies will be able to build their employees’ skills through personalized content, community-based learning, and skill-development insights.
