Executive Summary
- The Microsoft Fluid Framework allows for the creation of individual page components, like checklists and tables, which can be embedded in other Microsoft 365 apps – like Word and Outlook – and updated in real time with ultra-low latency.
- Fluid enables real-time collaboration across different apps, so you could be looking at a dynamic checklist embedded in an email while it’s being instantly updated by someone else using Microsoft Word. And because it’s based on Microsoft 365, you can even use @mentions within Fluid components.
- The Microsoft Fluid Framework is in preview now and should be available in Outlook and Office for all customers with a Microsoft 365 enterprise license during 2020.
Introduction
The team at Microsoft have always been an ambitious bunch.
Sometimes, that ambition is rewarded with a global hit product like the Windows operating system. Other times, that ambition can actually work against them. (The less said about the Zune, the better).
In 2020, Microsoft are once again looking to bring new innovation to the digital world with the launch of the Microsoft Fluid Framework.
Originally announced at the Microsoft Build event in May 2019, Fluid is a set of web-based technologies which enable a new form of real-time collaboration across different apps within the Microsoft 365 suite. While it’s true that, thanks to innovations like Microsoft Teams, collaboration isn’t a new area for the Redmond-based tech giant, Fluid brings with it a collaborative experience unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the Microsoft Fluid Framework?
The Microsoft Fluid Framework is a set of web-based technologies which enable totally dynamic modules to be created, shared, and embedded in other Microsoft apps – then edited by collaborators in real-time, no matter where they’re working.
Each Fluid module can be viewed by multiple people at the same time – even from different apps – and they can each make real-time changes which appear instantly. Thanks to ultra-low latency technologies, it can be hard to tell that the changes aren’t being made locally – even if they’re being made from across the globe.
Think of being able to create a chart, task list, or table, then instantly sharing it on a Teams channel with colleagues who can start making changes to it right from their Teams feed. Then, you could share that same module with someone via Microsoft Word, and they’d likewise be able to make real-time changes which will be instantly reflected for everyone else viewing it. Finally, you could email it to another colleague who could begin making updates from within the email in Outlook.
That’s the next step in digital collaboration – and it’s all possible thanks to Microsoft Fluid.
The future of the collaborative digital workspace
The ethos behind the Fluid Framework is to break free of the restrictions of traditional Office apps.
So, rather than opening Word to write, or opening Excel to make calculations, experiences will no longer be restricted to single documents, and instead be opened up to cross-app and cross-platform collaboration.
In addition to this, Microsoft is also building Fluid features powered by AI and machine learning. For example, they previously showcased the use of these AI features to translate text in real time within a Fluid module, so people around the world could read the same content regardless of geography.
Finally, as of May 2020, Microsoft has announced that Fluid will have open source support. This means that developers will be able to leverage Fluid components in their own apps and unlock new, more collaborative possibilities for users.
When will the Microsoft Fluid Framework be available for Microsoft 365 users?
The journey for Microsoft Fluid has really only just begun, with plenty of additions and improvements planned for the road ahead – but one important question remains.
When can you actually try it out?
Well, technically, you can try it out right now if you have an enterprise license for Microsoft 365. Just head to fluidpreview.office.net and you’ll be able to try out some impressive real-time Fluid components across the Office suite and Outlook.
When will Fluid become generally available? It’s an evolving technology, so there’s no specific release date just yet, but in May 2020, Microsoft said the basic features for Office and Outlook would be available to those with a Microsoft 365 enterprise license “in the next few months”.
Is your business ready for Microsoft Fluid?
If you like the sound of the Microsoft Fluid Framework and you’re raring to give it a go, you’ll first need the right Microsoft 365 license to get up and running.
With lots of different plans available, it’s not always easy (or clear) how to get started with Microsoft 365, so why not let the Get Support team help you out? As a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider, there’s practically nothing our team doesn’t know about 365 for businesses.
Give us a call on 01865 59 4000 today to get the ball rolling.
