Microsoft Teams snags enhancements as Bookings app hits general availability

What you need to know

• Microsoft introduced new features and tools for Teams at Build 2020.
• New features include the launch of the Bookings app integration, Power Platform integration, and more.
• Customizable templates are also headed to Microsoft Teams in the "coming months."

At its Build 2020 developer conference today, Microsoft debuted some new features (opens in new tab) coming to Microsoft Teams. The most notable addition is the general availability launch of the Bookings app integration. However, there are a few other interesting additions headed to Microsoft's team collaboration app as well.

The Bookings app is now available and integrated with Microsoft Teams. The app lets companies and organizations easily schedule, manage, and conduct business-to-consumer meetings from within Teams. Think of this as a way to conduct things like virtual healthcare visits, job interviews, customer service appointments, and more.

Beyond Bookings integration, Microsoft is also bringing Power Platform integration to Microsoft Teams. Developers will now be able to build model-driven apps for Teams using Power Apps. In July, Power Automate triggers and actions built for Teams will become available as well, allowing for further customization like automated @mentioning, custome message extensions, and more.

Inside Power Apps, Power BI, and Power Virtual Agents, you'll also gain access to a one-click "add to Teams" option starting in June. In July, a new Power Virtual Agents Teams app will give bot creators an easy way to manage their Teams bots.

Beyond new apps, Microsoft is also bringing templates to Microsoft Teams. When you create a new team, you'll be able to select from a set of customizable templates for the purpose of the teams. Templates will include things like bank branches, crisis response, and hospital wards. This feature is expected to land "in the next few months."

Finally, Microsoft is bringing new shifts actiona and APIs to build out Teams' scheduking tool. Graph APIs now available in the Shifts tool give developers the ability to integrate existing workforce management systems. Combined with the new Power Automate features, developers can use information from Shifts to create new workflows.