In an era where cloud computing lets users connect with applications and files virtually anywhere, how can users connect what they are working on with information, contacts and resources that are a few degrees of separation apart?
Microsoft has released a productivity app that aims to be the connective tissue of its Office suite and relevant personal data. Office Delve, which has begun rolling out to its business customers, scours your Microsoft accounts (OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online and Yammer, for instance) to enhance what you are working on in the relevant context of information and contacts.
The Delve “engine” is Office Graph, which applies sophisticated machine learning techniques to map the relationships between people, content, and activity that occurs across Office 365,” Microsoft says. Delve’s information is encapsulated on screen via a card-based design.
MS analyst, Mary Jo Foley, calls Delve a Flipboard for Office 365. “With Delve, the idea is users won’t have to remember where their information is stored or who shared it. That information will be surfaced for users automatically, but only when the appropriate permissions are granted.”
Over the next few months, Microsoft says it plans to integrate Delve’s search engine functionality with other products including OneNote and Lync.
“Delve simply makes work more intuitive and easier to navigate,” Julia White, general manager of Office 365 Technical Product Management,” tell us. “Instead of having to dig through email, search on Yammer, or explore SharePoint and OneDrive for Business to find the right stuff, you can simply use Delve to have the right information delivered to you.”
If Delve doesn’t sound immediately familiar, that’s because the project was previously referred to by Microsoft by codename Oslo. Microsoft first started talking publicly about Oslo earlier this year.
For the moment, Microsoft says Delve is included in select Office 365 Enterprise subscription plans. But in January, Delve will also be included in the Office 365 Business Essentials and Business Premium plans, Office 365 Small Business, Small Business Premium and Midsize Business plans, the company says. [24×7]
