In 2025, the way we work is all about balance. Working from home has its perks—coffee from your favourite mug, no commute, and the occasional midday pet cuddle. But some days, the office calls. Whether it’s brainstorming with colleagues, using specialised tools, or simply catching up face-to-face, there are moments when being in the office just works better.
The challenge? Making those in-office days feel as productive and intentional as your home setup. After all, no one wants to head into the office only to find an empty room, an unbooked desk, or a meeting space without the right tools. That’s where Microsoft Places comes in.
It makes planning your in-office days easy, ensures the spaces you need are ready, and helps create a hybrid work experience that feels as natural as your routine at home—coffee breaks and all.
Copilot recommending in office days
What is Microsoft Places?
Microsoft Places is a platform designed to help organisations and employees make the most of hybrid work. It helps you plan when and where to work, shows who will be in the office, and makes it simple to find and book the spaces you need. By combining intelligent tools and practical features, Microsoft Places helps create workdays that feel more intentional, whether you’re at home or in the office.
The return to the office: A balancing act
The return to the office looks different for every organisation. For some, it’s about creating vibrant spaces where teams can connect and collaborate. For others, it’s about ensuring resources are used efficiently to reduce costs while offering employees flexibility.
How Microsoft Places supports hybrid success
Microsoft Places is built to simplify hybrid work while helping organisations reimagine their office spaces. Here’s how it helps you create the perfect hybrid workplace:
1. Plan your space around people, not guesswork
With tools like Location Planning and Hybrid RSVP, employees can align their in-office schedules with their teammates. Instead of heading into an empty office, they can see who else will be on-site and adjust their schedules to maximise collaboration.
2. Smarter scheduling with AI
Using Copilot, Microsoft Places takes the hassle out of hybrid work planning. Soon, Copilot will be able to recommend the best days for employees to come in, based on team schedules and key meetings. Copilot can even find and book the ideal meeting room or desk, ensuring teams have everything they need to collaborate effectively.
3. Make the most of your office space
Organisations can no longer afford to waste resources on underutilised office space. Microsoft Places offers powerful Space Analytics that provide insights into desk usage, meeting room bookings, and overall occupancy. For IT leaders, this means real-time data to optimise layouts, reduce costs, and create a sustainable workplace.
4. Building strong employee connections
One of the benefits of being in the office is those spontaneous conversations that don’t always happen organically online. Features like Workplace Presence let employees see who’s nearby, making it easy to organise quick chats or lunch catch-ups. You can even use the @nearby feature in Teams to notify coworkers in the same building of changes or updates.
5. Set clear expectations for teams
With the Team Guidance feature, managers can set clear expectations for in-office days. They can communicate when the team should be in and why. Whether it’s for brainstorming, a workshop, or a team-building activity. This helps employees plan their schedules while ensuring office days are meaningful and productive.
Features and licensing for Microsoft Places
| Feature | What it does | Where you can use it | License |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work Plans | Set your work location schedule in advance so coworkers know when you’ll be in the office or working remotely. | Calendar in New Outlook, New Calendar in Teams, Microsoft Places app | Core |
| Workplace Presence | Let coworkers know you’ve arrived at the office and see who else is onsite that day. | Calendar in New Outlook, New Calendar in Teams, Microsoft Places app | Core |
| In-Person Events | Invite people to attend meetings or events in person and see who’s joining in-person or virtually. | Calendar in New Outlook, New Calendar in Teams | Core |
| Hybrid RSVP | When an event is in-person, participants can share if they’ll attend onsite or virtually. | Calendar in New Outlook, New Calendar in Teams | Core |
| Places Card | Quickly see who’s coming to the office and adjust your work plan from your calendar. | Calendar in New Outlook, New Calendar in Teams, Microsoft Places app | Core |
| Places Explorer | Get a clear view of people, spaces, and experiences at each office location to help you plan better. | Microsoft Places app | Premium |
| Places Finder | Book desks or meeting rooms with detailed information like images, floorplans, and available equipment. | Calendar in New Outlook, New Calendar in Teams | Premium |
| Individual Desk Booking | Reserve a desk for your day in the office to ensure you have the right space to focus. | Calendar in New Outlook, New Calendar in Teams | Premium |
| Room Check-In & Auto Release | Check in to meeting rooms, and if a room isn’t used, it will be automatically released for others to book. | Teams Chat, Teams Panels, Microsoft Teams Rooms | Premium |
| Quick Book | Get instant room recommendations and book spaces for meetings when you’re in the office. | Calendar in New Outlook, New Calendar in Teams, Microsoft Places app | Premium |
| Team Guidance | Managers can set in-office expectations, work patterns, and rhythms tailored to their team’s needs. | Microsoft Places app | Premium |
| Intelligent Suggestions | AI provides tailored recommendations for your day, such as booking meeting rooms for in-person collaboration. | Calendar in New Outlook, New Calendar in Teams, Microsoft Places app | Premium |
| Space Analytics | Understand how office spaces are being used, from desks to meeting rooms, with visual data insights. | Microsoft Places app | Premium |
| Managed Room Booking | AI recommends the best rooms for your meetings and can adjust bookings if changes occur. | Calendar in New Outlook, New Calendar in Teams | Copilot |
| COMING SOON: Recommended In-Office Days | AI will suggest the best days to work in the office, based on team schedules and planned meetings. | Calendar in New Outlook, New Calendar in Teams, Microsoft Places app | Copilot |
| COMING SOON: Space Analytics with Copilot | Copilot will analyse trends and key data points in your office usage, offering insights into occupancy, desk usage, and more. | Microsoft Places app | Premium + Copilot |
Getting started with Microsoft Places
If you’re ready to explore Microsoft Places, check out our guide created by Azure Cloud and Microsoft 365 Consultant, Kate Beaumont. It’s packed with practical advice to help you get started, from setting up bookable desks to creating detailed floorplans.
Ready to go hybrid in 2025?
Whether it’s adopting tools like Microsft Places, optimising your technology stack, or creating a strategy that works for your specific needs, we’re here to help. Our mission is to make work more productive, collaborative, and connected, because we believe hybrid work can be more than just practical. It can be transformative.
Ready to go hybrid? Get in touch with us to find out how we can support your organisation and create a flexible, productive work environment that works for everyone.