December 2024 update of Power Automate for desktop is now available

Stay up to date with the latest advancements in automation! The December 2024 update for Power Automate for desktop introduces exciting features and enhancements, empowering users to streamline workflows more efficiently than ever. Explore these updates and unlock new ways to boost productivity with automation.

Preview: Repair Flow Automation Errors

- Easily fix flow errors related to missing UI element selectors when running flows in attended or unattended mode from the cloud.
- Choose between Copilot-suggested fixes or manual repairs during the flow run.
- The feature is currently available in US-based environments for work or school accounts.

Preview: Dark Mode

- Power Automate for desktop now supports Dark Mode, giving your workflows a sleek new look.
- Enable it via the Settings menu in the console.

Download Power Automate for Desktop here.

Creating internal GitHub repositories for teams is now available in Visual Studio 2022

Collaboration just got easier for development teams with the ability to create internal GitHub repositories. This new feature allows teams to securely share and collaborate on projects within their organization, streamlining workflows and enhancing productivity. Discover how this capability can transform your team's development processes in Visual Studio.

Here’s what you need to know about this new feature:

- Seamless Integration: Developers can now align with their GitHub organization's guidelines more effectively while staying within the Visual Studio environment.

- New Visibility Option: In the "Create a Git Repository" dialog, a new Internal visibility option appears when using an account that supports internal repositories.

- Enhanced Guidance: Visual Studio now provides detailed explanations for each repository visibility type, helping you select the correct settings and ensure proper configuration from the start.

- Error Prevention: If you attempt to create a repository with incorrect visibility, the system will prevent the action—protecting your source code from unintended sharing.

- Streamlined Workflow: This feature eliminates the need to leave Visual Studio for repository creation, enabling developers to focus more on coding and less on managing repository settings.

Multilingual voice agents are now available in Dynamics 365 Contact Center

Microsoft simplifies customer support for multilingual audiences with the introduction of multilingual voice agents for contact centers. These advanced agents eliminate the need for separate bots for each language, reducing complexity and speeding up deployment. With seamless integration across messaging and voice interactions, businesses can now handle calls in multiple languages using a single, versatile bot, enhancing efficiency and improving customer experiences.

Here's what you can achieve with the new multilingual voice agents:

- Seamless Language Switching: Use a single phone number and effortlessly switch languages mid-call based on customer input.

- Unified Bot Management: Build and manage one bot in Copilot Studio that handles multiple languages, simplifying operations.

- Lower Total Cot of Ownership: Reduce maintenance complexity with centralized updates, eliminating the need for language-specific bots.

- Faster Deployment: Deploy updates and new features across all supported languages simultaneously, accelerating rollout times.

- Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Provide a personalized experience by enabling customers to switch languages mid-call—no need to dial multiple phone numbers.

Visual Studio releases new non-blocking Code Cleanup feature

Microsoft Visual Studio continues to enhance developer productivity with its latest update, introducing non-blocking code cleanup for seamless workflows. This feature allows developers to maintain focus on coding while automatically applying style and formatting improvements in the background. With these updates, Visual Studio ensures a smoother, more efficient coding experience.

Experience a more streamlined workflow with the new non-blocking Code Cleanup feature in Visual Studio 22. Here’s how it enhances your productivity:

  • Work Without Delays: Code Cleanup now runs in the background as you work, so you no longer need to wait for it to finish every time you save your progress.

  • Responsive IDE: The cleanup process no longer locks up your IDE, ensuring it remains fully responsive for a smoother and uninterrupted user experience.

  • Quick Edits on the Fly: Need to make changes mid-cleanup? Simply stop the process, edit, and save again to restart the cleanup on the updated code.

  • Easy Setup: Enable Code Cleanup on save by navigating to Tools > Options > Text Editor > Code Cleanup and turning on Run Code Cleanup profile on Save for your preferred profile.

Microsoft Ignite 2024: Key Highlights You Can't Miss

Missed out on Microsoft Ignite 2024? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! This year’s conference is focused on groundbreaking innovations in AI and security. Here are the key takeaways: 

Zero Day Quest: A Next-Level Hacking Event  

Microsoft announced Zero Day Quest, a first-of-its-kind hacking event focused on securing cloud and AI technologies. With a record-setting $4 million in rewards, this event will be the industry’s largest public hacking competition, taking place next year.

Copilot Studio: Revolutionizing Productivity 

Copilot Studio empowers businesses to create AI-driven agents that automate processes while giving IT teams the tools to manage, secure, and measure their impact. 

Exciting Updates in Copilot Studio: 

  • Copilot Actions: 

Save time on repetitive tasks with AI-powered automation across Microsoft 365. From sending team status updates to compiling reports or scheduling emails, Copilot handles multi-step workflows with ease. 

  • New Role-Specific Agents:

  1. Facilitator Agent in Microsoft Teams: Helps moderate meetings, track follow-ups, and keep discussions focused. 

  2. Project Manager Agent in Planner: Automates project workflows, creating plans and overseeing progress. 

  3. Self-Service Agents: Enhance HR and IT teams with agents that provide instant answers to policy-related queries. 

  4. SharePoint Agents: Built-in agents for SharePoint sites offer real-time insights from your knowledge base. 

  • Build Your Own Agents: Customize agents tailored to your unique business needs using Copilot Studio. 

  • Copilot Analytics: Track how Copilot impacts key business metrics like sales, marketing, and finance. Fine-tune agent performance to drive tangible outcomes. 

Advancements in Data Management 

Microsoft Fabric Databases 

Microsoft brings SQL Server natively to Fabric, providing an enterprise-data platform for batch, real-time, and transactional performance—all on a unified platform with open-source formats. 

AI-Powered Tools and Services 

Azure AI Foundry 

Microsoft builds its first-class app server, Azure AI Foundry, a unified platform for developing AI apps with integrated tools, safety features, and monitoring solutions. 

Azure AI Agent Service 

Microsoft releases a developer-focused tool for building data-grounded agents with 1,200+ connectors, enabling powerful action-oriented solutions. 

Enhanced Foundry Management Tools 

  • AI Reports: Document and evaluate AI application use cases and performance. 

  • Prompt Shields: Secure AI applications by detecting and blocking output manipulation. 

Microsoft Ignite 2024 unveiled an array of innovative tools and solutions designed to transform how businesses approach AI, security, and cloud computing. From powerful productivity features like Copilot Studio to groundbreaking advancements in Azure and AI technologies, these announcements promise to drive efficiency and innovation across industries. 

If you want to catch all the action and insights from the conference, you can watch the full Microsoft Ignite 2024 event here. 

 

Microsoft enhances GitHub Copilot to boost .NET developer productivity

Microsoft enhances their GitHub Copilot to boost .NET developer productivity. This AI-powered coding assistant now streamlines development with intelligent code suggestions, quick problem resolution, and concise code summaries. Available for both Visual Studio and VS Code, it’s designed to help developers write better code faster and with greater efficiency.

Here’s why you should use GitHub Copilot:

  • Code smarter and faster: GitHub Copilot offers inline suggestions tailored to your active and open files, making coding seamless.

  • Understand your code better: Generate summaries for symbols and invocations in your codebase with the new Generate Copilot Summary.

  • Resolve issues effortlessly: GitHub Copilot now identifies code issues, provides fixes, and explains them to help you resolve problems quickly.

  • Debug with confidence: Let Debug with Copilot guide you through test failures or assist with debugging.

  • Simplify pull requests: Save time as GitHub Copilot generates detailed pull request descriptions.

Power Apps simplifies creation and editing of Power Fx with Copilot

The Power Platform is making it even easier to create and edit Power Fx formulas with the new "Create a formula" preview feature in Power Apps. This enhancement empowers app makers to build and refine formulas seamlessly, reducing complexity and boosting productivity. With intuitive tools like this, Microsoft continues to simplify app development, helping businesses innovate faster.

Here’s what you can do with the new feature:

  • Generate formulas from natural language: Select the Copilot button, describe your desired action, and watch your Power Fx formula take shape.

  • Contribute to improvements: Provide feedback to enhance AI interactions and product features over time.

  • Enable the feature: Go to Canvas App Settings > Updates > Preview, and toggle on "Copilot for formulas."

  • Understand formulas in plain language: Use the "Explain this selection" option for a clear explanation of any selected part of a formula.

  • Enjoy multilingual support: Copilot in the formula bar now supports 18 languages, including German, French, Russian, and more.

GitHub Copilot feature resolves code issues quickly

Microsoft continues to enhance the developer experience with the integration of GitHub Copilot into Visual Studio 2022. Now embedded in the lightbulb and error list, GitHub Copilot offers intelligent, real-time code suggestions and explanations, making debugging and fixing code faster and more intuitive. With this seamless integration, developers can resolve issues efficiently while gaining valuable insights—all within the familiar Visual Studio environment.

Benefits of using GitHub Copilot:

  • Whether you're working with C# or C++, GitHub Copilot helps you quickly identify and address issues in your codebase.

  • Simply click the lightbulb icon and select Fix with Copilot to start an inline chat with GitHub Copilot, providing smart, context-aware solutions.

  • Access Copilot chat panel directly from the error list to get clear explanations and step-by-step solutions for the issues you're facing.

  • By integrating GitHub Copilot, you can tackle complex code problems more easily.

Maximising CRM Potential: Key Features You’re Not Using in Dynamics 365

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a CRM tool that empowers businesses to streamline processes, improve insights and deliver exceptional experiences to customers and stakeholders. Essentially, it’s useful software that helps you get your work done more efficiently and in a more streamlined way while ensuring your customers and team are happy and supported with whatever they need.