What to know about Microsoft new Planner and plan offers
The new Microsoft Planner offers unified work management experience, combining the simplicity of Microsoft To Do, the collaborative features of Planner, the robust capabilities of Microsoft Project, and the smart insights of Microsoft 365 Copilot. This new streamlined solution can support everything from individual task management to enterprise-level project management.
Why has Microsoft introduced the new Planner?
This new Planner will serve as a work management app to help users resolve inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and decreased productivity. The new Planner will offer straightforward, unified work management solutions that can adapt and grow with the needs of users in an organization.
Microsoft Planner delivers a unified solution that seamlessly combines task management, collaborative workflows, and enterprise-level work management into one streamlined platform. With its collaborative features supported by next-generation AI, the new Planner is aimed at meeting the demands of today’s workforce and evolving with you into the future.
Is the new Microsoft Planner available?
In April 2024, Microsoft launched the new Planner app within Microsoft Teams. The initial rollout had no impact on the interfaces for To Do, Planner, or Project for the web outside of Teams. The next platforms to receive the upgraded Planner experience will be Planner for the web and Project for the web.
Any changes with Planner for the web, Project for the web, and the Project Power App?
In April 2024, the Tasks by Planner and To Do app was rebranded as Planner, introducing a new integrated experience that combines your work across plans, projects, and to-do lists.
- For Planner for the web users
Starting in Fall 2024, the new version of Planner for the web will be gradually introduced, ensuring a consistent experience across both the web version and the new Planner in Teams.
- For Project for the Web Users
There are no changes to the existing features of Project for the web, which remains fully available.
You can now view your Project for the web tasks through the new Planner in Teams.
Once implemented in your organization, Project for the web features will integrate with Planner, allowing you to access them directly within the platform.
- For Project Power App Users
In late 2024, the app is rebranded as Planner. However, all current functionalities will remain unchanged.
Have the existing plan names changed?
In April 2024, Project Plan 1 was renamed to Planner Plan 1 to match the rebranding of Planner in Microsoft Teams. As of September 18, 2024, Project Plan 3 and Project Plan 5 have been updated to Planner and Project Plan 3 and Planner and Project Plan 5, respectively. These new names better capture the value offered by each SKU.
Will there be any pricing changes?
The updated Planner will continue to follow the existing pricing tiers for Projects. Existing Project for the web users will continue to have access to all current features in both Project for the web and Planner in Teams. Additionally, a new web version of Planner is set to roll out starting in Fall 2024.
How does Planner in Microsoft 365 compare to Plan 1, Planner and Project Plan 3, and Planner and Project Plan 5?
Planner is integrated into Microsoft 365, allowing customers with an eligible subscription to use it without needing an additional license.
Using Planner in Microsoft 365, what task details are available to access
If you are using Planner in Microsoft 365, you can view and manage tasks for plans or projects created by users with a Planner and Project license. This includes features such as task assignment, adjusting start and end dates, and attaching relevant files. However, to access advanced features in premium plans you will need a paid license.
What accesses does Premium plan in Planner used in Microsoft 365 offer?
If you use Planner in Microsoft 365, you can enjoy four distinct views: Grid, Board, Schedule, and Charts. To unlock additional premium views such as Timeline, People, and Goals, you will need a Planner Plan 1 license. Planner Plan 1 license allows you to…
– Quickly and effortlessly kickstart your plans and projects with a unified, user-friendly experience using premium prebuilt templates.
– Collaborate seamlessly with your team by choosing from various perspectives, including sprint and timeline views.
– Benefit from straightforward and effective planning and status tracking, featuring capabilities like project goals and task dependencies.
Get a Microsoft licensing expert’s view on using the new Planner
Your organization should not only be excited about the new offering that comes with the new Microsoft Planner and lose sight of the cost involved with either getting licensed properly or failing to do the right thing before using the app. The planner comes with various offers and these offers can be well taken advantage of if you get the licensing right for the users who truly need them.
We can help you manage your license purchases to make sure you are getting value for money while enjoying premium offering to scale up your work output. Microsoft licenses can be very draining financially if you do not get experienced experts to guide you through the initial negotiations, purchases, and renewals. The agreements accompanying the licenses are also very complex to understand and you can easily buy what or more than you need.
The new Microsoft Planner comes with various plans, each tailored to meet a specific need as an organization. You are likely to over or under buy the required licenses due to a lack of clarity and not knowing what your needs are. Working with our team of independent licensing experts will see you buy only what you need, saving millions in expenditure.
Our team of licensing experts can help with your IT budget on Microsoft licenses. There are various options to getting properly licensed and still save on expenditure. We will be glad to show you how. We work in your interest and have years of experience to help you make informed decisions. We will look at your peculiar case as an organization and offer tailor-made solutions just to meet your needs.