Integrating AI into Microsoft Viva: A Transformation Journey

We’re learning a lot from integrating AI into our use of Microsoft Viva here at Microsoft, lessons we want to share with you. Microsoft Viva has evolved into a comprehensive digital employee experience platform, combining knowledge, learning, and workplace insights to empower teams in the flow of work.

Understanding Microsoft Viva

Microsoft Viva is not just another application; it’s a digital hub designed to enhance the employee experience. By amalgamating essential features like knowledge sharing, skill development, and insights into workplace dynamics, it aims to empower individuals and foster teamwork. Its core mission is to create environments where people feel supported to achieve their best work, regardless of their location or position within the organization.

The Role of AI in Viva

At the heart of Viva’s evolution is the integration of AI, particularly with the help of Microsoft 365 Copilot. This AI-powered tool helps employees refine their skills and provides managers with data-driven insights to facilitate informed decision-making. With innovative Copilot Analytics, leaders can assess the impact of AI throughout the organization, paving the way for a more inclusive and thriving culture where everyone can reach their full potential.

Supporting Employee Engagement

The mission of the Microsoft Digital team is to empower and protect our employees while transforming our organization. In partnership with Human Resources (HR), we are committed to ensuring that all Microsoft employees can flourish in our increasingly flexible hybrid work environment. By focusing on every phase of an employee’s journey—from recruitment to alumni status—we address their digital experience holistically.

To keep employees engaged, we consistently drive awareness of the improvements made in the Viva platform and promote usage. This commitment requires a concerted company-wide effort involving technical and cultural strategies. The HR department plays a pivotal role in encouraging the adoption of these initiatives.

Evolving Company Culture

Company culture thrives on inclusivity and continuous learning. The Microsoft HR team leads this initiative, informing employees about the importance of a growth mindset while advocating for Viva as the principal platform for employee experience. By leveraging expertise gathered from HR centers of excellence, the HR team influences Viva’s development, ensuring it meets the nuanced needs of our workforce.

Through ongoing collaboration, the HR and Microsoft Digital teams explore how to enhance existing HR processes using Viva and continually propose innovative employee-experience scenarios. This cycle not only shapes the development of Viva but also fuels our creativity for enhancing the platform.

Embracing the Customer Zero Approach

At Microsoft Digital, we embody the "Customer Zero" philosophy, advocating for our technology by utilizing it internally before it reaches our customers. This approach allows us to enhance our services based on lived experiences and employee feedback.

Being Customer Zero means we navigate this journey under strict compliance with data privacy laws while simultaneously leveraging tools to understand work dynamics. This rich feedback loop informs the Viva product team, allowing them to tailor new features that benefit both our employees and, ultimately, our customers.

Collaboration Among Key Teams

The successful implementation of our Customer Zero strategy hinges on collaboration between three primary contributors: Microsoft Digital, HR, and the product teams. This triad works together by providing direct support and insights that enhance usage, drive feature development, and create a robust environment for deployment and adoption.

• Microsoft Digital: By being the implementation team, we interact directly with product teams to gain access to preview features and support.

• Microsoft HR: They catalyze organizational change by ensuring employee feedback is integrated into Viva’s development while advocating for its usage across the company.

• Product Groups: They benefit from real-world testing and feedback, ensuring they create a product that is practical and impactful.

Enriching Employee Experience with Viva Modules

Viva’s modules serve as tailored solutions within the overarching employee experience framework, enhancing connectivity and community in the workplace. Let’s explore some of these modules:

Viva Engage

Viva Engage is our go-to platform for fostering community within Microsoft. It connects employees with leaders and among themselves, enabling knowledge sharing, collaboration, and community building. From crowdsourcing ideas to sharing achievements, Engage has transformed into the primary platform for enterprise social communication.

Viva Amplify

Viva Amplify helps streamline internal communications, empowering leaders to effectively disseminate critical messages. By centralizing communication processes, leaders can manage campaigns from a single workspace, ensuring messages resonate with employees across various channels. This enhances overall engagement and facilitates structured campaigns that align with broader organizational objectives.

Viva Insights

Viva Insights is designed to improve workplace wellness and productivity by analyzing behaviors and collaboration habits. By maintaining employee privacy while aggregating Microsoft 365 data, it helps managers understand how employees are integrating AI into their workflows, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Viva Glint and New Feedback Mechanisms

Viva Glint and Viva Pulse allow us to transform employee feedback into actionable insights. By leveraging people-science rigor and AI-assisted insights, these tools enable leaders to gauge employee sentiment effectively and implement necessary changes to enhance the overall experience.

Viva Learning: A Centralized Knowledge Hub

Viva Learning serves as a centralized educational resource, enabling employees to access various learning opportunities seamlessly. From structured training paths to peer-recommended content, it cultivates a culture of continuous learning, paramount in today’s rapidly evolving workforce.

Moving Forward

With over 97 percent employee usage of the Viva suite, we’re on a continuous path of improvement and innovation. Our journey with Viva has spanned over five years, but we are far from finished. We remain committed to refining these capabilities and sharing future innovations as we continue evolving our employee experience through the lenses of AI and integrated solutions.

Throughout this journey, we encourage other organizations to adopt similar strategies—experimenting, learning, and growing together in the ever-changing landscape of digital work. Now is the time to transform your employee experience with the lessons and insights we’ve gained through our integration of AI into Microsoft Viva.