Microsoft Teams

How Can You Leverage The New MS Teams Payment App?

January 10, 2024

There is now another option to streamline the payment process.

Microsoft has launched the Teams Payments app. This is a new feature that allows you to request and receive payments from your customers. You do it within Microsoft Teams meetings.

The Teams Payments app is currently available in the United States and Canada. Subscribers to Teams Essentials and Microsoft 365 Business get it at no charge.

How does the Teams Payment app work?

You can get the app from the Microsoft AppStore. You add it to your Teams account and connect it to your preferred payment service. You can choose from:

Stripe
PayPal
GoDaddy

How do you send a payment request?

To send a payment request, you just need to open the meeting chat. Then, select the Payments icon from the messaging extensions. Then, you can fill out a simple form. It includes the amount, currency, description, and recipients of your request.

Your customers will see the same card in their meeting chat. They can click on the Pay Now button to complete their payment. You will receive a notification that your payment has been processed.

Benefits of using the Teams Payment app

It saves time and hassle. You don’t need to switch between different apps or websites. You can do everything within Teams meetings.

It increases customer satisfaction and loyalty. Your customers will appreciate the ease of paying you through Teams meetings.

It boosts your revenue and cash flow. You can get paid faster and more securely by using the Teams Payments app. You don’t need to wait for invoices or checks to clear. You can receive your money within minutes of completing a service. Either directly into your bank account or PayPal account.

It enhances your professional image and credibility. You can show your customers that you are using a reliable and trusted payment platform. You can also add a seller policy to your payment requests.

It helps you keep track of payments. With the Teams Payments App, you can track transactions in realtime. You’ll receive instant notifications for successful payments and customers receive receipts.

It’s seamlessly integrated with Microsoft 365. The Teams Payments App seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365.

It increases productivity. Efficiency is the key to productivity. You reduce the time spent on payment-related tasks by integrating Payments into Teams.

The Teams Payments app marks a significant leap in digital business transactions. By leveraging this powerful tool, you’re simplifying payments.

Collaboration Tools Are GREAT. But Are They A Security Risk?

October 13, 2023

In today’s digital age, workplace collaboration tools and messaging apps such as Slack, Teams, and Zoom have become indispensable.

They’ve revolutionized the way we work, making communication with colleagues a breeze, facilitating seamless file sharing, and allowing for productive meetings without the hassle of commuting.

The ability to discuss even the most sensitive of topics from the warmth and safety of our homes seems like a dream. However, every silver lining has a cloud.

While we see these tools as productivity enhancers, cybercriminals see them as gateways to potential vulnerabilities. The very platforms that have been champions for our productivity are simultaneously creating a playground for cyber threats.

It’s alarming to realize that, for instance, while Slack employs encryption, it does not have end-to-end encryption. The reason behind this? To provide companies with an overview of their internal communications.

Moreover, if you’ve jumped on the WhatsApp bandwagon for business, beware. This popular app has been a victim of numerous social engineering attacks. And Telegram? It’s steadily climbing the list of hotspots for cyber attackers. These threats have ushered in a new form of cyber-attack known as Business Communication Compromise (BCC).

Think of it as the menacing relative of the widely recognized Business Email Compromise (BEC).

Shockingly, a 2022 Data Breach Investigation Report highlighted that a staggering 82% of data breaches stem from human errors. Just one misguided click on a deceitful phishing email, and your prized communication channels become a hotbed for these cyber rogues.

But there’s hope! Here are some measures to safeguard your digital spaces:

• Establish robust access controls. Ensure that only authorized individuals can access your platform. Even basic protocols like multi-factor authentication can act as formidable barriers against intruders.

• Adopt stringent data loss prevention techniques. Opt for systems that provide end-to-end encryption and have capabilities to remotely wipe data from misplaced or stolen devices.

• Educate your team. Regular training sessions on best practices for handling sensitive information can make all the difference.

Your security is our priority. If you need guidance on fortifying your digital defenses, we’re here to assist.

A Love Letter To Microsoft Teams

June 22, 2021

We’re massive fans of Microsoft Teams, and believe it has huge advantages for most of the businesses that we support.

We all know that successful businesses have great teamwork. And with everything that’s happened over the last year, Teams has been the number one app to keep everyone working together.

Microsoft brought it out almost four years ago, in 2017. It was their answer to alternative platforms such as Slack that let you collaborate and communicate more effectively.

However, because Teams integrates with the rest of the Microsoft 365 platform, it has a real edge over Slack (the deep integration is AWESOME!).

If you’re using Slack, it also means you can cut down on yet another monthly expense and take advantage of the enterprise level security features Teams has. Here are the three things we most love about it:

Project management

Teams allows you to focus in on just the project you’re currently working on.

Information is partitioned into separate channels, so you can view messages, documents and meetings just related to a specific project.

That removes the hassle of wading through an inbox full of noise and clutter. And it’s surprising how productive that kind of focus can make you.

Easy communication

No need just to rely on email anymore. With Teams, you can post messages in channels, again with the context of the project you’re working on. It’s easy to get the attention of any colleague by giving them a @Mention. You can also arrange one to one or group video calls easily.

The interface makes it easy

Microsoft has done a really good job here. It’s intuitive and easy to use. It’s so easy to find the information you are looking for and to move between different projects. Even if you’ve never used Teams before, the interface is so intuitive you’ll pick it up right away.

If you’re not using Microsoft Teams in your business and you’d like to learn more about how it can help you better communicate internally with your team (and externally with your clients), give us a call at (734) 457-5000, or email us at info@mytechexperts.com.