Microsoft launches Loop, its Notion competitor, in public preview

Microsoft Loop, a Notion-like hub for managing duties and initiatives that sync throughout Microsoft 365 apps and companies, launched in public preview in the present day.

Loop is accessible to customers with a Microsoft Account or Azure Lively Listing account. A companion app for iOS and Android is ready to reach quickly; Microsoft didn’t present agency timing.

Unveiled at Ignite 2021, Loop is in some methods Microsoft’s reply to Google Workspace Areas, which gives dashboards for real-time, digital-first venture collaboration. As with most team-based productiveness platforms, Loop has progress-tracking instruments for initiatives and two-way sync with companies together with Trello.

So what’s distinctive about it? Nicely, Loop consists of three most important parts — Loop parts, Loop pages and Loop workspaces — that collectively can be utilized to stick real-time blocks of content material into apps like Outlook, Microsoft Groups and Phrase. (My colleague Frederic Lardinois as soon as in contrast the expertise to the ill-fated Google Wave.) Microsoft says it’s designed to bridge the gaps of working in digital groups — gaps that grew to become more and more obvious in the course of the pandemic, when Loop was developed.

Picture Credit: Microsoft

Loop parts are primarily JavaScript widgets that permit customers collaborate whereas within the movement of labor, for instance in a chat, e mail, doc or on-line assembly. Elements may be so simple as lists, tables and notes or as advanced as a buyer gross sales alternative from Dynamics 365, and so they at all times keep in sync throughout Microsoft 365 apps.

Due to the syncing capabilities, edits to Loop parts — for instance, tables — will likely be mirrored wherever they’re embedded or shared. Sooner or later, Microsoft says it plans so as to add Loop parts that facilitate enterprise workflows, beginning with Dynamics 365 data, and permit builders to construct totally customized Loop parts.

As for Loop pages, they’re versatile canvases the place customers can arrange their Loop parts and pull in parts like hyperlinks, recordsdata or knowledge. (Loop gives a variety of web page templates for fast setup.) Loop workspaces are broader in scope, representing shared platforms the place customers can see and group every little thing essential to their initiatives.

Niftily, Loop can seek for and advocate related paperwork and coworkers when making a workspace. As much as 50 individuals can edit a workspace directly, reacting to edits with emojis and feedback, however Microsoft recommends groups of two to 12 in order that the interface doesn’t really feel too claustrophobic.

Picture Credit: Microsoft

Additionally of be aware, Microsoft is constructing its new Microsoft 365 Copilot system into Loop. In non-public testing for the second, the AI-powered Copilot will present options to create a brainstorm or blueprint and permit a number of customers to edit the options after which share them in apps like Outlook and Groups.

It’s a formidable vary of options, however can Loop compete with Notion? That is still to be seen. As The Verge’s protection of Loop notes, Notion precisely hasn’t rested on its laurels, lately launching an AI-powered system that analyzes assembly notes, create summaries, surfaces essential info and even rewrites and generates textual content.

It’s early days for Loop, however Microsoft — whereas admittedly benefiting from the large built-in Microsoft 365 consumer base — has its work lower out for it.