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Take Control of Projects with Microsoft Planner 

Not too long ago, teams relied on sticky notes, spreadsheets, or endless email chains to stay organised. But in today’s fast-moving, hybrid working world, that approach just doesn’t cut it anymore. To stay productive and ahead of deadlines, you need a smarter way to manage tasks and projects. 

Research shows the average worker spends 28% of their week managing emails and nearly 20% just looking for the right information or colleague to help. That’s a huge drain on time and energy. 

The good news? Microsoft Planner offers an easy-to-use solution that keeps everything in one place. Whether you’re running day-to-day operations or managing bigger projects, Planner helps your team stay organised, accountable, and efficient. And with expert support from Sedcom, you can set it up in a way that’s tailored to how your business works. 

Why Small Businesses Lose Time on Emails and Missed Tasks 

When tasks aren’t properly tracked, small problems quickly pile up: 

• Deadlines get missed. 
• Important details slip through the cracks. 
• Projects stall due to miscommunication. 
• Managers struggle to see the bigger picture. 

This leads to stress, wasted time, and teams feeling demotivated. 

Microsoft Planner: Simple, Effective, and Built for Teams 

Planner makes project management straightforward – no steep learning curve, just practical tools to keep everyone aligned. Here’s how it helps: 

1. Visual Task Boards

Planner works like a shared to-do list where you can: 

• Create tasks in seconds. 
• Assign responsibilities. 
• Add deadlines, files, and notes. 
• Move tasks through stages like To Do > In Progress > Done. 

Everyone sees what needs doing without endless back-and-forth emails. 

2. Views That Fit Your Workflow

Different teams like to work in different ways. Planner gives you options: 

• Board View – drag and drop tasks in columns. 
• Grid View – see everything in a neat list. 
• Schedule View – track deadlines on a calendar. 
• Timeline (Gantt) View – perfect for planning bigger projects. 
• People View – check workloads across the team. 

This flexibility keeps projects on track, from daily tasks to long-term goals. 

3. Clear Task Details

Every task can include: 

• Start and end dates. 
• Priorities and checklists. 
• Attachments and links to Teams or SharePoint. 
• Dependencies, so work gets done in the right order. 

Nothing gets lost, and everyone knows exactly what’s expected. 

4. Ready-to-Use Templates

Save time by starting with built-in templates. Just customise and go – ideal for recurring projects or processes. 

5. Works Seamlessly with Microsoft 365

Planner connects with the tools you already use: 

• Teams – create tasks straight from a chat. 
• Outlook – turn emails into actions. 
• SharePoint & Loop – embed Planner into project sites. 
• Power Automate – streamline repetitive workflows. 
• Excel & Power BI – analyse progress and performance. 

No more juggling disconnected apps – everything works together. 

6. Built-In AI with Microsoft Copilot

The latest updates bring AI support directly into Planner: 

• Summarise projects. 
• Create and assign tasks using plain language. 
• Get automatic updates and reminders. 

This smart automation helps your team focus on the work that really matters. 

Getting Started with Planner 

Setting up Planner is quick and easy: 

1. Open Planner in Teams or your web browser. 
2. Create a new plan (or start with a template). 
3. Add tasks, deadlines, and assign team members. 
4. Explore different views to track progress. 
5. Automate reminders to keep things moving. 

And if you’d like support, Sedcom can help configure Planner to suit your business, train your team, and make sure you’re getting the best out of Microsoft 365.

Why It Matters for Your Business 

By using Microsoft Planner, you’ll: 

• Reduce email overload and wasted meetings. 
• Keep everyone accountable and aligned. 
• Get full visibility of projects at a glance. 
• Speed up delivery with templates and AI support. 
• Connect tasks seamlessly with the tools you already use. 

The result? More time to focus on growing your business and serving your customers. 

Don’t Let Disorganisation Slow You Down 

When tasks are scattered across emails, chats, and spreadsheets, things get missed. Deadlines slip, employees feel overwhelmed, and productivity suffers. Planner helps prevent this by bringing everything together in one clear, simple system. 

Let Sedcom Help You Get Started