What Is Microsoft Viva Engage? 7 Key Features & Benefits

Thriving internal communication networks in the workplace aren't just beneficial—they're vital for fostering a connected, engaged team. In the era of remote work and digital collaboration, creating a community where every member feels informed, valued, and actively participating is more important than ever.

Microsoft Viva Engage is a cutting-edge platform aimed at bridging these gaps, ensuring that your employees feel informed, valued, and part of a team. 

Employee Experience Platforms (EXPs) like Microsoft Viva Engage provide continuous insights into employee engagement, helping organizations understand how their employees interact with each other, respond to content, and their overall sentiment. This can contribute to improved engagement and satisfaction, leading to increased retention rates. In fact, the Quantum Workplace 2023 Employee Engagement Trends Report shows that investment in employee engagement results in increased employee advocacy (30.6% of respondents), employee satisfaction (49.7%), and employee retention (38%).

Additionally, a study by Forrester Consulting found that implementing Microsoft Viva could potentially yield a 327% total return on investment, with payback in less than six months. In this blog post, we will delve into what Viva Engage is, its top features, pricing details, and the benefits it can bring to your organization.

In this blog, you'll find: 

💎 What Is Microsoft Viva Engage?

📌 Top 7 Microsoft Viva Engage Features

💰 How Much Does Microsoft Viva Engage Cost? 

🙌 4 Benefits of Microsoft Viva Engage 

🏁 Conclusion 

❓ Viva Engage FAQs

What Is Microsoft Viva Engage? 

Microsoft Viva Engage is an employee experience and communication platform that leverages the power of Microsoft Teams to create a space where employees can connect, collaborate, and engage with each other. It provides a centralized hub for communication, knowledge sharing, recognition, and feedback. With Viva Engage, employees can stay informed about company news and updates, participate in discussions, access learning resources, and celebrate achievements — all within the familiar Teams interface.

👉 Viva Engage can be accessed via its mobile app, web browser, or Teams for Microsoft 365 users. 

Top 7 Microsoft Viva Engage Features 

1. Communities

Communities are a central place for your conversations, files, events, and updates. They can be either public or private. This flexible organization allows employees to be grouped based on departments, geographic locations, or shared interests.  Within these communities, users can post various types of content, including Q&As, announcements, polls, and praise to celebrate achievements and acknowledge colleagues' contributions. 

👉 The basic community and conversation features of Viva Engage are included in Microsoft 365 and Office 365 enterprise plans.

2. Storyline

Storyline is where you share experiences, celebrate milestones, propose ideas, and discuss your interests both inside and outside of the workplace.

3. Leadership Corner

The Leadership Corner feature allows employees to stay connected with company leaders. This space can be used for posting updates, making announcements, and engaging with employees through Ask Me Anything (AMA) events.

4. Answers in Viva

Answers in Viva is a new conversational experience for large organizations where employees can ask and answer questions. This tool matches queries with existing or crowdsourced answers, helping employees get their questions answered, connect with experts, and enhance their learning.

5. Campaigns

With the Campaigns feature, you can get involved, share your voice, and build community. Additionally, the use of hashtags allows related content to be launched under a specific campaign, making it easier to track and follow themed posts.

6. Live Events

Host and participate in Live Events! A live event on Viva Engage features a live video and interactive discussions. You can post questions or comments before, during, and after an event.

7. Analytics

The Analytics feature allows you to get insights into how employees are engaging with the content, which platforms they are using for access, and their overall sentiment towards the content. This data-driven approach helps administrators fine-tune their communication strategies.

Overall, Viva Engage empowers organizations to foster a vibrant, connected, and informed workplace community. Explore these features to enhance collaboration and engagement within your teams!

👉 Apart from the Communities and Conversations features, access to the Viva Engage Premium features requires either a Microsoft Viva Suite or Microsoft Viva Employee Communications and Communities license. 

How Much Does Microsoft Viva Engage Cost?

The pricing for Microsoft Viva Engage varies depending on the organization’s size and specific needs. Typically, Viva Engage is included with Microsoft 365 and Office 365 enterprise plans. However, organizations can also choose from two additional plans that might better suit their requirements and budget. 

Viva Engage Premium features, such as analytics, campaigns, leadership corner and AMAs, require a license for either Microsoft Viva Employee Communications and Communities or Microsoft Viva Suite. 

• Premium community, knowledge, and leadership experiences.
• Unique, company-branded employee apps.
• Centralized campaign management for communications.
  
  

• Includes everything in Viva Employee Communications and Communities. 
• Data-driven insights for managers and leaders.
• Feedback surveys with actionable recommendations.
• Brief team surveys for managers and team leads.
• Strategic prioritization and goals alignment.
• Recommendations and academies for targeted upskilling.
• AI-generated insights and prompts with Copilot in Viva (coming soon). 
  
  

👉 Both plans require an annual commitment plus applicable tax. 

4 Benefits of Microsoft Viva Engage

Microsoft Viva Engage offers many benefits that can significantly enhance the workplace experience, driving engagement, productivity, and overall satisfaction among employees.

Here are 4 benefits of implementing Viva Engage within your organization:

⭐ Improved Employee Engagement & Community Building: By creating a centralized hub for communication and collaboration, Viva Engage fosters a sense of community and encourages employees to stay connected with each other and the organization. This ongoing engagement helps in building strong interpersonal relationships and a cohesive organizational culture.

⭐ Integration with Microsoft 365 Tools: As part of the Microsoft 365 Suite, Viva Engage can be seamlessly accessed within an existing workspace, eliminating the need for an additional platform.

⭐ Better Company Culture: Through recognition tools like praise posts and achievement celebrations in communities, Viva Engage helps foster a positive and inclusive company culture. Recognizing and celebrating employee contributions can boost morale and create a more supportive work environment.

⭐ Data-Driven Insights: With analytics features, organizations can gain valuable insights into employee engagement, content consumption, and overall sentiment. This data-driven approach enables administrators to fine-tune their communication strategies and make informed decisions that cater to the needs of their workforce.

Incorporating Microsoft Viva Engage into your organization can transform the workplace experience, making it more interactive and engaging. As such, Viva Engage can lead to a more connected and engaged workforce, ultimately driving organizational success.

Conclusion 

Viva Engage is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance communication and engagement within large organizations. Its integration with Microsoft 365 makes it a convenient addition to any company already using Microsoft products. The benefits it offers make it a valuable asset for any business aiming to keep its employees connected and engaged.

If you’re looking for a forward-thinking solution to elevate your company’s internal communications, Viva Engage might just be the perfect fit!