As flexible work becomes the norm, many organizations are facing a familiar challenge:
How do we foster meaningful employee engagement across the digital workplace?
That’s where Microsoft Viva Engage comes in. Viva Engage is part of Microsoft Viva, a suite of employee experience tools built into Microsoft 365. It's more than just a social platform, Viva Engage is a powerful tool within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem that helps organizations build community, spark conversation, and strengthen culture, no matter where your people work.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Whether you're a digital workplace leader, HR pro, or internal comms strategist, these insights will help you unlock the full potential of Viva Engage.
Microsoft has rolled out new features in Viva Engage that make it more powerful, intuitive, and aligned to the evolving needs of hybrid teams.
AI-powered writing assistant for faster, smarter communication
Pro tip: Use Copilot to help your leadership team maintain active Storylines and connect authentically with employees.
Real-time insights into what’s working (and what’s not)
Microsoft rolled out an enhanced Analytics experience for Viva Engage, transforming raw data into actionable insights tailored for community builders and communicators.
Analytics isn’t just about numbers. It's about listening at scale.
AI-powered oversight for safer, more focused communities
Theme moderation isn’t just about policing content, it’s about curating trust.
By managing tone and relevance, your Viva Engage community becomes a safe, reliable space. A critical step in maintaining strong employee engagement.
A plug‑and‑play hub for Copilot learning and peer support
Microsoft recently opened access to the Copilot Adoption Community to all Viva Engage customers, regardless of existing Copilot licenses.
This community isn’t just another feature, it’s a strategic activation platform. It empowers peer learning, reinforces behavioral change, and encourages experimentation with AI across your digital workplace.
Want to improve adoption and drive real connection in Viva Engage? Start with these practical tips:
Why: Help employees stay engaged without feeling overwhelmed.
Try this: Follow a conversation to receive updates—or bookmark it to return later.
Impact: Maintains connection to high-value conversations without drowning in noise.
Pro tip: Encourage leaders to model this by following AMAs or campaign threads.
Why: Topics make content discoverable and purposeful.
Try this: Use consistent, intuitive topic tags (like “benefits,” “events,” “leadership”) so others can explore related content easily.
Impact: Strengthens search, encourages browsing, and builds knowledge hubs organically.
Pro tip: Create a topic tagging guide for your top communities.
Why: Make it frictionless to participate, right where people already work.
Try this: Add Viva Engage as a tab in Microsoft Teams, integrate it into Outlook, or surface it on your SharePoint intranet.
Impact: Increases visibility and lowers the barrier to engagement.
Bonus: Use Viva Connections to spotlight active communities on your home site.
Why: Recognition fuels participation and community trust.
Try this: Call out valuable posts, tag helpful replies, and highlight community champions regularly.
Impact: Builds a culture where employees feel seen, valued, and motivated to contribute again.
Pro tip: Start a monthly “Top Contributor” shoutout using community analytics.
Employee engagement thrives when people feel seen, heard, and connected, Viva Engage makes that possible.
Viva Engage isn’t just a feature of Microsoft 365, it’s a foundational platform for employee engagement and culture-building in the modern digital workplace.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to evolve your strategy, the right approach to Viva Engage can:
So don’t just roll out the tool, champion the change. Help your people connect, collaborate, and thrive, no matter where they work.
Start by joining a community, replying to a thread, or posting a simple update. Connection starts with one message.
Still not sure where to begin? We help organizations design, launch, and scale impactful digital communities inside Microsoft 365. Contact us to talk about your Viva strategy.
Discover the Full Potential of Viva Engage with Our Comprehensive Admin Role Comparison Guide.
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