Collaborators can make entries from directly inside Microsoft Outlook

Description

This rare feature allows users, such as department heads with a simple use case, to enter information directly into an Outlook email and save it. It generally requires the CPM tool to have a robust Excel plugin that is rendered in Outlook.

Example Use Case

Scenario: A mid-market company needs to regularly update project details, budget changes, and financial forecasts in their CPM software. Their team frequently holds virtual meetings and decisions are often communicated through Microsoft Outlook emails and meeting invites.

Solution: By allowing data to be entered into an Outlook email, team members can make changes directly within the email or meeting invitation interface. For instance, if a budget adjustment has been agreed upon in an email discussion, the relevant collaborator can quickly update this without having to leave their Outlook inbox, thereby reducing time and enhancing efficiency.

Considerations

This functionality sometimes requires to Office 365 and may not work in a Google Workspace environment. It depends on the method of saving data - is it an Excel component inside the body of the email, an Outlook plugin, or is it a simple reply to the email.

This function is useful in situations where the user base is resistant to learning a CPM tool process and has a very simple use case. Something as simple as entering in one or two numbers and hitting send. As seems to always be the case with Office collaboration, someone will struggle to get the Excel component to render in Outlook and will call for assistance - involving IT. Be judicious when using this functionality.

Questions to Ask a Vendor

• Show me: How can we incorporate a data entry screen into email for the user to interact with?
• Data Entry: Can the user enter information in Outlook and hit submit like a web page, or do they reply to the email?
• Limitations: What can't the Outlook/email plugin do?