Likelihood to Recommend I recommend Miro all the time. I have used it during COVID to run research workshops and I use it in all my classes to help students create representations that support their design projects. It allows remote participation, making it easier for students to collaborate. The rating is not a 10 since there are a few annoyances, but it is one of the best pieces of software I've encountered in the last five years.
Read full review Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams is a remote/virtual team collaboration tool must have...especially if you already use Microsoft tools. Of course, since it now part of an MS 365 subscription, it really doesn't make sense to use anything else. It is easy to use and just works. I'm not sure how anyone who works with digital files/documents and needs to work with other people doing similar work can be effective without such a tool. Of course, there are a number of alternatives like Zoom or Webex, but why pay or use another separate tool if you don't need to. :-)
Read full review Pros Collaboration (sticky dot voting / comments / sticky notes / voting sessions / feedback) Easy to use design capabilities (structuring workshops and exercises) Wide range of modularity (can embed other app's API in the board, can easily inject templates from the miroverse) Very clear and easy to grasp UI Read full review Instant messaging to anyone who we know only by name/email. Even if they're offline, they get the message in missed convos and a notification automatically goes to them via Outlook mail. All conversations are saved and accessible via Outlook. Video and voice calls are a norm in the WFH scenario, and an average employee has around 4-5 calls a day. Skype gives notifications for upcoming meetings, allows easy scheduling via outlook calendar, and its audio/video quality [is] reasonably good compared to the amount of data it consumes. Status availabilities - in the WFH scenario, you could be off for lunch, out of office, busy, sharing screens - and might not want to be disturbed. Skype allows you to do that, and in case you're off, ensures that you know that you have missed messages. Screen sharing - we have to share screens at least once or twice a day with a coworker when working on some issues/features, and Skype easily lets us do that. One of the best things about Skype is that the screen can be shared without being on a video/voice call - which is of immense advantage because oftentimes, you could prefer sharing the screen, while it [is] too noisy to talk. Read full review Cons I wish there was a way to center and align everything in a section. When I'm in my files on my Mac, I can click "clean up," and all the icons will center themselves. It would be great if I had a bunch of sticky notes all clustered together. The tables are not super user-friendly. I wish there was an easier way to include tables or spreadsheet-like tools. When I connect two boxes with a line, it's pretty rigid in how it connects the line. This is nitpicky, but I wish I could dictate where the line starts and ends between the two boxes. Otherwise,e the lines kind of zig-zag up and down multiple boxes. I know you guys just updated the homepage, but something about it still feels a little noisy. I think the sidebar just might be too big. We pretty much only create blank boards, so I wish we could get rid of all the different options at the top (flowchart, mind map, etc.) Read full review Connection issues can be hard to diagnose when they come up(as some knowledge of server information may be needed to reestablish as the connection troubleshooting options on the sky are not as user-friendly as the rest of the platform. Some issues setting up camera/sound could use more info on troubleshooting options with playback sound, video, etc. Statuses sometimes are unreliable and do not display correctly . Read full review Likelihood to Renew There is no other tool like Miro for process Mapping in particular. I've tried PowerPoint, Word, and other programs, but when collaborating virtually on how to improve a process, Miro has all of the tools and more to enable successful mapping. The colors, different types of shapes and text books, along with the ability to integrate different documents and other functionality, make it ideal for this purpose. In a virtual world, it's a must-have.
Read full review The software is simple to install and configure. It is rather simple to explain for correct use. It is possible to profile users for the different functions offered. It is integrated quite completely with Outlook and with Active Directory security. It performs all communication functions well with one or more interlocutors and the possibility of granting control of your computer is convenient.
Read full review Usability It's pretty easy to use. My gripes are with some small idiosyncrasies with selection behavior with objects and editing text. When I move an object, it automatically de-selects it when I am not done with it. I have to click to select again. Text control is challenging and could be improved. It could use a little more styling capability. It's also weird that it behaves differently in a shape then when using the text tool.
Read full review Very easy to use. Even though Microsoft Teams has a lot of features and integrations, as a user I feel completely comfortable on finding what I need, getting information about the app extensions and using them. It's a very comprehensive tool, intuitive design and does not make me feel tired to be using it. I am glad with the current experience.
Read full review Reliability and Availability I only give a 9/10 because of the speed at which it loads. I have never experienced issues with Miro logging me out early, or some other technical issue causing the program to crash, or even it just loading in perpetuity without ever actually coming up (unlike other programs such as SFDC). It take a minute for all of my boards to come up after I click on it in my favorites, but besides that, it's all good.
Read full review Performance I took the loading quickly to be related to availability which I commented on before, so ditto with those comment on load time here. Although to reemphasize, Miro doesn't crash or just refuse to load like some other programs. The weak point of Miro for me is integration of files like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint (especially the later two). When you embed these, it gets slow, and complicated to bring them up while you're in the application.
Read full review Support Rating The support staff at Miro are fantastic. Whenever I have had an issue, they have been timely and helpful with their response. They are also very knowledgeable and go out of their way to not only help, but offer proactive training sessions on different topics and new functionality so everyone can try it out.
Read full review I have only had to reach out to the Support team at Skype for Business once with an issue, and I was pleasantly surprised and encouraged by the quickness and thoroughness of their response. The wait time was short and my question was dealt with politely and clearly, so I would say the support team has it together.
Read full review Online Training There was a series of webinars which Miro hosted with our organization that went over the basics, then progressively became more advanced with additional sections. The instructors were knowledgeable, and provided examples throughout the sessions, as well as answered peoples' questions. There was ample time and experience on the calls to cover a range of topics. The instructors were also very friendly and sociable, as well as honest. Of course Miro isn't a "God-tool" that does absolutely everything, but the instructors were aware and emphasized the strengths where Miro had them and sincerely accepted feedback.
Read full review Implementation Rating The user-friendly nature of Miro makes it very easy to pick up and play, without going through a serious of sign-up or tutorial areas. It's possible to share to 'unverified' users whilst letting them in, but constantly discovering new and exciting features when using it.
Read full review Skpe for business is utilized company wide in regards to my company. Everyone not only uses it, but uses it often. It is an effective way of communicating. It also integrates very nicely with outlook and all conversation history is pushed to a folder within the outlook system. We also have it so that if someone misses a message, they are sent an email reminder saying that there is a message that went unread.
Read full review Alternatives Considered These other products' collaborative workspaces and integration are much more limited, tangential, and less enduring. Miro is much more robust yet also simplified, making it easy to do very simple things and then progress to meet more complex demands. The company cultivates a great and interactive community in Miro, which increases the learning, experience, and resources for everyone.
Read full review For the below reason I will always choose this app over its competitors: Better audio and video quality, Little to no disconnections or freezing when on a call/video conference Integrates well with mailbox/ calendar/ one drive, and SharePoint is easy to use
Read full review Scalability Miro is great for scaling. In every department and subdivision across my entire organization, there is someone using it. From Sales to marketing, to manufacturing and operations; and even in legal and finance, there isn't a process or a department that is not using Miro, and if they aren't, they're missing out! Even at the highest to the lowest levels of the organization, it is essential for virtual collaboration.
Read full review Return on Investment Miro saves me at least 20% effort when planning in the early stages. I'm not bogged down with filling out each field and can easily form and modify initiatives as they come up. It has also reduced our quarterly planning days to 1 day rather than 2 when using Jira. Read full review Skype for Business has enabled a migration in part away from fixed line telephony and introduced the user to mobile working with a headset which cannot be overstated as being a game changer. Being able to schedule Skype for Business meetings through Outlook has meant meetings with colleagues without a meeting room has been a great enabler. Read full review ScreenShots