SharePoint Turns 25 + Major UX Overhaul Begins This Month
Happy 25th birthday, SharePoint! Microsoft is celebrating with a digital event and live AMA happening today. Meanwhile, the new SharePoint experience enters public preview this month with a completely redesigned interface and AI-powered features.
📋 TL;DR — What You Need to Know
- 🎂 SharePoint @ 25: Digital celebration + live AMA happening today (March 2)
- 🎨 New SharePoint Experience: Rolling out March → May (AI features require Copilot license)
- 📊 Connector Usage Report: Coming to M365 Admin Center this month
- 💰 Premium AI Bundle: Rumored $99/user bundle under development (unconfirmed)
- ⚠️ Azure: Brief service disruption Saturday night — already resolved
🟡 New SharePoint Experience Enters Public Preview
Microsoft is rolling out a reimagined SharePoint with a completely redesigned interface:
What's New
- Redesigned app bar with five core modules: Discover, Publish, Build, OneDrive, Home
- Streamlined architecture for faster navigation
- AI-assisted features powered by Copilot
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Timeline | Public Preview: March 2026 → GA: May 2026 |
| AI Features | Requires Microsoft 365 Copilot license |
| Deployment | Opt-in — not automatic |
| Roadmap ID | 547732 |
| MC ID | MC1240699 |
If you're considering the preview, start with a pilot group of power users first. Let them find the rough edges before rolling it out wider.
🟡 Connector Usage Report Coming to Admin Center
A new reporting feature is rolling out in March 2026 that tracks:
- Active connectors across your tenant
- Daily usage trends and patterns
- Adoption metrics for optimization
This gives admins better visibility into how connectors are being used — helpful for license optimization and identifying underutilized resources.
🟡 Premium AI Bundle Rumors ($99/user)
Reports suggest Microsoft may be developing a high-tier M365 bundle with elite AI technology at approximately $99/user/month.
No official announcement has been made. Worth monitoring for budget planning, but don't make decisions based on this yet.
⚡ Quick Hits
| Update | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎂 SharePoint @ 25 | Happy birthday! Digital celebration + live AMA happening today (March 2) |
| 📆 Exchange @ 30 | Exchange Server turns 30 on April 2, 2026 — no major celebration announced yet |
| 🔧 BC28 Preview | Dynamics 365 Business Central 2026 Wave 1 public preview released — includes deprecated features list |
| ✅ Azure Resolved | Brief service disruption March 1 ~8:21 PM ET — appears fully resolved |
✅ Admin Action Items
This Week
- Review the new SharePoint experience: Decide if you want to enable the preview for pilot users. Path: SharePoint admin center → Settings → New SharePoint Experience
- Assess Copilot licensing: AI features in the new SharePoint require Copilot licenses — factor this into your planning
- Check connector inventory: Prepare for the new usage report to identify optimization opportunities
On Your Radar
- Budget planning: Monitor the $99 premium AI bundle rumor
- BC28 deprecations: If using Business Central, review the deprecated features list
🔥 From the Fireside
SharePoint turning 25 is a good reminder of how far we've come — from clunky document libraries to AI-assisted collaboration hubs. The new experience rolling out this month looks promising, though the Copilot license requirement for AI features is worth noting in your planning.
If you're considering the preview, I'd recommend a pilot group of power users first. Let them find the rough edges before rolling it out wider.
Questions about any of these updates? Reply to this newsletter or reach out directly. We're here to help you navigate the ever-changing M365 landscape.
Need help with SharePoint modernization or Copilot planning?
Fireside Cloud Solutions can help you evaluate the new SharePoint experience for your organization and develop a Copilot licensing strategy that makes sense for your budget.
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