Microsoft Offers Free Service to Help Partners Transition to the New Outlook

Microsoft Pushes Transition to the New Outlook Experience

Microsoft is actively encouraging users and partners to transition to the new Outlook experience, which was made the default option for Microsoft 365 customers on Windows starting last May. Despite the company’s efforts to enhance the feature set and resolve compatibility issues, many users still express dissatisfaction with the application, dubbing it “hot garbage.”In response, the tech giant is exploring various strategies to promote this new experience.

Enhanced Features and AI Integration

As part of its push, Microsoft has highlighted a redesigned interface that leverages its advanced AI capabilities and aims to lower the total cost of ownership (TCO).With the recent announcements at Ignite 2025, users can anticipate the rollout of new Copilot features that promise to enhance usability and functionality within Outlook. This expansion aligns with Microsoft’s vision of creating a versatile partner ecosystem that can extend the benefits of Outlook across various platforms.

Seamless Transition with App Assure

To facilitate this transition, Microsoft is promoting its App Assure service, a complimentary resource designed to help partners shift to the new Outlook while retaining the functionalities of their existing COM add-ins. This ensures a smooth transition without any disruptions to their operations. For those unfamiliar, App Assure offers comprehensive support, including end-to-end testing and validation, to confirm compatibility with newer platforms.

Success Stories and Available Support

Many customers and partners have already benefited from collaboration with Microsoft engineers through the App Assure platform, ensuring their COM add-ins are successfully transformed into web add-ins for the new Outlook. If you’re interested in taking advantage of these services, you can contact Microsoft directly at achelp@microsoft.com.

By adopting the new Outlook experience, users can expect a more efficient and integrated email management solution, reinforced by Microsoft’s commitment to continuous updates and improvements.

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