Brightidea for Microsoft Teams

Brightidea can be integrated with Microsoft Teams to perform various activities like capture Ideas directly in Microsoft Teams using the app, post rich updates to Teams using the Rules Engine, and even embed recordings hosted in Microsoft Stream in an Idea's Description.

Table of Contents

• Brightidea App for MS Teams
  • Installing the App in MS Teams
  • Logging into the App
  • Using the App
• Other Ways to Integrate Brightidea with Teams
  • Using Webhooks and Rules to Post to Teams
  • Embedding Microsoft Streams Videos

 

Brightidea App for Teams

Brightidea offers an official app for Microsoft Teams that can be accessed via search in the app catalog within Teams or online from Microsoft AppSource.

The Teams app is designed to help you quickly save ideas directly from Teams conversations without leaving the chat. Ideas can be saved from channel messages, replies, or private chats.

With the app you will be able to:

• Capture ideas directly from messages in Teams
• Add idea details and attachments from Teams
• Establish a link from submitted ideas back to original conversations
• Preview ideas from their URLs in Teams chats

 

Installing the App in MS Teams

• Coordinating with your Microsoft IT admin(s) will make for a smooth app installation experience
• Consult Microsoft documentation and support when installing the app for other users 
• Installation of Teams apps may be disabled by organization policies & permissions
• IT Admins manage Teams apps and related policies in the Microsoft Teams Admin Center

• To get started, search the MS Teams App gallery for Brightidea and click the card for app details.

• From the app details screen, review the app capabilities and permissions, then select Add to install the app to your Teams instance.

• Once the app is installed, the Brightidea bot will immediately send you a welcome message with further guidance.

 

Logging into the Teams App

To use the app's main functionality, you must have a Brightidea account. The first step is to log into your account. 

• If you are not continuing directly from the installation steps above, navigate to the Chat tab in Teams and locate the Brightidea bot chat.
• Type Log in into the Compose Message field and send it to the chatbot.
• You will be prompted to login into Brightidea and select an affiliate to connect to.
  • Note: You will be prompted to log in using SSO if that method is enabled for your Site.

Additional Details:

• Type and send Log out to the chatbot anytime to log out.
• Type and send Help to the chatbot to view help tips and instructions.
• Type and send Welcome to review the welcome message.

 

Using the Teams App

Users can create and submit Ideas from any message in Teams.

• From any message, hover & click the ellipsis button for the menu, then select More Actions > Send to Brightidea

• You will be prompted to select which Activity/Initiative to submit the Idea. The list of available Activities is based on your Role and access to Brightidea.

• After selecting an Activity, select Next to proceed to the submission form.
• On the form, select a Category. (required)
• Enter a Title for the Idea (required)
• The Idea Description will contain the text within the selected message and can be edited if needed.
• If the message contains any attachments or images, those will be shown at the bottom of the form and can optionally be included as links on the Submission.
  • The attachments will be hosted by Microsoft, which will maintain permission enforcement.
  • A link to each attachment will be appended to the Idea Description

• Finally, select Submit.
• A confirmation card will be drafted with a link to the new Idea as a reply to the original message that you can choose whether or not to send.
  • Select Send to share the confirmation card with chat members.
  • Use the Backspace key to delete the confirmation card.

Once the Idea has been submitted to the Initiative from Teams, the Idea can be viewed and further refined within Brightidea:

• The Idea Description can be edited as desired and will contain a link back to the originating Teams chat as well as a list of links to any attachments listed by file name.

When the Brightidea App for Teams is installed, users can paste a link to an Idea in the "compose message" area to automatically insert a rich preview:

• The card can be removed by selecting the "X"

 

Other Ways to Integrate Brightidea with Teams

Using Webhooks and Rules to Post to Teams

The "HTTP Request" rule action can be paired with an "Incoming Webhook" connector in Teams to automatically post updates to Teams when certain triggers & conditions are satisfied in Brightidea.

For detailed setup instructions, check out this support article: HTTP Requests with Rules Engine (AKA Outgoing Webhooks)

Some examples of actions you may want to post to a Teams channel:

• A new Idea is submitted
• An Idea's status changes
• An Idea has remained in a particular status for a specified amount of time
• A new Comment or Vote is received on an Idea

 

 

Embedding Microsoft Streams Videos

Microsoft Stream videos and recordings can be embedded in the Idea Description.

• In Streams, copy the embed code:

• In Brightidea, edit the Idea Description and select the Video button in the Editor.
• After pasting the embed code in the field and selecting Insert, a preview of the video will appear.
• Select Save.

 

For more details on this feature, check out this support article: Embedding external videos on View Idea page.