Reflecting Back on 2024 and Looking Forward to 2025

Reflecting on Microsoft 365's evolution in 2024, including Copilot's growth, and exploring exciting developments coming in 2025 for developers.

By Last Updated: December 23, 2024 10 minutes read

This time of year offers a perfect opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months.

In the Microsoft 365 space, specifically for full-stack developers, we saw Microsoft 365 Copilot development mature and stabilize, with Microsoft demonstrating its willingness to make tough decisions based on customer feedback. The SharePoint Framework (SPFx), while stable, remained largely reactionary rather than proactive in addressing developer needs. Microsoft Teams development continued to be an underappreciated yet powerful platform for custom applications, consistently delighting developers once they discovered its capabilities.

For Voitanos, 2024 marked a significant transformation—evolving from solely offering self-paced courses to delivering live cohort-based learning through group coaching programs and my new private coaching service.

But this season invites us not only to reflect but also to look forward. In this article, I’ll share my vision for 2025 and what excites me about the year ahead.

Reflecting on 2024 - Microsoft 365

I’ll start by looking back and 2024, specifically in the Microsoft 365 full-stack (aka: pro-code/code-first) developer space.

SharePoint Framework

Microsoft’s approach remains largely reactionary.

The product team hasn’t been proactive in delivering new features or addressing the challenges and technical debt that developers face. Customers frequently request updates to dependencies for newer tools and libraries, but instead, the focus seems to be on retiring features like isolated web parts or adding Viva Connections capabilities around Adaptive Card Extensions (ACEs).

This direction is at best frustrating, but concerning at worst. Though the SPFx remains a stable platform that’s here to stay, I wish we could see more active development and transparency about their future plans.

How about a roadmap anyone?

But to be clear: I don’t expect Microsoft to deprecate the SPFx or replace it with a new development model. I’m confident in the stability and future of the SPFx. I’d just like to see a vision of what they’re trying to achieve over the next 6/12/18/24 months. Because today, it just feels… well… reactionary with no vision or plan.

Microsoft Teams application development

One notable observation over the past couple of years concerns Microsoft Teams development.

I don’t think Microsoft and the product group haven’t effectively evangelized this platform. When I discuss it with customers and explain the available options for creating custom applications in Microsoft Teams, they’re often surprised to discover Teams app development — mistakenly thinking it’s a relatively new capability.

Many developers are often unaware that features like personal apps, tabs, bots, and message extensions have been available for some time… and they’re very stable! Most developers are genuinely excited when they learn about these possibilities, immediately recognizing the potential for building custom apps for Microsoft Teams or just extending the existing experience.

I’ve dedicated significant time to working with customers in this space over the past two years, and I see it as a major growth opportunity that will only expand. It seems Microsoft shares this vision and has heavily invested in Teams development, as it serves as the foundation for deploying developer customizations and extensions to Microsoft 365 Copilot!

Speaking of Microsoft 365 Copilot development…

Microsoft 365 Copilot Development & Extensibility

This year, Microsoft stabilized their development approach and customization options for Microsoft 365 Copilot, helping organizations maximize their investments. Building off their announcements at the Ignite 2023 conference in November 2023, starting with Build 2024, they introduced new ways to extend Copilot by teaching it new skills and incorporating external data sources.

Throughout the year, they demonstrated their responsiveness to customer feedback by making decisive changes. In Q4, they renamed plugins to “agents” and refocused their real-time data integration strategy. This shift moved away from teaching Microsoft 365 Copilot new skills using Microsoft Teams message extension plugins in favor of API-based plugins and agents.

Build 2024: A M365 Full-Stack Dev's Recap

Check out my Build 2024 recap for Microsoft 365 full-stack developers.

/blog/microsoft-365-fullstack-developer-recap-microsoft-build-2024

Build 2024: A M365 Full-Stack Dev's Recap

Ignite 2024: A M365 Full-Stack Dev's Recap

Check out my Ignite 2024 recap for Microsoft 365 full-stack developers.

/blog/microsoft-365-fullstack-developer-recap-microsoft-ignite-2024

Ignite 2024: A M365 Full-Stack Dev's Recap

So, those are my big reflections on 2024 in the Microsoft 365 space. How about you? What are your big reflections from the last 12 months? Share them in the comments below!

Reflecting on 2024 - Me & Voitanos

In addition to the industry and Microsoft 365 development space, I’m proud of some changes I’ve made with Voitanos over the last year.

Cohort & Group Coaching Programs (aka: Accelerators)

The first thing I want to highlight are the accelerators I’ve launched and developed further this year! Some call these cohort-based courses (CBCs) or group-based courses (GBCs)… I call these accelerators because they’re focused & extended learning paths delivered live to a small group of students. At present, I have two accelerators:

Microsoft Teams Application Developer Accelerator Program

Learn Microsoft Teams app development faster to be the irreplaceable expert delivering more to your customers!

Link icon https://www.voitanos.io/course-msteams-appdev-accelerator/

Microsoft Teams Application Developer Accelerator Program

Master the SharePoint Framework with our Accelerator Program

Learn SharePoint Framework development faster to be the irreplaceable expert delivering more to your customers!

Link icon https://www.voitanos.io/course-sharepoint-framework-accelerator/

Master the SharePoint Framework with our Accelerator Program

I absolutely love this teaching format!

It gives me the opportunity to teach developers through live experiences over an extended period. This approach prevents the mental & physical fatigue that often comes with traditional classroom-based learning, while offering developers real-time interaction. Students can ask questions not only to me as the instructor but also learn from their peers’ insights.

Throughout 2024, I delivered three (3) Microsoft Teams Application Development Accelerators, building on the successful pilot cohort in late 2023. The experience has been fantastic—I’ve met wonderful people and received great feedback. This format has been so successful that I’ve also delivered SPFx Accelerators privately for two clients.

Building on this momentum, I’ve scheduled four Accelerators for next year:

  • Two (2) SPFx Accelerators (2025 in Q1 & Q3)
  • Two (2) Teams Accelerators (2005 in Q2 & Q4)
Voitanos: Accepting applications for the SPFx Accelerator 2025 Q1!

I’m currently accepting registrations for the SharePoint Framework Accelerator starting January 15, 2025.

It’s nearly 50% full with just 3 seats remain with the early bird $1,000 savings!

Private Microsoft 365 Development Coaching

Over the past few years, I’ve grappled with how to handle requests for consulting and contract work. This type of work is challenging to balance when your primary focus is creating courses. Previously, I offered 30- or 60-minute 1:1 calls, but I retired this option earlier this year because it wasn’t aligning with my schedule & goals. These calls were pulling me away from course development.

But, I replaced the 1:1 calls with a new service that addressed the the customer requests: I launched a coaching service where I serve as a fractional Microsoft 365 developer subject matter expert.

My customers use this service for various purposes, from product and project guidance to technical reviews. ISVs particularly enjoy working with me for insights on maximizing the Microsoft 365 platform’s capabilities in their solutions. Many clients use my coaching service for guidance on integrating SharePoint Embedded into their existing products, incorporating Microsoft Teams, or just for private teaching for small team.

I’ve allocated time to support a select number of customers monthly through this coaching experience. While I still have a few spots available, I’m thoroughly enjoying this format as it enables deeper, long-term relationships with clients. It’s simple too… you reserve a block of hours under the retainer model and book meetings against my calendar (using SavvyCal) to easily find mutual available. Best of all, bring as many people from your side to the meeting!

If you’re interested in learning more about this service, please reach out and let’s discuss how I can help you and your team!

Doubling down on Voitanos

I made significant investments in Voitanos this year, working with an expert to refresh the brand, a designer to translate that work into a new website design, and a developer to implement it. So far, I’ve launched the first part of the rebranding effort with a new logo and positioning. While I had hoped to launch the new website design and organization this year, it will arrive in early 2025—and I can’t wait to share it with you!

Looking forward to 2025

As I said above, this time of year is not only to reflect but also to look forward. Let me what’s on my mind and what excites me about the year ahead.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Development & Extensibility

I’m particularly excited about Microsoft 365 Copilot development. I’ve discussed this topic several times on the Microsoft 365 Developer Podcast (ep318 & ep316) with Microsoft’s Jeremy Thake, and I recently taught a successful two-day virtual workshop on building declarative agents for Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Workshop: Build Declarative Agents for Microsoft 365 Copilot

Get the most out of your Microsoft 365 Copilot investment with declarative agents, bringing data from LOB systems, and apply instructions for unique scenarios.

Link icon https://www.voitanos.io/workshop-microsoft-365-copilot-build-declarative-agents/

Workshop: Build Declarative Agents for Microsoft 365 Copilot
Voitanos: Interested in joining the next M365 Copilot workshop?
At the moment I don’t have another workshop planned, but if enough people signup for the wait list, I’ll get one scheduled in Q1!

This area has generated significant interest from developers, and I’m looking forward to diving deeper into it. Beyond creating declarative agents, I’m eager to explore how we can leverage Microsoft’s growing suite of AI solutions and services in Microsoft 365. Microsoft has made substantial investments in AI over the past couple of years and continues to emphasize these technologies. Understanding how to incorporate these services and tools into our Microsoft 365-based solutions presents exciting opportunities!

Leveraging Azure AI Services, Features, and Tools in Microsoft 365 Solutions

I’m excited to explore building sophisticated solutions that harness AI services within Microsoft 365 solutions. This includes expanding Microsoft 365 Copilot’s capabilities through declarative and custom engine agents—plus any new features Microsoft releases. I also want to explore creating standalone AI solutions that enhance Microsoft Teams apps, SPFx solutions, and SharePoint Embedded applications by leveraging different Azure AI Services like Azure AI Search, Azure AI Document Intelligence, and more!

Unification of the Microsoft 365 Development Story

For my last prediction, I have more of a hope than an expectation for the future.

In 2025, I hope Microsoft will eliminate the current segmentation between tools for building Microsoft Teams solutions and SPFx solutions. We’ve already seen progress with Microsoft using the Teams Toolkit (TTK) for VS Code as the deployment method for Microsoft 365 Copilot developer customizations. My wish is to see the TTK that includes a CLI, a VS Code extension, a Visual Studio extension, as well as various libraries and packages evolve into a unified “Microsoft 365 Developer’s Toolkit.” This consolidated toolkit would encompass everything Microsoft 365 Development, including a refreshed developer story for SPFx solutions.

Will this happen? Maybe, but that’s my hope.

Microsoft Teams Application Development is Growing

I talked to quite a few customers in 2023 about their frustrations with their Power Platform investments and looking for a better way to build enterprise solutions… looking back, that seemed to be just the hum of the refrigerator… something subtle that you get used to but you live with it and only notice it when the power goes out. In 2024, these conversations have been more like the garbage truck coming down your street at 5 AM to pickup the trash - you definitely notice it. I see no reason to believe that won’t continue into 2025, especially with Teams being the cornerstone to all Microsoft 365 Copilot extensibility for full-stack developers (aka: pro-code & code-first developers).

I’m really interested, though, in spending a lot more time next year in 2025 on building apps for Microsoft Teams, uh spending more time in how we can leverage AI to create more powerful solutions and more um useful solutions for our enterprise customers in the Microsoft 365 uh space, and that includes using those same services to extend Microsoft 365 copilot to get the best uh out of their out of my company’s existing investments for those existing licenses.

What about you?

What about you? I’d love to hear what excites you most about Microsoft 365 development in 2025 and what your biggest takeaways were from 2024!

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