Comparing Microsoft Places and Waldo
Are you looking to compare Microsoft Places and Waldo or searching for an alternative to Microsoft Places? This article will help you understand the key features, differences, and benefits of these two leading hybrid work management solutions.
What is Microsoft Places?
Microsoft Places is a robust application developed by Microsoft to optimize the hybrid work experience. It seamlessly integrates with Microsoft’s ecosystem, including Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Teams, providing a comprehensive platform for managing both physical office spaces and remote work environments. Microsoft Places enables users to book desks and rooms and share their location, whether at the office or working remotely.
What is Waldo?
Waldo, developed by Moffi, is a powerful tool designed to enhance the hybrid work experience. Unlike Microsoft Places, Waldo is a pure software application that integrates smoothly with Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Outlook. It allows users to book desks, rooms, and parking spaces, and share their location, whether they are at the office or working remotely.
Key differences: let's compare Microsoft Places!
Both Microsoft Places and Waldo are highly integrated with Microsoft Copilot.
Microsoft Places: Does not manage priority, fair-play booking or WFH policies.
Waldo: Manages priority booking, fair-play booking, and work-from-home (WFH) policies.
Microsoft Places: Includes map features but does not include map design services.
Waldo: Includes map design services as part of the subscription.
Microsoft Places: Does not support parking booking.
Waldo: Offers parking booking functionality.
Microsoft Places: Needs a Microsoft Teams Premium subscription at 10€ / 10USD per user per year.
Waldo: Free version forever or paid version at 3€ / 3USD per user per month.
Licensing and cost
If you already have a Microsoft Teams Premium license, Microsoft Places is worth a try. If not, Waldo is a much cheaper solution. Additionally, Waldo includes map design, which Microsoft Places does not.
| Feature | Microsoft Places | Waldo |
|---|---|---|
|
Microsoft Teams Premium license |
Mandatory |
Not needed |
|
Free version forever |
No |
Yes |
|
Trial period |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Cost per user |
USD10 per user per month |
USD3 per user per month Map design included |
Microsoft Places comparison guide – licensing and cost
Desk booking features
Waldo offers several advanced features not available in Microsoft Places, such as predictive booking, fair-play desk booking, and various policies for remote work and guest bookings. However, Microsoft Places provides a simple and efficient solution for desk booking.
| Feature | Microsoft Places | Waldo |
|---|---|---|
|
Location plans (share location schedule) |
Yes |
Yes |
|
In-person meeting invite |
Yes |
No |
|
Nearby location |
Yes |
No |
|
Predictive booking based on AI
(Analyzing user habits to predict users’ locations) |
No |
Yes |
|
Fair-play booking for desk |
No |
Yes |
|
Microsoft Outlook Synchronization |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Priority rules for desks |
No |
Yes |
|
Waiting list for desk |
No |
Yes |
|
Map Localization |
Yes |
Yes |
|
WFH policies |
No |
Yes |
|
Auto release policy for desks |
No |
Yes |
|
Guest booking for desks |
No |
Yes |
|
Display map to any screen (kiosk mode) |
No |
Yes |
|
Map design service (unlimited) |
No |
Yes |
Microsoft Places comparison guide – desk booking features
Parking booking features
Waldo provides comprehensive parking management features, including waiting lists, fair-play rotation, EV car management, and guest booking, which are not available in Microsoft Places.
| Feature | Microsoft Places | Waldo |
|---|---|---|
|
Parking management |
No |
Yes |
|
Waiting list for parking spots |
No |
Yes |
|
Fair-play rotation for parking spots |
No |
Yes |
|
EV car management |
No |
Yes |
|
Guest booking for parking |
No |
Yes |
Microsoft Places comparison guide – parking booking features
APIs
Microsoft has not yet communicated anything about the Microsoft Places APIs.
| Feature | Microsoft Places | Waldo |
|---|---|---|
|
Check-in APIs |
Unknown |
Yes |
|
Parking APIs |
No |
Yes |
|
Desk booking APIs |
Unknown |
Yes |
|
User status APs |
Unknown |
Yes |
Microsoft Places comparison guide – APIs
Collaborative features
Both options provide team day messages, office occupancy checks, and the ability to see who is at the office today.
| Feature | Microsoft Places | Waldo |
|---|---|---|
|
Team day messages |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Check office occupancy |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Check who's at the office today |
Yes |
Yes |
Microsoft Places comparison guide – Collaborative features
Emergency management
Waldo includes features for raising alerts, ensuring a minimum number of fire wardens and first aiders, and building evacuation management, while Microsoft Places does not.
| Feature | Microsoft Places | Waldo |
|---|---|---|
|
Raise an alert |
No |
Yes |
|
Ensure a minimum number of fire wardens and first aiders |
No |
Yes |
|
Buiding evacuation management |
No |
Yes |
Microsoft Places comparison guide – Emergency management features
Microsoft 365 integration
Both Microsoft Places and Waldo offer copilot integration, availability in Microsoft Teams and Outlook, and license management in the Microsoft Admin Center, but only Waldo is available as a tab in a Microsoft Teams channel.
| Feature | Microsoft Places | Waldo |
|---|---|---|
|
Copilot integration |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Available in Microsoft Teams |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Available as a tab in a Microsoft teams channel |
No |
Yes |
|
Available in Microsoft Outlook |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Manage licenses in Microsoft Admin Center |
Yes |
Yes |
Compare Microsoft Places – Microsoft 365 integration
