The October 2024 SharePoint Roadmap Pitstop dropped a bunch of updates. Some were shiny. Some were shrug-worthy. But a few? Genuinely useful—so let’s cut the fluff and talk about what actually unsucks your everyday work.

1. Content Pane goes mainstream

This isn’t just a UI tweak—it’s a rethinking of how we build pages. The new Content Pane helps you browse, drag, and drop files, images, and web parts right into SharePoint pages with fewer clicks and zero guesswork. It’s like someone asked, “What if we made this not terrible?” and then actually followed through.

Why it matters: If you’ve ever tried explaining to a non-techy coworker how to “just add a document viewer” and watched their soul leave their body—this one’s for you.

2. Section backgrounds in pages (finally!)

Custom backgrounds for page sections are here, and while it might sound superficial, this is actually huge for branding and visual clarity. Modern pages have looked sterile for far too long. Now you can actually define hierarchy and flow without resorting to giant emojis and bold red text.

Why it matters: Because your intranet homepage shouldn’t look like a Word doc from 1998.

3. External file request on document libraries

Hallelujah. You can now request files from external users without giving them edit rights or standing up a clunky Power Automate form. Think “Dropbox File Request,” but with compliance baked in.

Why it matters: This is a win for teams working with contractors, clients, or outside vendors. It streamlines intake while keeping things secure. Welcome to 2024, finally.

4. Viva Connections dashboard enhancements

The new dashboard targeting rules are slick—think geo-targeting, role-based access, and seasonal campaigns. It’s the kind of personalization that actually feels smart, not creepy.

Why it matters: Now your HR card doesn’t have to show up for the IT team, and your IT alerts don’t clutter the Finance view. Clean. Focused. Actually useful.

My Take

Look, not every roadmap update changes your life. But when they do, they deserve more than a passing mention. These updates—especially file requests and the content pane—aren’t just shiny new buttons. They actually solve pain points people like me have been griping about for years.

And the M365 community? Already on it. The demos, feedback threads, and hot takes I’ve seen around these features prove once again: this is a passionate, smart, no-fluff group of humans trying to make modern work suck less. If you are interested in seeing them live or even present your own, head on to https://aka.ms/community/calls to add them to your calendar!

If you’re an intranet owner, content author, or governance wrangler—these are the features you want to look at now.

Catch the full list of changes here: SharePoint Roadmap Pitstop – October 2024.

This is your monthly reminder to unsuck your workspace. You’ve got tools. Use them.