We’re excited to introduce a small but powerful new feature in Ichicraft Boards: Start Boards! This addition gives users more control over how they begin their day in the digital workplace.

What’s a Start Board?

A Start Board is the board that opens automatically when a user starts their day. It’s a personal preference that helps users land right where they need to be—whether that’s catching up on company news, checking their tasks, or diving into reports.

This doesn’t change the order of boards in the navigation, nor does it replace the default Home board. It simply sets a preferred starting point that reflects how each individual works best.

How Users Can Select Their Start Board

Users can set any board as their start board from the board navigation. Just click the three-dot menu on any board and select “Set as start board.”

It’s that simple—and it makes a big difference in creating a smoother, more personalized experience.

How to Enable the Feature

Admins can enable this feature in the configuration package. It is deactivated by default. To make it available for users:

Ichicraft Boards Admin Center → Configuration packages → Open relevant package → Toggle “Allow users to set their start board” under the Boards section.

Once enabled, the feature becomes available to all users in that package.

Why it Matters

This feature is all about flexibility. Some users like to begin their day with a task overview. Others might prefer starting with their News Hub or a specific department board. By allowing them to choose, we’re helping them jump straight into what matters most.

We're always looking for ways to give users more control and personalization in their digital workspace. The Start Board feature is a great step in that direction — and it will be available starting the week of April 28.

This time, we’re excited to share our latest innovation: the Web Part Container Widget. With this new addition, you can easily wrap any SharePoint web part inside an Ichicraft Boards widget, giving you a quick, responsive, and simple way to add functionality that isn’t yet available as a built-in widget.

Why a Web Part Container?

Sometimes, there’s an out-of-the-box SharePoint web part that offers a feature you need, but there isn’t a corresponding Ichicraft Boards widget—yet. We know some customers love building their own widgets using the Ichicraft Widget Development Kit—and that’s still an option if you want fully custom solutions. But for those moments when the functionality already exists in SharePoint, you can skip the extra development and simply wrap it in our new Web Part Container Widget. Think about the Viva Engage web part, for example: now you can container this in a widget and offer it directly on a board.

Keep Your Existing Investments

If your company has already invested in SharePoint web parts before adopting Ichicraft Boards, this new feature means you don’t have to start over. By containing your existing web parts within Ichicraft Boards, you bring your workspace together in one place and avoid wasting past efforts. The result? A modern, cohesive digital environment that still capitalizes on your previous investments.

Quick & Easy Configuration

We believe in keeping things straightforward and efficient. To set up the new widget:

• Add the Web Part Container Widget to your board. Make sure the SharePoint web part you want to display is already added to the SharePoint page where Ichicraft Boards is installed.

• Select the SharePoint web part you’d like to display from the drop-down menu.
• Decide whether to hide the widget header for a cleaner look.
• Click “Apply.” Your web part is immediately available in Ichicraft Boards.

A Responsive Experience

Because every component in Ichicraft Boards is designed to be responsive, the web parts you contain will automatically adapt to different screen sizes. Whether you’re looking at a custom tool, a Viva Engage feed, or any other SharePoint web part, the experience will be polished and intuitive.

Strengthening Your Digital Workspace

At Ichicraft Boards, we prioritize security, responsiveness, and a clean user experience. The Web Part Container Widget reflects these values by letting you easily integrate external web parts, whether they’re newly released tools or investments you’ve already made. And if you want to develop your own widgets in the future, our Ichicraft Widget Development Kit is ready when you are.

We can’t wait to see how you’ll use this new widget. Feel free to reach out to us at boards@ichicraft.com if you have any questions, and enjoy building a digital workspace that perfectly meets your needs!

At Ichicraft Boards, we care about the details—every setting, every feature, every click. Our latest release refines the board reset functionality to give both users and administrators even more freedom to shape their home board experience without sacrificing security or personal flair.

Reset Your Board Without Losing Your Personal Touch

For those who want to reset their own boards, you can now hold on to all the custom widget settings you’ve grown to love. Before, a reset meant starting from scratch. Now, you can enjoy the perks of a refreshed layout or an entirely new template while keeping your personal configurations in place. Think of it like moving to a new house but still bringing along your favorite furniture.

Admin-Triggered Reset?

Sometimes, companies need to roll out new board layouts, templates, or features across their organization. That’s why we’ve introduced an admin-triggered reset, making it possible to deliver these updates quickly and consistently—without relying on individual user actions. This new feature can simplify internal processes, unify the user experience, and help maintain a secure and consistent environment. When an administrator triggers a board reset, end users see a friendly message: "We’ve given your board a fresh upgrade!" Rest assured, you can still carry over your preferred widget settings to keep things feeling familiar, even after the reset.

Admin Options: Silent, Scheduled, and Audience-Targeted

To make life even easier for administrators, Ichicraft Boards lets you handle resets in multiple ways. For example, you can schedule a reset in advance to ensure everyone is ready for the change at a convenient time. You can also target a specific audience so only the chosen user group sees the refresh. And if you’d rather update boards quietly, you can opt for a silent refresh that works behind the scenes without alerting users. This allows for a more flexible and organized approach, letting you roll out changes on your own terms.

Availability

The user-initiated reset with the option to keep your widget settings is already live. The admin-triggered reset will become available this week, from 17 March to 21 March. Keep an eye out for these features as they roll out, and feel free to share your thoughts—we’re always open to your feedback!

Great news—we’ve added Polish as a UI language to Ichicraft Boards! This means Polish-speaking users can now enjoy a more natural and comfortable experience while using Ichicraft Boards.

We love making Ichicraft Boards more accessible for everyone, and this is just another step in that journey. Dziękujemy for being part of it! 🎉

With our latest theming update, you can now customize Ichicraft Boards to better reflect your company’s look and feel. Whether it’s adjusting colors, backgrounds, or layouts, you have more control over the design to match your brand’s identity.

Themes for Every Brand in Your Company

If your company operates multiple brands or subsidiaries, you can now give each one its own distinct look within Ichicraft Boards. Create multiple themes, each with its own logo, colors, and background, ensuring that every brand is represented consistently while keeping everything under one platform.

Smarter Color Management

Define a set of colors that apply across the platform, ensuring consistency while still allowing flexibility where needed. You can set global color slots that automatically update across themes or fine-tune them for specific brands. Any changes will instantly update the interface, keeping everything looking polished.

Flexible Background Options

The new theming feature introduces the ability to add multiple background options. Users can now select their preferred background from a predefined set, giving them a more personalized and engaging workspace. Whether it’s a gradient, a branded image, or a solid color, backgrounds can now enhance the visual appeal of the platform while still keeping the focus on functionality.

Simplified Theme Assignment

Applying a theme is straightforward. Using configuration packages, you can assign themes to specific groups or roles, ensuring that the right users see the right branding. This makes it easy to manage complex organizations with multiple brands or subsidiaries.

Fine-Tune Every Detail

From the navigation layout and header design to badges, indicators, and even the footer, the theming update lets you fine-tune every visual detail. Adjust border radius for a modern or classic look, configure header overlays for better readability, and even preview your changes in real-time before applying them. With so many customization options, not everything fits into a single screenshot. But that’s the point—you now have full control over how Ichicraft Boards looks and feels, making it easier than ever to align with your company’s branding.

Improved Navigation for a Cleaner Experience

We’ve also refined the look and feel of the horizontal and vertical navigation. The updated design is cleaner, more modern, and easier to use, making it simple for users to find what they need while keeping the interface visually appealing.

Why This Matters and Roll-Out Information

This isn’t just about looking pretty. A workspace that feels like yours keeps teams engaged and turns your platform into something people actually want to use. We’re rolling out this update in the week of 17 February. Get ready to bring your company’s identity to life on Ichicraft Boards with these new, flexible theming options.

The Buddy Bar is a new enhancement designed to give you a more streamlined, customizable way to interact with your essential tools. By placing widgets (referred to as “buddies”) directly in the header, you free up valuable space on your board. Instead of having multiple widgets occupying permanent on-screen real estate, they’re now just a click away—leaving your workspace tidier and more focused on what matters most.

Relevant, On-Demand Information

Widgets in the Buddy Bar appear as simple icons, and if there’s a number that needs your attention—such as pending tasks or unread messages—it displays a badge count. If a widget doesn’t have any updates, it stays unobtrusive, showing only its icon. This ensures that you only see what’s relevant, when it’s relevant, without cluttering your screen.

Moving Widgets to the Buddy Bar and Resizing

Moving widgets to the Buddy Bar is easy: simply use the widget’s menu in its header to transfer it from the board to the Buddy Bar. Once there, you can open it in a resizable flyout panel—adjusting the view so it’s just the right size for the information at hand. Your preferred size is saved, so you’ll always get the optimal view going forward.

Rearrange Buddies

Beyond resizing, you can also rearrange the order of your buddies. This means you can prioritize the widgets you use most, placing them front-and-center for quick access. With just a few clicks, you have full control over how your top-level tools are organized, making it even easier to navigate your digital workspace.

Admin Configuration and Audience Targeting

Administrators can determine which widgets are available in the Buddy Bar for different audiences through Configuration Packages. They can pin certain widgets to ensure they’re always visible to the entire team, or assign others only to specific user groups. This level of targeting ensures that each department or role sees exactly the tools they need—no more, no less.

A More Efficient, Personalized Workspace

The Buddy Bar consolidates your tools in one accessible location, shows only what’s important at a glance, and gives you control over how widgets are ordered and displayed. It’s all about making your digital workplace more responsive, adaptable, and clutter-free. Best of all, this update will be available starting on Friday, December 13, so you can soon experience a cleaner, more flexible way to engage with your widgets.

Ichicraft Boards now streamlines the document creation process, making it easier than ever to move from concept to a fully editable file. Instead of searching through scattered folders or outdated templates, you’ll find all the right, company-approved Office templates conveniently within your personal digital workspace.

Template Library

A well-organized template library puts all the right resources at your fingertips. Instead of sifting through irrelevant files, you can quickly select a template suited to your task—be it a proposal for sales or a presentation for marketing. Each template can be grouped by department, region, or role, ensuring quick access to the most relevant starting points.

Location Selection

Choose where your new document will be stored—from a Teams channel to a SharePoint library. This targeted placement ensures that anyone who needs access can find it effortlessly.

Metadata & Launch in Editor

Once you confirm the file details, simply rename and add metadata before diving into editing. Whether you prefer the browser or an Office application, you can start working on your content right away.

Also Available in the Files Widget

If your Ichicraft Board includes the Files widget, these new capabilities are right at your fingertips without extra navigation. Simply open the widget to find your templates, create new files and folders, or upload existing documents. The same intuitive steps apply, allowing you to maintain consistency and efficiency directly from a familiar space within your board.

Buddy Bar for Quick Access

For even more convenience, this feature can be added to the buddy bar—your quick-access panel within Ichicraft Boards. Here, you’ll soon be able to create new files with just a few clicks, without leaving your current page. (Note: This buddy bar functionality is also launching soon. For more details, check out our other post about the buddy bar.)

Empower Your Administrators to Tailor the Experience

Ichicraft Boards also empowers administrators to fine-tune the entire template experience. They can create new templates, group them for specific audiences, and limit visibility so that only the right teams see the right resources. Admins can even “push” important templates directly to selected users, ensuring crucial documents are highlighted and easily accessible. With these controls, the company’s digital workspace stays relevant, clutter-free, and closely aligned with evolving business standards.

Admins Can Enable Your New File Creation Features on December 13

The new file creation and template configuration features are designed to further boost your efficiency—making it simpler than ever to access, create, and manage documents right from your digital workspace. Starting next week, on Friday, December 13, these enhancements will be available within your organization. Your administrators can then activate these new capabilities for you. Keep an eye out for updates and, if needed, encourage your admin team to make the switch so you can start benefiting from these improvements as soon as they’re released.

The files widget gets another great improvement to make file management smoother and more intuitive than ever. Starting on Friday, December 13, you’ll have access to a refined set of menu options that simplify everything from organizing and naming files to sharing links and managing permissions. This enhancement ensures that your digital workspace stays efficient, accessible, and easy to maintain—all while you remain in the familiar Files Widget environment.

What’s New?

Several new menu items are designed to streamline your daily file tasks:

• Copy link: Quickly generate a direct link to share a file internally or externally.
• Rename: Keep file names clear and consistent.
• Favorite: Mark frequently accessed documents for instant retrieval.
• Move to: Relocate files to more relevant folders or libraries.
• Copy to: Create duplicates in other locations without extra steps.
• Delete: Remove outdated files immediately.
• Details: Open a panel to review and update file metadata, and view the full history of changes, ensuring complete context at any time.

Improvements to Existing Features

We’ve also polished some of the key functions you already rely on:

• Share: Experience a more straightforward, user-friendly sharing process. Easily set who can view or edit the document and generate a shareable link without hassle.
• Manage access: Fine-tune permissions directly from the widget. Grant or revoke access as needed, ensuring that the right people have the right level of involvement, boosting both security and collaboration.

Streamlined Move and Copy Dialogs

When you select "Move to" or "Copy to," a simple dialog appears, letting you quickly browse Teams channels, SharePoint libraries, and subfolders. You can also use the search function to pinpoint your target location. This direct approach reduces the time and effort needed to reorganize or duplicate files.

Why These Updates Matter

By placing these tools at your fingertips, Ichicraft Boards reduces the time spent juggling multiple windows or searching for the right settings. Renaming and favoriting files makes them easier to find. Copying and moving documents streamlines team collaboration. Adjusting permissions, viewing file histories, and updating metadata keeps everyone aligned and informed.

Available December 13

No extra steps are required. On Friday, December 13, these enhancements will appear in your Files Widget. Take advantage of them to keep your workspace tidy, accessible, and secure—so you can focus more on the work itself and less on managing it.

In today's workplace, timely and effective communication is essential. Whether it's a company-wide policy update, an urgent security alert, or a critical announcement that can't wait, getting the right information to the right people at the right time is paramount. That's why we're thrilled to introduce a powerful new feature to Ichicraft Boards: push notifications for urgent messages.

Stay Informed, Instantly

With our new push notification capability, organizations can actively alert users about urgent matters directly through Microsoft Teams. These notifications appear in the activity feed on both desktop and mobile devices, ensuring that important messages are seen promptly, no matter where your employees are working.

Imagine the convenience of reaching your entire organization instantly with a crucial update, without worrying about messages getting lost in overflowing inboxes or delayed in communication channels. A single click on the notification takes users straight to Ichicraft Boards, where they can read the full content of the urgent message and respond accordingly.

Tailored Messaging for Maximum Impact

We understand that not all messages are meant for everyone. That's why our push notifications are designed to respect your existing audience settings. When you send an urgent message, the push notification targets the audience you've defined. If the message is scoped at the board level without a unique audience, it defaults to the access settings of the shared board's visitors group. This ensures that your communications are both efficient and relevant, reaching only those who need to see them within your organization.

Empower Your Administrators and Board Owners

Control and flexibility are key components of effective communication management. In the Ichicraft Boards admin center, administrators have the power to activate push notifications and configure their availability to shared board owners. This means you can delegate communication responsibilities appropriately, allowing those closest to the information to disseminate it swiftly and accurately across the organization.

Integration with Microsoft Teams

Our push notification feature leverages the robust capabilities of Microsoft Teams, providing a unified and familiar platform for your organization's communications. By deploying Ichicraft Boards as a Teams App, you ensure a smooth user experience where urgent messages and push notifications work in harmony within your existing workflow.

Experience the Benefits

• Improved Responsiveness: Deliver time-sensitive information directly to your employees' devices, reducing delays in critical situations.
• Enhanced Engagement: Keep your organization connected and informed, fostering a proactive and collaborative work environment.
• Customized Communication: Target your messages to specific groups or roles, ensuring relevance and reducing unnecessary noise.

Get Started Today

Enhancing your organization's communication strategy is as simple as activating push notifications in your admin center. Equip your workforce with the tools they need to stay informed and responsive in today's dynamic work landscape.

Don't let important messages go unnoticed. Embrace the power of push notifications with Ichicraft Boards and experience a new level of efficiency and connectivity in your digital workplace.

💡Note: This new feature will be available starting week 43 (October 21 - 25).

We are excited to announce the launch of our new Admin Changelog, designed to keep you fully informed about updates to Ichicraft Boards. This tool provides admins with clear visibility and control over all recent changes—from feature enhancements to bug fixes—ensuring you're always up to date with new deployments.

Access the Changelog on the New "About" Page

As part of this update, we've added an "About" page to the admin center, where the Changelog is now available. This page serves as a central hub for all update information, offering a comprehensive record of recent changes. With a clear, organized list detailing every update, admins can easily see what's new, what's improved, and what issues have been resolved. Each update is clickable, opening an in-depth dialog with detailed information about the change.

By utilizing the Changelog on the "About" page, you gain immediate clarity on system updates, eliminating any guesswork. You'll know exactly what has changed and why, empowering you to manage your environment more effectively.

Detailed Change Information at Your Fingertips

For every update listed on the "About" page, simply click on the item to access a detailed description. This opens a dialog that breaks down the specifics of each change, including new features, fixes, and how the update impacts your digital workplace. This level of transparency allows you to fully understand each update without needing to search for details.

Real-Time Visual Notifications

To ensure you're instantly aware of new updates, we've added a visual cue: whenever a new feature or fix is deployed, a red dot appears in the top-right corner of the admin center's menu, signaling that something has changed. While the Changelog on the "About" page is your main tool for tracking updates, this visual cue ensures that nothing slips through the cracks.

Stay Informed and In Control

We invite you to explore the new Changelog on the "About" page in the admin center. Stay informed, stay in control, and experience the benefits of streamlined update management with the Admin Changelog.