Overview
The Microsoft Teams integration analyzes work-related communication from connected channels to measure collaboration and provide context for delivery insights.
Important: The Pensero bot must be explicitly invited to each channel you want to analyze. It only reads channels where it's been added, never private chats or uninvited channels.
Privacy requirement: You are responsible for informing team members that messages in connected channels will be shared with Pensero for analysis.
Our approach to transparency: We don't want to sneak into channels or be perceived as an invisible spy. The bot is visible to all channel members so everyone knows Pensero is analyzing conversations. We designed it this way intentionally. Think of us as a microphone for your team's contributions, not a hidden monitor.
What Pensero Reads
Pensero only analyzes channels where the bot has been explicitly invited:
Channel messages and threaded replies
@mentions and participant interactions
Links to tickets, PRs, documents, or work items
Timestamps and conversation patterns
What Pensero does NOT read:
Private 1:1 or group chats
Channels where the bot hasn't been added
Message content unrelated to work (filtered out)
Direct messages
What Pensero Calculates
From connected Teams channels, Pensero tracks:
Collaboration score: Who helps teammates through discussions, unblocking, and knowledge sharing
Work context: Conversations linked to specific PRs, tickets, or projects
All data is processed according to SOC 2 compliance standards.
Setup Instructions
Step 1: Connect Microsoft Teams
1. Go to Integrations and select Microsoft Teams and click Connect
2. Sign in with your Microsoft account (admin privileges recommended)
3. Grant the required permissions when prompted
Step 2: Add Pensero Bot to Channels
After connecting, you must invite the Pensero bot to specific channels:
Open Microsoft Teams
Go to the channel you want to analyze
Click the ••• (more options) next to the channel name
Select Manage channel
Go to the Apps tab
Search for Pensero and click Add
Repeat for each channel you want to track
Note: If you don't add the bot to any channels, no collaboration data will be collected. This is intentional. We only track conversations where the bot is visibly present.
Bot not appearing in Teams app search?
Confirm your Microsoft Teams admin has approved the Pensero app for your organization
Check with your IT admin if third-party apps are restricted
Step 3: Wait for Initial Sync
After adding channels, allow 24 to 48 hours for the initial data sync. Historical messages will be analyzed.
Managing the Integration
After setting up Microsoft Teams, follow these steps to confirm data is being collected:
Step 1: Check Connected Channels
Go to Integrations in Pensero
Find Microsoft Teams and click Manage
You should see your Teams workspace listed with the number of connected channels (e.g., "company_name #2")
If it shows "# 0", the bot hasn't been added to any channels yet. Go back to Step 2 in Setup Instructions.
Step 2: View Channel Details
Click on your Teams workspace name to see the list of connected channels
You should see:
Channel names (e.g., #engineering, #General)
Last message timestamp
Message count
Member count
Privacy status (Public/Private)
What to look for:
Channels you added the bot to should appear in this list
Message counts should be greater than 0 if the channel has activity
Last message timestamps should reflect recent activity
Step 3: Check Collaboration Metrics
Go to Scope of Work > All Work > Comms.
Apply the Message Type filter, or use this link directly:
https://pensero.ai/work/scope-of-work?comm_type=message&contribution_type=communications&direction=desc&mode=p&order_by=productivity&tab=all-work
You should then see Teams message activity for your team.
FAQs
Do I need to add the bot to every channel?
No. Only add it to channels with work-related technical discussions. Private team channels or social channels can be skipped.
What if my team doesn't use channels, only group chats?
Group chats are not supported. The integration only works with channels. If you primarily use group chats, you can skip this integration.
Can I remove the bot later?
Yes. Simply remove the Pensero app from the channel in Teams. Historical data will remain, but no new messages will be analyzed.
Will team members see the bot in channels?
Yes. The bot appears as a member of the channel, making it transparent that Pensero is analyzing conversations. This is by design.
We're running a pilot and don't want to introduce this integration yet. What should we do?
This is common. Many customers wait until post-POC to add Teams integration. You're only missing about 5% of collaboration signal. The GitHub data provides the core metrics you need to evaluate Pensero.