Microsoft Viva Topics is a powerful tool that helps organisations organise and make sense of their knowledge. One of the key features of Viva Topics is the ability to categorize topics using types. Types can be used to group related topics together, making it easier for users to find the information they need.

There are a number of different types that can be used to categorize Viva Topics. Some of the most common types include:
- Products: This type can be used to categorize topics about products, such as software applications, hardware devices, or services.
- Projects: This type can be used to categorize topics about projects, such as research projects, development projects, or marketing campaigns.
- Events: This type can be used to categorize topics about events, such as conferences, meetings, or training sessions.
- Organisations: This type can be used to categorize topics about organizations, such as companies, government agencies, or non-profit organizations.
- People: This type can be used to categorize topics about people, such as employees, customers, or partners.
In addition to these common types, organisations can also create custom types to meet their specific needs. For example, an organisation that provides customer support might create a type for “customer issues” or “support cases.”
To add a Type to a topic, edit the topic and then add the types you want to use. It is possible to add multiple types to a topic and have the first one visible on the Topic card by default.

Types can be used to categorize Viva Topics in a number of different ways. One way is to use types to create topic hierarchies. For example, a company might create a hierarchy for its products, with each product having its own set of related topics.
Another way to use types is to provide instant information on topic cards.

Types can also be used to filter search results. When a user searches for a topic, they can choose to filter the results by type. This can be helpful for finding specific types of information, such as product documentation or customer support articles.
Overall, types are a powerful tool that can be used to categorize Viva Topics. By using types, organisations can make it easier for users to find the information they need, improve the discoverability of knowledge, and increase the overall productivity of their workforce.
Over 150 Built-In Types
There are over 150 topic types recognised in Viva Topics.
| Academy | Experience (UX) | Pharmacy (chemist, drugstore) |
| Account (user account) | Expo (exposition) | Pipeline |
| Acquisition | Factory | Platform |
| Act | Feature (software) | Policy |
| Affiliate | Federation | Portal (web, internet) |
| Agency | Festival | Portfolio |
| Agreement (Deal) | Form | Process (procedure) |
| API (Application programming interface) | Foundation | Product |
| App (Application) | Framework | Program (programme) |
| Asset | Fund | Programming language |
| Association | Gateway | Project (development) |
| Authority (State) | Government | Protocol |
| Award | Graphical user interface (GUI) | Province |
| Bank | Group | Region |
| Board | Hardware | Registry (register) |
| Borough | Health network (health care) | Regulation |
| Branch | Health system (health service) | Repository (repo) |
| Building | Holdings | Software development kit (SDK) |
| Bureau | Hospice | Sector (economic) |
| Business model | Hospital | Seminary |
| Business unit | Hub | Server |
| Campaign | Industry | Service |
| Campus | Initiative | Site |
| Center (centre) | Institute | Society |
| City | Investment | Solution |
| Client (client app, client application, web client) | Journal | Standard |
| Clinic | Jurisdiction | Steering committee |
| Coalition | Laboratory (lab, research) | Store (shop) |
| Committee | Language | Strategy |
| Company (firm, corporation, LLC) | League | Subdivision |
| Complex (building complex) | Lease | Submarket |
| Component (software) | Library(software) | Subsidiary |
| Compound | Location | Survey |
| Conference | Market | Symposium |
| Contract | Market area | System |
| Contractor | Memorandum (memo) | Task force |
| Convention | Methodology | Team |
| Council | Microservice | Technology (tech) |
| County | Middleware | Territory |
| Customer (client) | Ministry | Tool (software tool, utility) |
| Data model | Mobile app | Toolkit (software, toolbox) |
| Data store | Model | Treatment |
| Data warehouse | Module | University |
| Department | Museum | User interface (UI) |
| Desk | Nation (country, republic) | Value model |
| Device (appliance) | Office | Warehouse (Depot) |
| Division | Operating system | Web app |
| DLL (Dynamic link library) | Opportunity | Web service |
| Enclave | Organization (organisation, org) | Website (site) |
| Engine (software) | Package (software) | Workshop |
| Event | Partner (business) |
Benefits of Using Types
There are a number of benefits to using types to categorize Viva Topics. Some of the key benefits include:
- Improved discoverability: Types can help users to find the information they need more easily. By grouping related topics together, types make it easier for users to identify the topics that are most relevant to their work.
- Increased productivity: Types can help to increase the productivity of the workforce. By making it easier for users to find the information they need, types can help users to spend less time searching and more time working.
- Improved collaboration: Types can help to improve collaboration within organizations. By making it easier for users to share information, types can help to break down silos and promote a more collaborative work environment.
If you are looking for a way to improve the discoverability, productivity, and collaboration of your organisation, then you should consider using types to categorize your Viva Topics.
Leave a Reply