Microsoft 365 Copilot was officially released for enterprise customers on November 1, 2023. This innovative tool operates seamlessly within Microsoft 365 applications and leverages Microsoft Graph to Analyze emails, chats, and documents accessible to users. Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs), Copilot assists users in rapidly crafting or refining text and images.
Copilot was originally announced on March 16, 2023, and companies across the globe have been anxiously awaiting its release. Now that’s finally here, let’s time a moment to learn more about this powerful tool.
What is Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Embedded within everyday Microsoft 365 applications, Microsoft 365 Copilot operates in conjunction with users, generating responses based on organizational data such as documents, emails, calendars, chats, meetings, and contacts. When initiated by the users, Microsoft 365 Copilot can integrate this content with the user’s ongoing context, including current meetings, email exchanges, and chat conversations.
Microsoft emphasizes that users retain control over Copilot, deciding what to keep, modify, or discard. The AI features of Microsoft 365 Copilot leverage the Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service.
The Power of Microsoft 365 Copilot
Given that its purpose is to enhance productivity and streamline work processes, it’s important to understand how users feel about this product once they’ve had their hands on it.
According to a Microsoft WorkLab release in November 2023, the following findings were obtained from early Copilot users:
- 70% said they were more productive;
- 29% felt they were faster overall in a series of tasks, such as searching, writing, and summarizing;
- Catching up on a missed meeting took nearly four times less time;
- 77% said they didn’t want to work without Copilot once they’d used it.
How to Enable Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot does require an add-on license to make it work with 365 apps, as well as a plan that includes Microsoft 365. At this time, this includes the following plans: Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Basic, Standard, and Premium.
Other requirements include:
- Microsoft Entra IDs. It’s essential for all users to possess a Microsoft Entra (Azure Active Directory) ID, which can be configured through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
- OneDrive Accounts. In order to fully utilize the functionalities of Microsoft 365 Copilot, including tools for file sharing and saving, users are required to have a valid OneDrive account.
- App Accounts. To seamlessly integrate Microsoft 365 Copilot with Teams, Microsoft Loop, or Outlook, users must have active accounts on all respective applications, and they also need to use the latest version of Outlook.
- Microsoft Whiteboard. For accessing Copilot features within Microsoft Whiteboard for Teams, administrators need to configure whiteboard access for their users.
- Network Configuration. From a network perspective, Copilot services established connections to endpoints within the Microsoft 365 endpoint taxonomy.
- Minimum Seats. Microsoft requires at least 300 seats on Copilot subscriptions.
How to Use Microsoft 365 Copilot
Once you’ve ensured that you’ve got the minimum requirements referenced above in place, Microsoft 365 Copilot will already be integrated into your apps. If you’re having trouble accessing them, you might need to update your Microsoft applications. Once everything’s on the newest version, you should see a Copilot icon appear, which usually surfaces in the ribbon menu of whichever app you’re using. This icon will allow you to switch Copilot on for any applicable Microsoft 365 app.
You can find a brief tutorial in this video, produced by Microsoft.
Practical Use Cases of Microsoft 365 Copilot
There is a significant demand for Microsoft Copilot among our clients, and this comes as no surprise, considering the extensive opportunities it offers. Here is a broad overview of how our MIBAR clients are leveraging Copilot to revolutionize processes:
1. Boosting Productivity and Efficiency
- Automating repetitive tasks. Copilot has the ability to transform mundane tasks, such as data entry, report creation, and email scheduling, into automated processes. This frees up valuable time so staff can focus on more strategic projects.
- Improving data analysis. Copilot can analyze data from Excel and other Microsoft products, provide insights, and generate reports, helping leaders make decisions that are guided by actual data.
- Enhancing the creation of content. Copilot knows how to create outlines, provide drafts for company documents, compose emails, and make presentations, ensuring the creation of content is as fast and efficient as possible.
2. Improving Collaboration and Communication
- Personalizing customer interactions. Since Copilot has the ability to compose personalized replies to customer inquiries that come in via email and chat, customer satisfaction and loyalty should improve with use of this product.
- Facilitating brainstorming and decision-making. Copilot takes feedback from team members, analyzes it, and offers a variety of options based on its findings. This fosters more effective brainstorming and decision-making.
- Simplifying knowledge sharing. Copilot’s design lets it create and share knowledge bases and other resources, allowing users to find the information they’re looking for as quickly and easily as possible.
3. Streamlining Specific Processes
- Copilot can assess customer data and streamline follow-up tasks, enhancing the efficiency of sales processes.
- Copilot can create marketing content, assess campaign performance, and automate interactions on social media, thereby increasing the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.
- Human Resources. Copilot was created to help HR professionals automate onboarding tasks, screen resumes, and schedule interviews.
- Copilot has the ability to enhance financial transparency and efficiency by analyzing financial data, generating reports, and automating invoice processing.
Interested in Leveraging Microsoft 365 Copilot? MIBAR Can Help!
Microsoft 365 Copilot signifies a remarkable advancement in workplace productivity, harnessing AI to revolutionize daily operations across multiple departments within organizations.
With Microsoft’s commitment to AI capabilities and Copilot emerging as a pivotal element, a new reality is unfolding where organizations collaborate with AI for positive outcomes. The potential impact of Copilot on industry practices is extensive, promoting firms to explore its functionalities and prepare for potential widespread adoption in the coming years.
At MIBAR, we consistently stay abreast of these innovations to ensure our efficiency and readiness so we can provide top-notch service to our clients. Our partnership with Microsoft 365 strategically focuses on significantly reducing risk exposure to your people, systems, and data. Leveraging the built-in features of each Microsoft 365 application, our team assures you that you’ll soon enjoy greater productivity and satisfaction from both internal and external customers.
Reach out to us today to learn how you can unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365 Copilot for your organization!
Additional Resources
The AI Co-Pilot of Your Dreams: Microsoft Copilot’s Impact on Everyday Work
Exploring the Synergy of Generative AI and Low-Code Development
Realistic Ways Your Business Can Take Advantage of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
