Microsoft has very recently introduced a new work and business app that is likely to be a game changer in the world of business and AI. Microsoft 365 Copilot is exactly what it sounds like, a copilot to make business processes seamless. Microsoft has promised that this recent technology will “turn your words into the most powerful productivity tool on the planet”.
Below we investigate what Microsoft 365 Copilot is, what it can bring to your business, and what you need to make use of this brand-new technology.
What is Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Microsoft 365 Copilot is a new service from Microsoft that is here to help both small and medium-sized businesses manage their workload. In a nutshell, Copilot is an AI-driven virtual IT support service, which provides personalized assistance in workplace management. It can help you and your employees manage your Microsoft 365 subscriptions more effectively.
Using Microsoft 365 Copilot, businesses can save time, streamline, and automate their IT processes, and increase productivity. Even if some or all of your employees work on MacBooks, you can still use Windows through a virtual desktop host, such as Azure. This allows your employees to work remotely and still use Office 365 apps and Copilot, when it becomes available.
Being able to use Office 365 apps with ease will make Microsoft 365 Copilot more effective, improving efficiency for everyone. With classes available online, (EG from Acuity Training), educating your employees on apps like Excel has never been easier. For those keen on understanding more about the integration and intricacies of these applications, Examlabs VCE Practice Tests offers detailed insights and guides.
Whilst Microsoft 365 Copilot can assist you in getting the most from your apps, it is vital that your employees understand the basics well.
What Can Microsoft 365 Copilot Help With?
Copilot is going to work together with each app, such as Microsoft Teams, where you will be able to send AI-written messages based on your emails and documents written throughout the day. This experience is known as ‘Business Chat’ and will work throughout all Microsoft 365 apps, including emails, chats, calendar, documents, contacts, and meetings.
Think of Copilot as your virtual assistant. For instance, you could ask it to update your team on the current marketing strategy that was decided upon during the morning meeting. Copilot can then generate an update based on that morning's emails, meetings, and messages. Copilot is an AI that is continuously learning, which means it won’t always generate the best responses.
Even so, Copilot is bound to get better with time, but you still have the option to correct it, suggest things, and edit anything it creates before sending. If you aren’t already using Microsoft Teams, find out why the Teams phone system is the right choice for your business.
Copilot can help in many other ways too, such as during account setup and license management. The app can help you create new employee accounts and make sure that each employee has access to the right data and tools for their job role.
Copilot can make managing your licenses easier, such as checking you have the right number of licenses and that you aren’t paying for unused apps. Troubleshooting becomes a lot more streamlined too, as Copilot can assist you in troubleshooting and resolving problems quickly and effectively.
Finally, Copilot can help with security configuration, which is essential in keeping your business data safe. This includes assistance with setting up multi-factor authentication and managing access control. As time goes on, Microsoft will add more features to Copilot.
What Will I Need to Benefit from Microsoft 365 Copilot?
To be able to use Microsoft 365 Copilot, you will need to be using Microsoft Office 365, which includes productivity apps like Word and Excel. If your business uses a different system, you can still use Copilot with the help of an Office 365 migration service.
You will also need to purchase a Premium Microsoft 365 business plan. Check out our comparison of Microsoft 365 business plans to learn more about each plan and what they offer.
Whether you are changing your systems entirely to use Copilot, or you believe your employees could do with a little more education, training is necessary to get everyone up to speed.
The Benefits of Microsoft 365 Copilot for Businesses
No matter what app you use Copilot with, there is a myriad of benefits for your business. Below we look at just a few of them in more detail.
- Reduced IT Costs. Businesses can begin to reduce their IT costs, as Copilot acts very much like an IT virtual assistant. Whilst it cannot fully replace IT services, it can help your business avoid costly mistakes and downtime.
- Improved productivity. With personalized assistance in managing your Microsoft 365 accounts, Copilot can help your business improve productivity. This means your employees can focus on other responsibilities, whilst Copilot focuses on IT management tasks. For example, in Microsoft Word, Copilot can create a first draft on about anything, saving employees hours in sourcing, writing, and editing time.
- Expertise at your fingertips. For businesses who are not well-versed in IT or using Microsoft, Copilot provides an expert hand whenever you need it. Using Copilot in Power Platform (a set of low-code tools for building workflows, apps, and data analytics), you can start automating repetitive tasks or go from an idea to a functioning app in a matter of minutes.
- Enhanced security. Copilot can maintain a safe and secure IT system, which will reduce the risk of cyber threats. Being at the receiving end of data loss or a hacker is not only costly, but it could also damage your reputation and set you back weeks or months. For instance, In Outlook, Copilot can help each employee set up email filters, which reduces the risk of a security breach from a malicious email.
Overall, Microsoft 365 Copilot is an innovative app that is likely to change the way businesses work forever. At its core, Copilot is designed to be a virtual IT support service that can help your business manage its IT systems effectively, improving productivity and making the working day that much easier.
The benefits of using Copilot certainly outweigh the cost, as this little virtual assistant can help streamline your IT management so employees can focus on more important activities. Microsoft 365 Copilot is a handy tool that can lead to business success and growth.
Last Updated 8 months ago
