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Writer's pictureDaniel Bumby

Microsoft Copilot for 365: What Is It, and What Can It Do for You?

Updated: 3 days ago

Humans are wired for creativity, driven by a desire to explore, build, and connect. We all seek work that gives us purpose—whether that’s launching a business, creating content that inspires, building relationships with clients, or crafting solutions that help others thrive. Yet too often, our workdays are weighed down by repetitive tasks that drain our energy and stifle our creativity. To truly reconnect with the purpose of our work, we need more than just efficiency; we need a completely new approach. 


We believe the answer lies in AI, embodied in Microsoft 365’s Copilot. 


So, what exactly is Copilot? How does it differ from other tools? How can you start using it, and—most importantly—how can it directly enhance your work experience? 




Blog header image featuring Microsoft Copilot with a vibrant and flowing design. The image highlights how AI can seamlessly integrate into everyday tasks, showing tools like search bars and productivity icons. It reflects the ease and creativity AI brings to workflows, making daily digital tasks more intuitive and efficient.



What is Microsoft Copilot? 


Microsoft Copilot is an innovative, AI-powered tool integrated into Microsoft 365 to help you work smarter, not harder. By tapping into advanced machine learning and natural language processing, it’s designed to boost creativity, streamline productivity, and enhance collaboration.  


Think of it as a highly intuitive digital assistant that doesn’t just execute commands but adapts to how you work. Copilot intuitively “learns” how you interact with Microsoft apps, enabling you to unlock more of the features and functionalities that may have previously gone unnoticed. 


In technical terms, Copilot is powered by deep learning and data analysis, coupled with a sophisticated connection to Microsoft Graph—a knowledge network that spans the entire Microsoft suite, capturing information from emails, chats, meetings, and documents. This vast data network allows Copilot to draw insights and generate content that reflects your specific work environment, making each interaction more meaningful and contextually relevant. 


“68% of users feel that Copilot has improved the quality of their work and saved more than 10 hours per month”  



Why is Copilot the Best Option for Business?


  1.  Customised Responses Through Your Business Data

    Unlike traditional AI, Copilot has real-time access to your content in the Microsoft Graph, allowing it to respond with answers tailored to your current projects, recent conversations, and historical data. This access enables Copilot to go beyond generic advice, delivering recommendations and solutions that reflect your business’s unique needs and priorities. 


  2. A Secure, Trustworthy Tool Built on Microsoft’s Privacy Standards

     Microsoft takes security seriously, and Copilot is built on the same solid foundation of compliance and privacy protections that Microsoft 365 users rely on. From two-factor authentication to privacy safeguards, Copilot ensures your data remains secure, both at a company and individual level, giving you peace of mind to focus on work. 


  3. Seamless Integration Across Apps 

    Copilot’s functionality isn’t limited to one app; it’s woven into the core Microsoft 365 experience. Whether drafting an email in Outlook or reviewing data in Excel, Copilot’s interface remains consistent and intuitive. This seamless integration means it feels like an extension of your existing tools, rather than a separate entity, making it easy to adopt across your daily workflows. 


  4. Continuously Adapting to Your Needs 

    Microsoft 365 Copilot doesn’t just stick to basics. It’s a constantly evolving AI that can learn new tasks and connect with external systems to bring even more value to your work. For example, in partnership with Microsoft Sales, Copilot can integrate with CRM systems to pull in real-time customer data, such as interaction histories and order details, into communications. This adaptability promises even more sophisticated features as the tool develops, making it an investment that grows with your business. 






Three key statistics highlighting the impact of Microsoft Copilot on productivity and work quality. 70% of users reported increased productivity, 68% saw improvements in the quality of their work, and 77% expressed they wouldn't want to stop using Copilot. These stats underscore the positive reception of AI tools in enhancing workplace efficiency and effectiveness



How Can  Microsoft 365 Copilot Directly Benefit You? 


Icons of popular Microsoft apps including Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, displayed vertically. These apps are commonly used in workplaces to streamline communication, collaboration, and productivity. The image reflects the integration of these tools to help users stay organised, collaborate effectively, and create high-quality documents and presentation

Outlook:

For most of us, a significant portion of the day is spent managing emails. Copilot in Outlook offers relief by summarising email threads, responding to inquiries, and helping you locate information quickly. Drafting emails becomes faster, with Copilot able to suggest drafts based on your input, giving you a strong starting point to refine and personalise. 


  • Example Prompt: “Schedule a meeting with [client] to discuss our service offerings. Provide three possible time slots.” 



Teams:   

Microsoft Teams benefits from Copilot’s ability to sift through chats and meetings. Whether you need to recap a lengthy conversation or follow up on action items, Copilot can quickly pull relevant information and even suggest next steps. With added features like Whiteboard, virtual collaboration becomes smoother, fostering creativity and brainstorming in remote settings. 


  • Example Prompt: “What were the main points from [colleague’s] presentation?” 



Excel:  

 Analysing data is a task that Copilot shines at, especially in Excel. It can sort, filter, and generate insights from data sets, making it easier to spot trends, generate forecasts, or prepare data for presentations. 


  • Example Prompt: “Show the monthly sales trends for [product line].” 



Word & PowerPoint: 

 For Word and PowerPoint users, Copilot can draft, edit, and enhance content quickly, giving your work a polished look without the heavy lifting. In Word, you can ask Copilot to summarise research or format documents, while in PowerPoint, it can generate entire slide decks from a few key points, helping you create compelling presentations with ease. 


  • Example Prompt: “Summarise the report into a concise set of bullet points.” 


Each of these features gives you an idea of Copilot’s capabilities, yet it’s only the beginning. As Microsoft continues to innovate, Copilot will evolve to offer even more ways to enhance your daily work. 







How will Copilot fit in your industry? 


Microsoft 365 Copilot isn’t just for one type of business—it’s adaptable across industries and functions. Here are some examples of  how various industries can personally benefit: 


Image featuring Microsoft Copilot in Word, used to streamline HR processes. The header reads ‘Supercharge Your HR Team’s Productivity’, with a quote from an HR professional requesting Copilot to generate interview questions. Showcases how AI tools can assist HR teams in enhancing efficiency.

Human Resources


Speed up hiring by generating job descriptions in Word, summarising candidate profiles, and extracting key skills from resumes. 



Illustration highlighting the use of Microsoft Copilot in Excel for marketing. The text reads ‘Turbocharge Marketing to Reach New Audiences’, accompanied by a marketer asking Copilot to prepare charts for market research data. Demonstrates how AI can optimise data analysis for marketing strategies

Marketing


Leverage Copilot in Excel for market analysis and use Word to draft promotional content or PowerPoint for compelling pitch decks. 




Promotional graphic for Microsoft Copilot in PowerPoint, focusing on enhancing customer presentations. The header states ‘Deliver More Impactful Customer Interactions’, with a professional requesting Copilot to draft a slide for a customer success presentation. Highlights how AI can improve communication and presentation quality

Customer Service


Streamline support with Copilot in Outlook to draft replies and summarise customer inquiries. Use Excel to analyse feedback trends and improve service. 


Image showcasing Microsoft Copilot in Outlook, designed to boost productivity with AI assistance. The text says ‘Work Smarter with the AI-Powered Assistant’, with a user asking Copilot to summarise emails and chats from the past week. Demonstrates the potential of AI to streamline communication and task management

Management


 From tracking performance metrics in Excel to creating insightful reports in Word, Copilot supports informed decision-making across departments. 





Ready to explore more about Copilot?


Visit our Copilot Page to learn more:



Plus, until 31 December 2024, enjoy 15% off when you purchase 10 – 300 licences!



Empower your team to make a real impact, build trust, and drive lasting success from the ground up. Start your journey with Copilot today, with help from Simoda!









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