Microsoft 365 Copilot became available to enterprise customers on November 1, 2023. It uses generative artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) to make it quicker and easier than ever to create text and images. Today, you’ll learn what Copilot is, what it can do, and how. Then, we’ll give you some tips of best practices that you can implement to ensure you’re taking full advantage of all it has to offer. Finally, we’ll go over how Copilot meets security compliance standards, how to measure its impact, and how to tailor the system to your needs.

Understanding Copilot for Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant that helps to streamline common tasks that people perform. The program works to analyze and explore data within emails, calendars, chats, meetings, and even user documents. It then uses this data to create and refine text or images more efficiently.

Utilizing Copilot for Microsoft 365 enables enterprise organizations to work seamlessly. It also improves productivity by reducing time spent on mundane tasks and automating things like follow-up actions, taking meeting notes, creating summaries, and generating presentations. This means that enterprise employees can spend more time and effort in other areas, which leads to increased revenue, improved employee satisfaction, and more growth opportunities.

Using Copilot within Office 365

Before you can use Copilot within Office 365, you’ll need to meet a few basic requirements. Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • Set up in Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 and pay a licensing fee to obtain Copilot
  • Deploy Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
  • Set up each user with an individual account on Microsoft Intra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory)

To take advantage of all Autopilot has to offer, there are a few more things you should consider. For example, features such as file restore and OneDrive management compatibility require each user to have a OneDrive account. Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint also requires WebSocket connections (wws://) to be allowed from user endpoints.

The Tech Behind Copilot for Microsoft 365

There’s no doubt that Microsoft 365 can make jobs easier within an organization. But how does it work? The answer is simple: via AI and Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4 (GPT-4), which is powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI. Let’s dive a little deeper.

AI and GPT-4 are large language model systems that are trained to generate or edit text that mimics human speech and reasoning. Copilot leverages these model systems to provide features like summarization, content generation, analytics, and consolidation of information.

Comparative Analysis

Copilot can be compared to other AI platforms out there, such as ChatGPT. However, although they have some similarities, some key differences make Microsoft Copilot the better option.

One key difference between ChatGPT and Copilot are the use cases for each.

Copilot is designed to work as an AI assistant. It leverages large language models with data within Microsoft 365 like emails, calendars, and chats to streamline processes and help users be more productive.

ChatGPT, on the other hand, is a language-processing technology that uses software to mimic human language. It is useful for general queries such as composing essays, creating lists, writing code, and searching the internet. It lacks the integration opportunities that Copilot offers, which means it is much less complex in comparison.

Best Practices for Deployment

Implementing Copilot effectively is easier than you think. To start, you’ll need subscriptions, which cost $30 per month, per user. As long as you meet the prerequisites for use we mentioned earlier, you can deploy the system immediately.

To get the most out of your Copilot experience, though, there are a few best practices you should follow. Perhaps the most important thing you’ll need to keep in mind is to use clear prompts. Make sure you include all the key elements you need AI to create for you in the most concise way possible.

It’s also a good idea to prioritize providing feedback to Microsoft regularly about your experience with the program. This ensures that as new software versions come out, any issues you come across are resolved.

Lastly, keep in mind that while it is a great productivity tool, there are still things such as critical thinking and expertise that can’t be replaced by AI.

Understanding the Limitations of CoPilot

There is no shortage of capabilities that Microsoft Copilot can unlock for your organization. However, understanding the limitations of this program can help you to best implement it into your workflow.

Firstly, it’s important to recognize that Copilot is a supplementary tool. Users must still use their critical thinking skills and personal expertise to ensure that AI suggestions are correct and appropriate for the task at hand.

Copilot is also only as good as the data available in your Microsoft Graph. That means it’s important to do things like keeping an up-to-date calendar and sending clear, grammatically correct emails to ensure you have a positive experience.

Integration with Existing Systems

You can integrate Copilot within your CRM to increase productivity and eliminate mundane, time-consuming tasks necessary to keep it running. Copilot works with the systems you already use. Think about how it blends into apps like Word, Excel, or even GitHub, helping you out as you go along. It’s like having a smart assistant that knows its way around your Microsoft tools, giving you suggestions and making your work smoother.

Compliance + Copilot

Since Copilot taps into user files and other sensitive information on your database, security compliance is a top priority. Copilot prevents data leaks between users by using an identity-based access boundary that ensures that the grounding process only uses content that the user is allowed to access. By implementing security measures like multi-factor authentication, encryption, and threat monitoring to safeguard your data platform.

Measuring Impact and Productivity

Software development paired with feedback from live users has made Copilot one of the most effective AI assistant applications available. When used alongside best practices like keeping current files and using effective communication, the impact is overwhelmingly positive.

Perhaps the best way to measure the impact of Copilot on your organization is to compare productivity with before implementation versus after. It’s also a good idea to talk to your users and get feedback regarding their thoughts on its impact.

Tailoring Copilot for Your Organization

Perhaps the most exciting thing about Copilot is the opportunities it offers to be tailored to your needs. You can pick and choose what programs to optimize with Copilot, which allows you to ensure it fits your unique organizational needs.

There are several ways that you can customize Copilot to meet your unique needs. For example, you can build a custom Microsoft Graph that the software uses to ground requests or build plugins to increase productivity. You can even build your own copilot via Microsoft Copilot Studio.

If you need support on your journey toward digital modernization, 3Cloud can help. We specialize in helping your organization to empower employees to thrive, reduce risk, and optimize operations.

Conclusion

Implementing Microsoft Copilot for 365 is a great way to increase productivity and reduce costs for your organization. With Copilot, you can leverage AI technology to transform workflows by integrating with existing systems and more. If you’re looking for the easiest way to implement Copilot into your business, consider working with 3Cloud. We can offer you the support and expertise you need to get the most out of your experience. Get started today!