The Ultimate Microsoft Copilot Guide: Innovation in AI at your fingertips

Steven is the ultimate expert in Microsoft with 17 years of experience working at TSG. Starting out in sales in 2007, he now leads the TSG commercial team in providing a high level of Microsoft services to our clients.

The hot topic of the industry right now: AI. AI is revolutionising the way we work, how we collaborate and how we build our teams and businesses. With AI growing at a rapid speed, Microsoft is leading the way in bringing AI to the workplace by investing $11 billion in OpenAI.  The fruits of this investment have the family name ‘Microsoft Copilot’.

Microsoft Copilot goes beyond seamlessness collaboration and utilises new ways of enhancing the working experience with Microsoft’s products. At time of writing, there are 7 individual products in the Copilot family – all aimed at bringing ChatGPT-like assistance to your everyday work life. Deeply embedded in tools like Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, most Office users will see immediate productivity boosts – with more specialised Copilots available in Dynamics and GitHub for marketing, sales, customer service and developers, trimming precious hours off key tasks.

Microsoft Copilot is here and it’s going to change the way we do things. Let’s take a closer look.

The 2023 Work Trend Index Annual Report: A Call for Change

The 2023 Work Trend Index Annual Report serves as an eye-opener, revealing critical insights into the current state of the workplace. According to the report:

  • 68% of people say they don’t have enough uninterrupted focus time. Distractions are rampant, leading to decreased productivity and a constant struggle to maintain focus.
  • 62% of people are spending too much time searching for information. This statistic highlights the inefficiency in information retrieval and management, a significant drain on employee time and resources.
  • 57% of an employee’s time is spent on communicating. Whether it’s meetings, emails, or chats, over half of the workday is consumed by communication tasks, leaving less time for core job responsibilities.

These figures are not just numbers; they represent the real challenges faced by professionals daily. They underline a critical need for an innovative solution that can streamline workflows, enhance focus, and improve efficiency.

Microsoft Copilot emerges as an answer to this call, poised to revolutionise the way we work by integrating AI into our daily routines.

Copilot: A Panoramic View

Microsoft Copilot is not just a tool; it’s a gateway to a new era of working smartly and efficiently. It stands out for its ability to democratise AI across the entirety of the Microsoft Cloud, making advanced technology accessible to all levels of users.

Let’s explore features:

Integration Across Microsoft Cloud

Copilot is seamlessly woven into the fabric of the Microsoft Cloud. This integration means that it’s not just an isolated application but a part of a broader ecosystem, enhancing the functionality of various Microsoft products.

What does this mean for you?

You can expect a more cohesive and efficient work experience. Copilot becomes a helpful companion, enhancing your workflow by smoothly integrating with the Microsoft tools you already use.

(An example of how Copilot integrates into Teams seamlessly)

Dynamics 365 Copilot

This variant of Copilot integrates AI assistance directly into Dynamics 365. It offers real-time access to business data, content, and context within Microsoft Graph, allowing for more informed decision-making and streamlined business processes across marketing, sales, customer services and field service roles.

What does this mean for you?

You benefit from a tool that aligns with the specific demands of your job. Copilot becomes a customised assistant, helping you excel in your role by providing intelligent support and improving productivity in the areas that matter most to you.

Power Platform Copilot

Here, Copilot unleashes the full potential of low-code development on the Power Platform. It accelerates development processes, optimises costs, and enhances business agility, making it an invaluable tool for developers and non-developers alike.

What does this mean for you?

Whether you’re a developer or not, Copilot makes application development on the Power Platform faster and more cost-effective. This means you can innovate and adapt to changes in your business processes more efficiently. One of the most unproductive stages of building an app is getting started. Users with no knowledge of PowerApps or development can now build a functional app in minutes.

Domain-Specific Variants

Copilot extends its capabilities to specific applications such as sales, security, Windows, and GitHub. Each variant is tailored to meet the unique needs of its domain, providing intelligent assistance, and enhancing productivity in specialised areas.

What does this mean for you?

You get personalised assistance in specific domains, making your tasks more efficient and effective. Copilot adapts to your job requirements, providing intelligent support where you need it most.

Through these features, Microsoft Copilot not only simplifies complex tasks but also empowers users to leverage AI in their everyday work, ensuring a more productive and efficient workflow.

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