We have an early prediction for the Oxford Word of the Year for 2023: AI.
That’s because this year has seen an absolute boom in the reach and capabilities of artificial intelligence. Over the past four months, we’ve witnessed huge leaps in how organisations from all industries can utilise AI as a tool to enhance their productivity. (In fact, we recently did a deep-dive into ChatGPT and what that means for the human workforce.)
But they’re not the only AI powerhouse that’s causing a stir. We’ve all known that Microsoft has been developing their own AI-powered software for years, and all eyes have been on them in recent months in anticipation of a big announcement. And it was definitely worth the wait.
On March 16th they announced the AI-powered Microsoft 365 Copilot. By leveraging the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) and integrating with the Microsoft Graph and Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot is touted as the most powerful productivity tool available today.
This AI-powered tool is integrated into Microsoft 365 in two ways.
Firstly, it works seamlessly alongside you within the Microsoft 365 apps you use every day, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and more, to unlock your creativity, boost productivity, and enhance your skills.
Secondly, Microsoft is introducing a brand-new experience called Business Chat, which leverages the LLM, Microsoft 365 apps, and your data – including calendar, emails, chats, documents, meetings, and contacts – to perform tasks that were previously impossible. For example, by simply using natural language prompts such as, ‘Tell my team how we updated the product strategy,’ Copilot generates a status update based on the relevant emails, meetings, and chats.
Of course, with any AI, there’s concerns about how much control you retain over the process. With Copilot, you have the power to decide what to keep, modify, or discard. That’s why Copilot is the perfect partner for any organisation looking to take their productivity and efficiency to the next level.
So with all that within its power, how is Copilot specifically used to enhance productivity?
Microsoft Copilot can improve email management by assisting users in various ways, including:
By using Copilot in Outlook, users can clear their inbox in minutes instead of hours, allowing them to focus on more important tasks.
For many organisations, the ongoing growth and success of their business relies on intelligent and organised collaboration. With Copilot, this looks like:
With these features, Copilot helps teams work more effectively and efficiently, reducing the workload and increasing productivity.
Copilot uses AI and machine learning algorithms to automate repetitive tasks and provide a more streamlined and efficient workflow for users. By integrating Copilot in Power Platform, anyone can automate repetitive tasks, allowing you to go from idea to working app in minutes. By studying user behaviour, it can automate workflows by using pre-built templates and integrating with other applications. For example, it can automatically create tasks, schedule meetings, and send reminders based on the user’s inputs. Of course, there is still going to be a lot of work required to take an idea into a working app that AI wont be able to do.
Customer service is critical for any business, and AI can help improve the quality of customer service. Microsoft 365’s Copilot analyses customer data and provides insights into behaviour and preferences. This information can be used to personalise the customer experience and improve satisfaction.
Additionally, Copilot can
By automating mundane and repetitive tasks, streamlining collaboration, and reducing the manual labour of some tasks, Microsoft Copilot allows employees to focus on more critical tasks. Copilot also unlocks productivity gains for both individuals and organisations, as it creates a new knowledge model that harnesses the power of data and insights. With Copilot in your toolkit, you can work smarter, not harder.
And we’re wasting no time taking advantage of Copilot. Already we’re having conversations with a client about using Copilot within their Issue Management Power App. This will allow managers to question the data and management of issues to gain better insight into how projects are being managed. Copilot removes the need to train the AI as it will gain a quicker understanding of the data and its structure through its native capabilities.
Want to discuss how Microsoft Copilot can improve your organisation’s productivity? Chat to Propelle’s automation experts today.