Four Steps Intelligent Business Leaders Use to Adopt Microsoft 365 Copilot

Updated 12/31 to reflect the update of the name change of Copilot for Microsoft 365 to Microsoft 365 Copilot.

In today's rapidly evolving tech landscape, we're witnessing an unprecedented surge in generative AI platforms and tools such as Microsoft 365 Copilot. This revolution is reshaping how we communicate with and through technology.

Leaders are facing critical challenges: determining which solutions truly drive value, seamlessly and securely integrating these technologies into your existing ecosystems, and effectively upskilling your workforce. The potential for transformation is immense, but realizing it requires strategic foresight, robust implementation, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Did you know that 60-80% of AI projects fail*? Be sure you are ready for Copilot before you start a project.

Business leaders driving workplace innovation through the adoption of generative AI for its workforce must ask three critical questions to navigate this journey effectively:

1. How do we justify it?
2. How do we secure it?
3. How do we use it?

Answering these questions lays the foundation for intelligent adoption of any generative AI tool. Here’s a detailed guide to help business leaders implement this technology successfully, focusing on Microsoft 365 Copilot.

 Download 4 major Use Cases for Copilot by business unit > 

How Do We Justify It?

Understanding the value Copilot for Microsoft 365 can bring to your organization is crucial. This involves:

• Identifying Potential Benefits: Consider how Microsoft 365 Copilot may solve existing pain points for employees or enhance current processes. Then compare the pain points and processes against Microsoft 365 Copilot’s current capabilities.
• Setting Clear Objectives: Define what you aim to achieve with Microsoft 365 Copilot. Whether it’s improving efficiency, driving innovation, or enhancing customer satisfaction, having clear objectives will guide your implementation strategy.
• Building a Business Case: Examine if the investment can be justified by highlighting potential ROI, cost savings, and competitive advantages. This involves estimating the financial impact and how Microsoft 365 Copilot may potentially support long-term business goals

Learn more about different use cases and about the Copilot products in our Master Copilot Series videos >

How Do We Secure It?

Security and compliance are paramount when integrating Microsoft 365 Copilot into your business operations. IT leaders must ensure:

• Data Security: Implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data. For example, reviewing SharePoint permissions and access, setting-up sensitivity labels, and managing tenant restrictions.
• Compliance: Ensure your AI deployment complies with relevant regulations and industry standards. This might involve data privacy laws like GDPR or industry-specific regulations.
• Risk Management: Develop a risk management plan to address potential security threats and vulnerabilities. This includes setting up incident response protocols and regularly updating security practices.

How Do We Use It?

For Microsoft 365 Copilot to deliver value, functional leaders need to ensure it is effectively integrated into daily workflows:

• Employee Training: Provide comprehensive training to help employees understand and utilize Microsoft 365 Copilot effectively. This includes both technical training and demonstrating practical use cases.
• Change Management: Communicate the benefits and changes associated with Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption to all stakeholders. Address concerns and manage expectations to ensure a smooth transition.
• Integration with Existing Systems: Consider how Microsoft 365 Copilot may be seamlessly integrated with your existing systems and workflows. This might involve developing custom plugins or APIs to enhance functionality.

Why Organizations May Want To Consider Microsoft 365 Copilot

Adopting Microsoft 365 Copilot promises to provide innovative advantages for organizations aiming to enhance productivity, collaboration, and innovation. Here are key reasons why businesses may want consider this powerful tool:

Integration with Existing Ecosystem: Microsoft 365 Copilot integrates with the widely used Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. This makes it easier for users to leverage generative AI capabilities within familiar tools. However, due to differing capabilities across the applications, onboarding and ongoing training for users is essential.

Enhanced Productivity: Current capabilities of Microsoft 365 Copilot provides for some task automation, content generation, and insight generation, reducing the time employees spend on time consuming tasks. With mastery or Microsoft 365 Copilot, they will be empowered to focus on more strategic and creative work.

Improved Collaboration: Microsoft 365 Copilot can facilitate better collaboration by summarizing meetings, drafting emails, and providing real-time suggestions during document creation. This can improve communication and coordination within the organization.

Continuous Improvement: Microsoft is continually updating and improving Microsoft 365 Copilot based on user feedback and advancements in AI. Early adoption can position organizations to benefit from these ongoing enhancements.

Data Security and Compliance: Microsoft 365 comes with robust security and compliance features. Organizations can trust that their data is protected while leveraging Microsoft 365 Copilot capabilities, ensuring they meet regulatory and compliance requirements.

Scalability: Microsoft 365 Copilot can be scaled across an organization, providing consistent AI-driven support to employees at all levels. This scalability ensures that the benefits of generative AI are accessible to everyone, enhancing overall organizational efficiency.

Learn more about the current reality of Copilot for Microsoft 365 

Four Critical Steps for Intelligent Adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot

Leaders are well-positioned to lead the adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot intelligently using New Era Technology's Microsoft 365 Copilot Intelligent Adoption Framework, which includes the phases: Envision, Align, Launch, and Evolve.

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Enable Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft 365 Copilot Intelligent Adoption Framework

Copilot for Microsoft 365 is an innovative tool that can help you optimize your productivity, collaboration, and creativity. The Microsoft 365 Copilot Intelligent Adoption Framework by New Era Technology is designed to help your organization evaluate and maximize its benefits.

Learn about the Framework

1. Envision: Assess Readiness and Define Objectives
   • Evaluate your current infrastructure, data maturity, and skillsets.
   • Define clear objectives for what you want to achieve.
   • This phase focuses on setting the vision and understanding the potential impact of Microsoft 365 Copilot on your organization.
2. Align: Pilot with Focused Use Cases
   • Start with a manageable pilot study to test the technology.
   • Collect feedback, measure performance, and make necessary adjustments.
   • Align your stakeholders and resources around clear, practical use cases to demonstrate the value of Microsoft 365 Copilot.
3. Launch: Scale and Integrate
   • Expand Microsoft 365 Copilot use cases across the organization.
   • Integrate Microsoft 365 Copilot tools with existing systems and workflows.
   • Ensure continuous training and support for employees.
   • This phase involves a more broad deployment of Microsoft 365 Copilot, ensuring it is embedded into daily operations and that users are well-supported.
4. Evolve: Monitor, Optimize, and Innovate
   • Regularly track performance and impact.
   • Optimize use of Microsoft 365 Copilot and processes based on data and feedback.
   • Stay updated with advancements in Microsoft 365 Copilot, emerging AI technology, and explore new opportunities for innovation.
   • Continuously evolve your organization’s AI capabilities, ensuring they remain cutting-edge and continue to deliver value.

Lead with Intelligent Adoption

For forward-thinking innovators, embracing the future of work with generative AI and Microsoft 365 Copilot holds promise to drive efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage. Start by assessing your readiness, defining clear objectives, and piloting Microsoft 365 Copilot. Scale intelligently, integrate seamlessly, and continuously optimize to stay ahead in the AI-driven digital landscape.

Contact us today to schedule a Strategic Alignment session and learn how we can support your organization in adopting Microsoft 365 Copilot and unlocking the full potential of generative AI.

By following these critical steps and addressing key questions upfront, your organization can navigate the complexities of generative AI adoption and pave the way for a more efficient, innovative, and future-ready business environment.

Where are you at on your Copilot journey? Take the quiz. 

The author acknowledges that the writing process was aided by AI tools. Specifically, the author collaborated with generative AI tools to help develop initial drafts based on existing ideas, content, and data. The author validated outputs and further refined the content to reflect the author's knowledge and voice.

*Gartner