Unpacking Microsoft Copilot Products: A Guide to Enhancing Business Efficiency

In today's fast-paced business environment, efficiency and productivity are key. With Microsoft Copilot for M365 becoming available to transact through a Cloud Solution Provider like CloudServus, we wanted to dive a bit more into the specific products.  Microsoft's range of Copilot products, as discussed in a detailed training session by Kathy Hajewski of CloudServus, are at the forefront of this evolution. Let’s dive into these innovative tools to understand how they can revolutionize your business operations.

1. Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365: Your AI Assistant

Microsoft 365's Copilot is an AI-powered feature that transforms the way you interact with familiar applications like Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and Teams. It's like having a personal assistant at your fingertips, using large language models and Microsoft Graph data to offer personalized assistance. Priced at $30 per user per month, it's an investment in efficiency, providing valuable tools like email transcription, meeting preparation assistance, and more.

Key Features:

• Personalized Assistance: Utilizes your own data for tailored responses.
• Comprehensive Support: Across multiple Microsoft applications.
• AI-Powered: Harnessing the latest in artificial intelligence technology.

Imagine an assistant that helps you draft documents in Word, create complex formulas in Excel, or design impactful PowerPoint presentations. Copilot seamlessly integrates into these applications, offering suggestions and automation that enhance productivity.

Practical Applications:

• Word: Drafting and rewriting assistance.
• Excel: Formula generation and data analysis.
• PowerPoint: Automated slide creation and presentation organization.

2. Copilot for Sales: A Major upgrade for Sellers

Specifically designed for sales professionals, this version of Copilot integrates with Microsoft 365 and CRM tools like Dynamics 365 and Salesforce. Copilot for Sales is a robust tool for any sales team. It assists in preparing for customer meetings, generating actionable insights, and creating follow-up communications.

Dynamics 365 Sales Enterprise and Dynamics 365 Sales Premium licensed users get Copilot for Sales at no additional cost, but Copilot for Microsoft 365 is a prerequisite which comes at a cost of $30 per user per month. Other Dynamics 365 Sales plan or Salesforce Sales Cloud users can get Copilot for Sales for $50 per user per month (which includes Copilot for Microsoft 365) or $20 per user per month if they already have Copilot for Microsoft 365.  

Unique Benefits:

• Meeting Summaries: Converts long email chains into concise action items.
• Real-Time Tips: Offers insights during live customer interactions.
• Efficient Follow-Ups: Drafts emails based on meeting discussions.

3. Copilot for Windows

Copilot, or what used to be called Bing Chat Enterprise, is a version of Bing's AI chat functionalities tailored for business use. It integrates Bing's search capabilities and chat functionalities into business environments and leverages OpenAI's GPT-4 model. Users licensed for the more robust Microsoft 365 plans, such as Business Standard, Business Premium, E3, and E5 get Copilot at no additional cost. Microsoft also plans to offer it for $5 per user per month at some point in the future.  

Copilot in Windows, essentially an AI-assisted feature integrated into the OS, aims to make your interaction with Windows more intuitive and efficient, replacing traditional functions like Cortana. The key difference between Copilot in Windows and Copilot is that Copilot is more search and data-oriented, while Copilot in Windows enhances the user experience of the operating system for individual users. There’s no additional cost for Copilot in Windows, however it is still in preview. Microsoft is rolling it out gradually in select global markets. To access Copilot in Windows a user needs to be in a market it is available in, and their device needs to be on the right Windows 10 or Windows 11 release in addition to meeting device requirements.  

Key Aspects of Copilot:

• Visual Search for Chat: Leverages OpenAI’s GPT-4 model which enables users to search the web using images, rather than just words. 
• Uses DALL-E 3: Users can generate images using the image generator inside Copilot. 
• Web data: Provides complete, verifiable answers to questions along with citations.
• Commercial data protection: Chat data is not saved, and sensitive user and business data will not leak outside the organization. 

Uses for Copilot in Windows: 

• Change settings: Users can ask it to do things like “change the background to dark mode” or “connect to Bluetooth”. 
• Launch applications: Users can ask it to “open Excel” or “open PowerPoint”. 
• Perform tasks: Users can request that it perform actions such as “take a screenshot” or “turn on do not disturb”.

4. Copilot Studio

Copilot Studio is a low-code tool for creating custom Copilot applications. It integrates with other data sources and leverages custom GPTs and AI plugins so users can build a custom Copilot that’s connected to their existing documents or websites. As of November 2023, the capabilities and features of Power Virtual Agents are now part of Copilot Studio. The cost is $200 per month for 25,000 messages. Microsoft is offering a 30-day trial of it right now which can be extended for another 30 days.  

Key Aspects: 

• Customization: Build and manage your own custom GPTs. 
• Lifecycle management: Provides end-to-end lifecycle management from building to deployment.  
• Manual topics: Allows users to define manual topics for conversational flows. 
• Generative AI plugins: Users can integrate generative AI plugins for extended functionality.  
• Enterprise-grade security: Provides users control over their copilots and data which ensures privacy and compliance.

5. Future Prospects: Security Copilot and Copilot for Power BI

Looking ahead, Microsoft plans to introduce Security Copilot and Copilot for Power BI. These tools, currently in public preview, promise to bring AI benefits to security management and business intelligence. 

Anticipated Features: 

• Security Management: AI-powered insights for enhanced security. 
• Business Intelligence: Automated data analysis and reporting in Power BI. 

Microsoft's Copilot products offer a glimpse into the future of workplace productivity. From AI-assisted document creation to sales support, these tools are designed to save time and streamline processes, allowing businesses to focus on growth and innovation. Keep an eye on these evolving technologies to stay ahead in the digital transformation race. 

If you're intrigued by the potential of Copilot to transform your business operations but unsure where to start, CloudServus is here to help. Our team of experts can guide you in accessing Copilot, integrating it seamlessly into your existing systems, and leveraging its full potential to benefit your organization. Whether you have questions about implementation, need assistance with licensing, or simply want to explore how Copilot can fit into your business strategy, don't hesitate to reach out to us at CloudServus. Let's work together to unlock new levels of productivity and innovation in your workplace.