Who is This Blog For?
This blog series emphasises the pivotal role of IT leaders and buyers in championing Copilot for Microsoft 365 and driving its successful integration within their SMBs. By giving you a clear view of what Copilot for Microsoft 365 is and what it can do, we will guide you towards leveraging its full potential. Doing so requires IT leaders and buyers to first overcome the challenge of justifying the £296 per seat per year charge to senior stakeholders. Unlike other Microsoft licenses, Copilot for Microsoft 365 requires an upfront annual investment – which is why articulating a sound business case is crucial. This blog series aims to help you secure the funding needed for licensing investments and successfully implementing Copilot for Microsoft 365.
Our journey begins with an introduction to Copilot for Microsoft 365: unpacking how it has the power to streamline workflows and set you apart from your competitors. Be sure to take a look at the next two blogs in this series, where we will be discussing the most important considerations that need to be made and sharing some insights on developing an effective Copilot for Microsoft 365 business case.
Reading Time: 9 minutes
What This Blog Covers:
- Why Build a Business Case for Copilot?
- Building a Compelling Case: Numbers Speak Louder Than Words
- IT Leaders: Champions for Successful Copilot for Microsoft 365 Implementation
- Getting Started with Copilot for Microsoft 365
Change is the only constant, and the tech industry is constantly adapting to the rapidly evolving landscape. For UK SMBs like yours, staying at the top of your game requires sustained innovation by leveraging the power of technology to streamline workflows and boost productivity.
This is where Copilot for Microsoft 365 comes in. Unlike other AI assistants, this NextGen AI tool is designed to seamlessly integrate within your existing Microsoft 365 ecosystem. With no additional software or training required, Copilot for Microsoft 365 automates tasks and unlocks hidden efficiencies within your familiar Microsoft applications. Given that no organisation is the same, you are also able to customise your experience by tailoring its suggestions to your unique needs and preferences – all while ensuring that your business’s data remains secure and protected.
Why Build a Business Case for Copilot?
Put simply, IT leaders need to create business cases that will effectively advocate for the implementation of Copilot for Microsoft 365. With market demands constantly evolving, adopting new-age technology is necessary to stay ahead of the curve. Here’s why building a strong business case for Copilot for Microsoft 365 is crucial for giving you that winning edge:
Staying Competitive in the Fast Lane
Your competitors are constantly adapting to the ever-changing business landscape. To stay ahead, you need to take this a step further by leveraging cutting-edge technology. NextGen AI tools, like Copilot for Microsoft 365, give you more time to focus on strategic planning that will help you keep up with the market demands and remain a reputable competitor to others.
Unleashing the Power of Your Microsoft 365 Ecosystem
While individuals and businesses alike are familiar with the Microsoft 365 suite of applications, very few of us are aware of its true potential. Copilot for Microsoft 365 uncovers the gems that lie beneath the surface of data entry and unorganised meetings by taking care of them for you. By automating data visualisations and scheduling meetings, this NextGen AI assistant gives you the time to work smarter, not harder. Cross-departmental communication is key to any organisation’s success. Copilot for Microsoft 365 fosters a collaborative work environment by summarising meetings and assigning tasks. Ultimately Copilot for Microsoft 365 is a major game-changer to the world of modern work.
Building a Compelling Case: Numbers Speak Louder Than Words
We briefly mentioned the difficulty in justifying this investment without having immediate tangible results. This is why you – an IT leader equipped with the ‘bigger picture’ – are the right person to create a compelling Copilot for Microsoft 365 business case, to illustrate the future ROI of this solution. In this final blog, we shed insight into how to translate Copilot for Microsoft 365’s impact into measurable metrics and tangible results, to help you build a compelling case that resonates with key stakeholders.
IT Leaders: Champions for Successful Copilot for Microsoft 365 Implementation
Implementing Copilot for Microsoft 365 requires strategic thought to make an informed decision about whether this AI assistant will be the right fit for your SMB. Let’s talk about crucial points of consideration when embarking on the journey to and beyond successful adoption:
Closing the Gap: Understanding Needs & Capabilities
Begin with a deep understanding of both Generative AI (GAI) and your SMB’s specific requirements. Fleshing out your biggest pain points and roadblocks will allow you to gauge whether Copilot for Microsoft 365 will be the right solution for you. For example, if you are encumbered by repetitive tasks, like organising meeting notes and generating reports, then they can be automated by this NextGen AI assistant. This speaks to the second point of needing to be well-versed in Copilot for Microsoft 365’s capabilities. Having an in-depth appreciation will allow you to create an implementation strategy that maximises its impact within your organisation by directly addressing your unique business needs.
“I’m particularly impressed by Copilot’s ability to handle real-time transcription, summarisation, and even generate content across different applications. This has the potential to revolutionize the way we communicate, create documents, and analyse data. I see Copilot as a tool that could significantly boost overall productivity and streamline workflows across the company.”
– Babble Customer, Jarvis Barnie, Infrastructure Manager at Artesian Solutions Ltd on his current take on implementing Copilot within his organisation.
Making the Connection: Aligning Copilot for Microsoft 365 with Business Goals
Copilot for Microsoft 365 is more than a means to an end: it can help you meet your business goals. Doing so requires effective communication. As an IT leader, you have the technical knowledge needed to close the gap between comprehending its capabilities and discerning the value this will bring to your organisation. Using the previous example, by automating tasks and streamlining workflows, Copilot for Microsoft 365 will save you and your colleagues a lot of time, potentially leading to faster project completion and increased revenue.
Building a Compelling Case: Numbers Speak Louder Than Words
We briefly mentioned the difficulty in expressing the justification for this investment in the absence of immediate tangible results. This is why you – an IT leader equipped with the bigger picture – are the right person to create a compelling Copilot for Microsoft 365 business case, discussed at length in the final blog post in this series, to illustrate the future ROI of this solution. In this final blog, we shed insight into how to translate Copilot for Microsoft 365’s impact into measurable metrics and tangible results, to help you build a compelling case that resonates with key stakeholders.
The Human Touch: Change Management & Training
Cost aside, implementing any new technology that is going to briefly disrupt the pre-existing workflow is bound to be met with some resistance. Addressing these concerns by crafting a well-defined change management strategy is an effective way to gain user buy-in. This includes creating comprehensive training programs and resources that educate your colleagues on Copilot for Microsoft 365’s capabilities and the benefits this tool yields in every corner of their workdays.
The Journey Continues: Monitoring & Optimisation
Once Copilot for Microsoft 365 has been successfully implemented in your organisation, you need to ensure that it continues to deliver value. With ROI staying top-of-mind, you should constantly monitor how often you are using your GAI assistant; what features are used the most (i.e., where you are getting the most value); identifying further areas of optimisation; and collecting user feedback. By taking full advantage of Copilot for Microsoft 365’s ability to facilitate a customisable experience, you can ensure that it remains a powerful driver of productivity and efficiency within your organisation.
The Microsoft Copilot Dashboard, powered by Viva Insights, lets you monitor all of this. This dashboard also allows you to see which teams/departments are benefiting from it the most, even if you don’t have Viva Insights yet.
Beyond the Cost: Focus on the Big Picture
Choosing to implement Copilot for Microsoft 365 undoubtedly requires beginning with the end in mind by thinking about the long-term results. This mindset shift will help key stakeholders think beyond the immediate £24.70 per user per month cost and focus on the business transforming benefits instead. Business owners should acknowledge the fact that Copilot for Microsoft 365 has the potential to improve employee retention by reducing workload and fostering a more efficient work environment. It can lead to higher customer satisfaction by enabling faster response times and improved communication. Ultimately, Copilot for Microsoft 365 can be a catalyst for overall business growth.
Getting Started with Copilot for Microsoft 365
Put simply, Copilot for Microsoft 365 is readily available if your organisation has an existing Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Premium subscription. Here’s an extensive list of the current required licenses:
- M365 E3 or E5 license
- M365 Apps for Enterprise
- Entra ID accounts
- Microsoft OneDrive (not mandatory)
- Microsoft Outlook (you need to be on the “new Outlook”)
- Microsoft Teams
- Microsoft Loop (not mandatory)
- Current Channel or Monthly Enterprise Channel
Be sure to download The MVP’s Introduction to Copilot for M365 Readiness guide to gain deeper insight into implementation best practices and everything you need to know about getting started.
“My motto is, “don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!” AI is evolving fast, there’s so much to explore. Start small, learn by doing, embrace the stumbles along the way. Get different people involved, use AI responsibly, and who knows, you might just unlock something amazing for your organisation.”
– Babble Customer, Glyn Merritt, IT Manager at Alt Han Co. on his current implementation strategy for Copilot.
Unveiling the Power of Copilot for Microsoft 365: A Game-Changer for Your SMB
The ever-evolving business landscape demands UK SMBs like yours to constantly adapt by embracing the latest technological advancements. Copilot for Microsoft 365 is more than just an AI tool; it’s a game-changer. By seamlessly integrating with your M365 applications, this NextGen AI tool streamlines your workflows, unleashes your creativity, and empowers you to do more with less.
Deciding whether Copilot for Microsoft 365 is the right fit for your organisation requires business owners and IT leaders to make an informed decision – and not let the cost be the only point of contention.
In our next blog in this series, we’ll give you a realistic account of Copilot for Microsoft 365 by weighing the benefits against the risks. Join us as we alleviate your anxiety around cyber security, and address the cost concern head-on by exploring the various price points. This will effectively lay the foundation to craft a compelling business case unique to your SMB needs and adopt strategies to quantify the potential ROI – which we unpack further in the final blog in this series.
