Welcome to the world of efficient work and teamwork! Microsoft 365 CoPilot for Business is here to make your work life easier. This guide is your roadmap to unlock its full potential. Let's get started on this journey to make work simpler and better!
Part 1 What is Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI-powered productivity tool that integrates with Microsoft 365 apps and services to provide real-time intelligent assistance to users. It is designed to enhance creativity, productivity, and skills across various Microsoft 365 applications.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Enterprise Edition was set to be fully available starting November 1. It is targeted at Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 customers. Users had the option to sign up for the Microsoft 365 Copilot Early Access Program to gain a preview of the product before its general availability.
Part 2 Microsoft 365 Copilot is available for these Enterprise Plans
Microsoft 365 Copilot is available as an add-on for $30 per user per month for customers using the following Microsoft 365 plans:
Microsoft 365 E3: This plan includes Office apps, cloud services, device management, and advanced security, making it suitable for enterprises with a focus on productivity and security.
Microsoft 365 E5: This plan includes everything offered in E3, along with advanced analytics, voice capabilities, and compliance tools, making it a comprehensive choice for enterprises that require advanced features and compliance measures.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard: Designed for small and medium-sized businesses, this plan includes Office apps, cloud services, and business email, providing essential tools for productivity and communication.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium: Building upon Business Standard, this plan adds advanced security and device management features, making it suitable for small and medium-sized businesses that prioritize security and management of their IT environment.
Part 3 What are the Useful Features of Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot offers a wide range of useful features across various Microsoft 365 applications.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Features | Description |
|---|---|
Copilot in Word | - Write, edit, summarize, and create content in Word. - Generate a first draft by incorporating information from your organization. - Add content to existing documents, summarize text, or rewrite sections. - Get suggestions for tone and strengthening arguments. |
Copilot in PowerPoint | - Transform written documents into presentation decks with speaker notes and sources. - Start new presentations from prompts or outlines. - Condense presentations. - Use natural language commands to adjust layouts, reformat text, and time animations. |
Copilot in Excel | - Query data sets using natural language, not just formulas. - Identify correlations, propose what-if scenarios, and suggest new formulas based on your questions. - Generate models based on questions. - Identify trends, create visualizations, or ask for recommendations. |
Copilot in Outlook | - Summarize email threads with different viewpoints and open questions. - Respond to emails with prompts or convert quick notes into messages. - Pull content from other emails or Microsoft 365 sources. - Adjust the tone or length of responses using toggles. |
Copilot in Teams | - Recap conversations, organize key discussion points, and summarize actions. - Get answers to specific questions and catch up on missed content. - Create meeting agendas based on chat history. - Identify individuals for follow-ups and schedule future check-ins. |
Copilot in Loop | - Summarize content on Microsoft Loop pages. - Ask Copilot to summarize work as Loop pages fill with ideas and content. - Edit Copilot summaries, add context, and share summaries with others. |
Cross-app intelligence in Copilot | - Accessible as a Copilot app in Microsoft Teams. - Bring together data from documents, presentations, email, calendar, notes, and contacts for querying. - Combine information from multiple sources. |
Intelligent Search | - Search data in Dataverse applications like Dynamics 365 Sales, Service & FnO using natural language within Copilot. |
Power Platform Connector Plugins | - Access real-time data from various critical business and personal productivity applications directly within the Copilot experience, thanks to a growing pool of Power Platform connectors. |
Part 4 How to Use Microsoft Copilot
Copilot can help you with various tasks, such as adjusting settings, opening apps, organizing windows, generating content, and answering questions. In this example, we will use Copilot in Word.
Step 1: Open the Microsoft Word application on your Windows 11 computer.
Step 2: Look for the Copilot icon in the Word ribbon menu at the top of the application window.
Step 3: Click on the Copilot icon to activate the service.
Step 4: Once activated, Microsoft Copilot will assist you in enhancing your creativity, boosting productivity, and improving your skills while using Word.
Part 5 Microsoft 365 Copilot Price
Pricing Model:
Microsoft 365 Copilot will be available for commercial customers at a cost of USD30 per user per month.
Charging for Commercial Customers:
Commercial customers will be charged a monthly fee of $30 per user for Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Compatibility with Subscription Models:
Microsoft 365 Copilot will be available for the following Microsoft 365 subscription models:
Microsoft 365 E3
Microsoft 365 E5
Business Standard
Business Premium
Free Trials:
The provided information does not explicitly mention whether free trials will be available for Microsoft 365 Copilot. Typically, Microsoft often offers free trials for new products and features, but specific trial details are not mentioned in this text.
To calculate the annual increase in billing per user for subscribing to Microsoft Copilot on the specified plans, we'll add the cost of Microsoft Copilot ($30 per user per month) to the original annual subscription cost and then multiply it by 12 months. Here are the calculations for Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard, and Business Premium plans:
Microsoft 365 E3:
Original Annual Subscription Cost: $36.00 user/month x 12 months = $432.00 per user per year
Annual Increase with Copilot: ($30 x 12) + $432 = $360 + $432 = $792.00 per user per year
Microsoft 365 E5:
Original Annual Subscription Cost: $57.00 user/month x 12 months = $684.00 per user per year
Annual Increase with Copilot: ($30 x 12) + $684 = $360 + $684 = $1,044.00 per user per year
Microsoft 365 Business Standard:
Original Annual Subscription Cost: $12.50 user/month x 12 months = $150.00 per user per year
Annual Increase with Copilot: ($30 x 12) + $150 = $360 + $150 = $510.00 per user per year
Microsoft 365 Business Premium:
Original Annual Subscription Cost: $19.80 user/month x 12 months = $237.60 per user per year
Annual Increase with Copilot: ($30 x 12) + $237.60 = $360 + $237.60 = $597.60 per user per year
Now, let's provide examples for business owners with 50 and 100 employees, using the Microsoft 365 E3 plan as the base:
For 50 employees on the Microsoft 365 E3 plan with Microsoft Copilot:
Annual Cost for 50 Employees: $792.00 per user per year x 50 employees = $39,600.00 per year
For 100 employees on the Microsoft 365 E3 plan with Microsoft Copilot:
Annual Cost for 100 Employees: $792.00 per user per year x 100 employees = $79,200.00 per year
Please note that these calculations are based on the provided pricing information and do not account for any potential discounts, promotions, or changes in pricing that may occur over time.
Part 6 Pros and Cons of Microsoft 365 Copilot
Pros:
Genuine: Provides genuine and personalized suggestions by integrating with Microsoft 365 apps.
Feature-rich: Offers a wide range of capabilities for various tasks within Microsoft 365.
Easy to use: Seamlessly integrates with existing apps and supports voice commands and natural language queries.
Cons:
Expensive: The $30 per user per month add-on cost may be high for some users.
Subscription Fee: Requires an additional monthly subscription fee, which might not suit all users.
Part 7 Best Alternative Office AI Tool - WPS AI
For users seeking an alternative to Microsoft 365 Copilot, especially those with smaller budgets or looking for AI features for personal use, WPS AI within WPS Office can be a compelling choice. Here are some of the features of WPS AI that make it a valuable alternative:
Contextual Suggestions: WPS AI provides context-based suggestions in WPS Office, improving productivity using user behavior and data patterns.
Smart Formulas: In WPS Spreadsheets, WPS AI suggests formulas based on entered data, streamlining data analysis.
Design Recommendations: Integrated into WPS Writer, WPS AI offers design tips based on document content for professional-looking documents.
Personalized Assistance: WPS AI adapts to user preferences and work habits, delivering tailored support over time.
Seamless Integration: WPS AI smoothly integrates with other WPS Office features, including spell and grammar checkers, for a unified user experience.
FAQs
I have 100 employees, can I enable Microsoft 365 copilot for only certain employees?
Yes, you can selectively enable Microsoft 365 Copilot for specific employees within your organization. This allows you to tailor its usage to those employees who can benefit the most from its features and functionality while managing costs more effectively. As mentioned in your article, you have the flexibility to choose which employees have access to Microsoft 365 Copilot based on your organization's needs and requirements.
Does Copilot learn from my data?
Microsoft Copilot does not utilize your document content or descriptions for machine learning purposes. Additionally, when you provide feedback or report content, Microsoft uses your input to enhance features, but it does not directly influence the foundational AI models that underpin Copilot's functionality.
Summary
In conclusion, Microsoft 365 CoPilot for Business in 2023 stands as a powerful AI-driven companion, designed to revolutionize productivity within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. With its real-time intelligent assistance, it empowers users across various applications, fostering creativity and efficiency. The Enterprise Edition, set for full availability from November 1, promises to be a game-changer for Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 customers.
For users seeking a cost-effective alternative with potent AI capabilities, WPS AI within WPS Office emerges as a compelling option. Tailored to provide contextual suggestions, smart formulas, design recommendations, and personalized assistance, it seamlessly integrates within WPS Office for an enhanced user experience.
