The Microsoft 365 tools are quite popular among businesses and organizations that seek a wide range of software to enhance their productivity. A newer addition to this powerful suite of tools is Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, an AI-powered assistant.

Here you will find how to install Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 and its unique functions, among other things. Keep reading to ensure that you have a hassle-free installation experience.

What is Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365?

Introduced in March 2023, Microsoft Copilot is a newly added tool to the existing suite of Microsoft 365. Just like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini (previously known as Bard), it is an AI-powered large language model that generates content based on prompts entered by users.

Its key difference from these two, is that it is primarily designed to help users within the existing Microsoft Suite application.

So, it basically helps with content idea suggestions, content generation, data analysis, and translation.

It is also important to note here that Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 isn't available for individual purchase, as it's currently targeted towards organizations with specific Microsoft 365 business plans such as Business Basic/Standard/Premium, Microsoft 365 E3/E5/F1/F3 and Office 365 E1/E3/E5.

What does Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 Do?

As mentioned earlier, Microsoft 365 Copilot is designed to function within the Microsoft 365 suite of tools or applications. This means that its functions are related to the existing tools in Microsoft 365 such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and more. To help you make the most out of Microsoft 365 Copilot, you can refer to our blog here The breakdown given below will make this functionality more clear:

Content Idea Generation

When you need to use tools like Microsoft Outlook for email, Word for documents, or PowerPoint for presentation slides, you can easily refer to Copilot for ideas to get started with your content. For instance, you could use it to suggest a subject heading for an Outlook email. You could also use it to develop your paragraphs in Word or get slide ideas for PowerPoint.

Copilot could also help to analyze your existing writing and suggest improvements for grammar correctness, clarity, and conciseness. It can even rewrite sentences or condense lengthy sections, giving your content a fresh perspective.

Data Analysis

You can also use Copilot with Microsoft Power BI and Excel to analyze and visualize data. It helps in the breakdown and understanding of presented data and assists in making easy data-driven decisions. It also automatically fixes syntax mistakes and prevents errors that could affect your analysis. This keeps you focused on getting the right results from your data.

Translation

Many Microsoft 365 tools are focused on content creation, and this can be in any language. To enhance accessibility and avoid language barriers, you can use Copilot to translate content into the language a user understands well.  

Prerequisites To Use Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365

To get started and gain access to the functionalities of Copilot, there are some requirements that need to be met. These include:

User Account

Formerly known as Azure Directory Account, users need to have a Microsoft Entra ID for authentication and to also gain access to Microsoft 365 apps.

Subscription

Some Microsoft 365 plans do not include Copilot. So, your subscription needs to be one of the plans that includes it. To do this, you should look for plans with designations like E3 or E5, as these typically offer Copilot.

Applications

For Copilot to function fully within your organization, you'll need to install the compatible Microsoft 365 applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneDrive. Additional applications might be necessary depending on the specific Copilot features you want to access.

Software Update

Although this is not a requirement to get started, Copilot works best when users keep their Microsoft 365 apps updated. For a smooth Copilot experience, users need to be on the Current Channel or Monthly Enterprise Channel for Microsoft 365 updates. These channels ensure compatibility with Copilot's features.

Do You Need Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365?

Copilot is mainly an AI assistant that lets you do your tasks faster and easier within Microsoft 365 applications. It is a great add-on, improving your efficiency and boosting your productivity. But it can also do more than that. Copilot also provides smart recommendations and analysis to make the most out of your Microsoft apps.

Ultimately this decision will come down to the tasks you regularly do. By seeing exactly what you can achieve, you can visualize if you need it or not. Here’s a summary of the things Copilot can do for you, based on the previous section:

• Draft email replies
• Generate content
• Rewrite text
• Clear your inbox
• Input data and receive an analysis
• Get customer insights
• Generate reports
• Manage your calendar

If you think these features will increase your productivity, then Copilot is a great option. To see more, check out the following video from Microsoft.

Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot | Your Copilot for Work

How to Get Started With Microsoft Copilot for Microsfot 365: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Verify that your organization meets the prerequisite by accessing the Opkalla Microsoft Portal or Microsoft 365 Admin Center

After making sure that your organization has met the prerequisites, reach out to your Technology Advisor or support@opkalla.com to purchase Copilot for Microsoft 365 license. After the license is provisioned, you will need to assign the users under the Microsoft 365 plans.

To manage the licenses in the Opkalla Microsoft portal, go to - Portal Training: Microsoft 365 For Business.

To manage the licenses in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, go to Billing > Licenses. Here you can assign the licenses to individuals or groups.

Step 2: Setting Up Copilot

After you have been granted access to Copilot by the admin and your license is active, you should be able to get Copilot features within each application’s interface.

Typically you will see these features in the Home tab. Sometimes there is a dedicated section for the features.

No additional steps should be required to take advantage of Copilot’s features. If a user can’t see anything related to Copilot, there might have been an issue with the license. Otherwise, you might need to update the application you are using.

Step 3: Configuring Copilot Settings

At this stage, the admins have access to update the licenses to add or reassign to whoever needs them. This means your organization's IT team controls who can use Copilot within your Microsoft 365 environment.

Aside from this, admins can grant users permissions for access to certain data. Additionally, they have the ability to create custom policies for data sensitivity.

Among other things, it is also possible for admins to audit all the activity from Copilot.

Post-Installation

These are the steps following the initial setup that allow you to leverage Copilot.

Getting Started with Copilot -

Now that Copilot is running, it's time to explore its features and see how it can assist you in your work. Here are some key functionalities to keep in mind:

• Content Suggestions: Copilot can provide suggestions for text, phrases, or even code snippets as you work within your Microsoft Office applications.
• Data Analysis Tools: Depending on your organization's configuration, Copilot might offer data analysis features to help you work with information within your documents.

Users are encouraged to experiment with Copilot's features and see how they can improve their productivity and workflow.

Training and Resources -

To help you get the most out of Copilot, here are some resources you can access:

• Official Microsoft Documentation: Visit the official Microsoft documentation for Copilot to learn about its features, functionalities, and best practices.
• Internal Training Materials: If your organization has created its own training materials or tutorials for Copilot, you can access them to learn more.
• Other Online Resources: Opkalla has multiple guides around Copilot you can check out to learn more about this tool’s usability. There are a few guides you might be interested in:
  • Making the Most of Microsoft 365 Copilot
  • Comparing Microsoft Copilot SKUs

Support and Troubleshooting -

If you encounter any issues while using Copilot, here are some ways to get help:

• Opkalla Microsoft Support Team: Email support@opkalla.com. We’re happy to help you get it sorted out.
• Common Issues and Solutions: For a list of known common issues with Copilot and their troubleshooting steps, refer to Microsoft documentation, linked in the previous section.
• Internal Help Desk: For any problems beyond the scope of this guide or the resources listed above, contact your organization's IT Help Desk. They will be more familiar with your organization’s circumstances.
• Microsoft Support: You can also get help from Microsoft support channels for Copilot-related issues. Make sure you join the community forums related to Copilot to quickly get support from Microsoft’s tech team and other experienced users.

Final Considerations

AI is something professionals need to get used to. It will continue to grow and software tools will integrate it more and more to make work easier for the employee and more effective for the business.

There is no doubt that Copilot is the ultimate productivity tool for the Microsoft ecosystem. If that is your business’s main work suite, then adding Copilot to Microsoft 365 will make the team more productive.

Our team at Opkalla can help you define your Copilot strategy to make the most out of AI without breaking the bank. Contact us today to start leveraging Copilot.