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Have you heard? Microsoft Copilot for 365 is officially available as a paid add-on for all users and subscription types. This software feature—the newest AI-powered addition to the Microsoft family—is designed to streamline your work by intuitively assisting with day-to-day tasks across the Microsoft environment.
In this article, our IT experts at Ntiva summarize what Microsoft Copilot for 365 can do for your teams and how it will change the way you work. We’ll also dive into the latest updates to Copilot, detailing some of the newest features and illustrating how they can further optimize daily tasks.
About Microsoft Copilot for 365
*Note: For this article, we will be referring to Microsoft Copilot for 365 as simply "Copilot for 365." This is not to be confused with Bing Chat, which Microsoft recently renamed Copilot. Confusing, we know!
Need to whip up a project proposal, sum up a meeting, or put together a presentation? Microsoft Copilot for 365 has got your back, answering your commands and doing the heavy lifting in seconds. Copilot for 365 is a game-changing combination of AI and the reliable Microsoft 365 suite.
The software goes beyond basic assistance by transforming into an innovative, AI-powered colleague that seamlessly integrates into widely used business applications. What sets Copilot for 365 apart is its remarkable capacity for natural language processing. It maximizes productivity by assisting with drafting emails, analyzing complex datasets in Excel, creating captivating PowerPoint presentations, and efficiently managing your calendar in Outlook.
The truly impressive aspect of Copilot for 365 is its AI-powered approach. It understands the bigger picture, learns from interactions, and provides personalized responses—all in your own secure 365 environment. Microsoft continues to improve and expand these capabilities, regularly notifying users of new features and software updates via its website.
Availability and Cost
As of January 2024, Microsoft Copilot for 365 is available to all users for purchase, including enterprise and educational customers, as well as individuals and families. The price for implementing Copilot for 365—now available as a paid add-on for all plans—varies depending on the subscription type:
- Enterprise customers: $30 per user per month
- Educational customers: $30 per user per month
- Personal and family customers: $20 per user per month
Keep in mind that Copilot for 365 requires access to SharePoint data for its full functionality, which is governed by Azure Information Protection plans. While Business Standard users can still enjoy limited functionality with direct content from OneDrive and Outlook, upgrading to Microsoft Business Premium is highly recommended in order to truly unlock the full potential of Copilot for 365.
Key Functions of Copilot for 365
No matter which Microsoft applications your organization employs, you can leverage the functionalities of Copilot for 365 to simplify processes and enhance the efficiency of numerous business operations. Copilot for 365 works alongside you in the Microsoft applications you use every day, including:
- Chat
- Excel
- Outlook
- Pages
- PowerPoint
- Teams
- Word
Copilot for 365 is more than just a fancy tool in the Microsoft suite—it’s a practical asset for various business operations. Here’s a closer look at how its features can streamline daily tasks:
|
Business Operation |
Key Functions with Copilot |
|
Email Management in Outlook |
● Auto-sorting and prioritizing your inbox ● Drafting quick responses to common queries ● Summarizing long email threads |
|
Data Analysis in Excel |
● Sifting through large datasets for key insights ● Identifying and highlighting trends ● Suggesting optimal visualization methods |
|
Content Creation in Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word |
● Generating ideas and outlines for reports and articles ● Assisting with drafting and editing documents ● Creating engaging presentation decks |
|
Enhancing Meeting Productivity in Teams |
● Summarizing, transcribing, and translating meetings and discussions ● Keeping track of action items and follow-ups ● Providing suggestions for agenda and meeting structure |
|
Project Management |
● Assisting with creating project plans and timelines ● Generating task lists and assigning roles ● Offering suggestions for resource allocation |
|
Customer Service |
● Drafting responses to customer inquiries ● Providing quick access to frequently asked questions ● Summarizing customer feedback and gathering insights |
|
Research & Development |
● Gathering and summarizing relevant research data ● Assisting with brainstorming sessions for product innovation ● Providing quick access to industry trends, insights, and benchmarks |
|
Human Resources |
● Helping draft job descriptions and employee communications ● Assisting with scheduling interviews and meetings ● Providing summaries of employee feedback and surveys |
|
Finance & Accounting |
● Assisting with generating financial reports and summaries ● Offering suggestions for budget allocation and analysis ● Simplifying complex financial data for better understanding |
|
Marketing & Social Media |
● Generating content ideas and marketing strategies ● Assisting with crafting social media posts and campaigns ● Analyzing market data for insights and trends |
Noteworthy 2025 Updates to Microsoft Copilot for 365
Here are some of the latest updates to Copilot for 365 as of April 2025 and how they’re improving the Copilot experience:
- Estimate returns with Business Case Builder: Small- and medium-sized businesses can use the Microsoft 365 Copilot Business Case Builder to estimate a three-year return on their investment and explore opportunities for cost savings.
- Use work or web data to create rich artifacts: Take advantage of more flexibility and improved accessibility when creating rich content within Copilot Chat and Pages.
- Search the web directly within Copilot in Excel: Users can access online data directly within Excel, allowing for instant web search without leaving the app.
- Gather insights from images: Inquire about image content to avoid manually searching and sifting through libraries for the file you need.
- Leverage improved summarization and coaching in Word: The word limit for summarizations increased from 80,000 words to about 1.5 million words. Coaching with Copilot has also expanded, moving beyond basic technical writing suggestions and offering supporting information, style preferences, and more.
- Instantly translate entire PowerPoint presentations: Users can now translate entire slides without sacrificing design integrity and draft speaker notes in supported languages.
- Easily procure and share prompting suggestions: Receive, save, and share prompt suggestions for tasks in various apps.
- Explore usage trends with Copilot analytics: IT teams can collect more valuable insights into usage trends, including intensity and frequency, across the Microsoft ecosystem.
Ready, Set, Copilot: Prepping Your Business for the AI Revolution
For businesses looking to adopt Copilot for 365, here are some key considerations to keep in mind:
- Licensing requirements: Stay informed about the licensing requirements for Copilot for 365, ensuring that your current Microsoft 365 plan aligns with Copilot's needs.
- Training and familiarization: Invest in training programs for your team to get familiar with Copilot’s capabilities, functions, and interface. Understanding how to use it effectively can significantly boost productivity.
- Data governance and security: Ensure that your data governance policies are up to date, considering the AI’s access to company data for tailored responses.
- Pilot programs: Consider running pilot programs within specific departments to gauge Copilot’s impact and gather feedback for wider implementation.
- Staying updated: Keep an eye on Microsoft’s updates regarding Copilot; its capabilities and functionalities will likely evolve.
By preparing their workforce in these areas, businesses can smoothly integrate Copilot for 365 into their operations, harnessing the power of AI to enhance their productivity and innovation without risking data integrity.
Unlock the Full Potential of Copilot for 365
Microsoft applications work best in tandem, so it’s important that your teams are getting the most productivity possible out of their tech stack. Copilot for 365 can help.
If you're an organization looking to get started with Copilot but need some guidance, reach out to our Microsoft consultants to get started. We offer programs to help train your teams and ensure you get the most out of these powerful tools. Or, if your business has already implemented Copilot for 365 and would like to maximize its usage, our team of IT experts is happy to offer some insight.
