5 Smart Ways to Start Using Copilot for Microsoft 365 in Your Business

AI is here - and your people are already using it.

Sophie Cooper is a Training and Adoption Specialist at TIEVA, focused on driving change through smarter use of Microsoft 365. With a background in digital transformation and user adoption, she helps organisations get the most from their Microsoft investment - turning tools into tangible results.

Sophie specialises in intuitive workflows, responsible AI adoption, and embedding new technologies in a way that feels natural for teams. She’s currently leading efforts around Microsoft Copilot enablement, guiding users to adopt AI tools confidently, securely, and with real purpose.

Her approach is grounded in empathy and clarity: if tech is causing confusion, she sees it as a sign that something can - and should - be done better. For Sophie, success is when people stop thinking about the tool and start focusing on what it lets them achieve.

Whether it’s ChatGPT helping draft an email or some free browser tool summarising notes, chances are someone in your team has already dabbled. And that’s not a bad thing. But when AI adoption happens without any oversight - Bring Your Own AI (BYOAI) - it raises big questions - about security, compliance, and control.

This is the new face of shadow IT. In the past, it was someone spinning up a personal Zoom account instead of using Teams. Now, it could be an employee unknowingly pasting sensitive customer data into a public AI tool. The stakes are much higher - and the potential for data leakage or regulatory breaches is far more serious.

That’s where Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 comes in.

Copilot brings powerful, secure AI directly into the Microsoft apps your team already use - Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams and more. It helps people work smarter, not harder, while keeping your data safe and your organisation in control.

But to really get value from Copilot, your people need to know how to use it well. That starts with good prompting - teaching employees how to ask the right questions, give context, and guide the AI to deliver useful results. A little upfront guidance goes a long way in unlocking Copilot’s full potential.

Here are five easy, impactful ways to start using Copilot across your business.

1. Accelerate Document Workflows - Securely

From drafting proposals to summarising reports, Copilot can dramatically reduce the time your teams spend on document creation and review. The best part? Unlike public AI tools, Copilot works within your Microsoft  365 environment, respecting your organisation’s data governance and access controls.

Try asking:

"Draft a project proposal based on this meeting transcript and last quarter’s performance report."

2. Enhance Decision-Making with Data in Excel

Not everyone’s a spreadsheet whiz, and that’s okay. Copilot brings natural language querying to Excel, making it easier for non-technical users to analyse data, generate insights, and build dashboards - without writing complex formulas or macros.

Try this:

"Show me a trend analysis of our top 5 products over the past 12 months."

3. Streamline Communication in Outlook and Teams

Inbox clutter and never-ending Teams threads can make it hard to stay focused and keep track of what’s important. Copilot can summarise long email threads, suggest replies, and even draft meeting recaps in Teams. This helps reduce communication overload while ensuring key information is captured and shared - within your secure Microsoft ecosystem.

Try using:

"Summarise this email thread and draft a response confirming next steps."

4. Boost Productivity with AI-Powered Task Management

Copilot can help employees stay organised by generating to-do lists, prioritising tasks, and even scheduling meetings - all based on their calendar, emails, and chats. It’s like having a personal assistant who actually understands your work and priorities.

Try this:

"Create a task list from this email and schedule a follow-up meeting for next week."

5. Drive Innovation While Maintaining Control

Copilot gives your teams the freedom to experiment and explore what AI can do - without stepping outside your governance boundaries. IT keeps oversight, while employees get the tools to move faster and think bigger.

Try asking:

"Brainstorm 5 campaign ideas for our new product launch targeting mid-sized UK businesses."

Why Microsoft Copilot Makes Sense

● Enterprise-grade security

● Data stays within your Microsoft 365 tenant

● Built-in compliance and identity controls

● Familiar tools - now with AI superpowers

AI isn’t just the next big thing. It’s already changing how people work.

At TIEVA, my colleagues and I use Copilot every day - whether it’s drafting internal updates, analysing data, or planning meetings. But we don’t just use it for the sake of it. We’re embedding Copilot into our workflows with purpose, making sure it supports our goals and aligns with our strategic framework for responsible AI use.

Curious about how Copilot could fit into your organisation?

Feel free to drop me a message - I’d be happy to talk about how to roll out Microsoft Copilot with

confidence and make the most of the tools you already have.