Microsoft 365 Copilot is an important part of daily operations for many companies, and for good reason. It streamlines work tasks, freeing up time for people to focus on what matters most. Microsoft 365 Copilot benefits companies in various ways from sales to customer service. It can be purchased with a Microsoft 365 license to complement daily use applications.
At the end of 2024, the Microsoft 365 Copilot product family expanded with the introduction of Copilot agents. This article describes what agents are and how to approach them.
Like other Copilot products, agents are integrated into Microsoft 365 systems, such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and Outlook.
With AI agents, organizations can streamline repetitive, simple functions and complex expert tasks revolving around company data and personal materials. Like other products in the Copilot family, the agents can support many departments, including sales, marketing, IT, and HR. They streamline daily tasks, such as responding to customer questionnaires, and filtering and prioritizing emails.
Built around the latest AI technology, the agents use GPT-4 language model for basic tasks and the newer GPT-5 language model for deeper, more complex thinking. However, the accuracy of data retrieved by Copilot must always be ensured.
The agents’ power lies within their ability to operate independently and search different sources for information, such as internal systems and files – though only those available to employees. Copilot can also leverage external databases. When a task requires a broad set of data, the Microsoft Copilot agent is a more efficient and reliable solution for processing the data.
How does a Microsoft Copilot agent work in practice? The agent can be defined by the following simple formula:
Microsoft 365 + the instructions provided to Copilot + the source data used by Copilot
Creating agents is quick and effortless: the simplest do not require coding and can be created in the Microsoft Copilot Studio environment. Microsoft Copilot agents work with the same kinds of prompts as other AI-enabled technologies. The instructions can be as detailed as needed, and the data source can be single files or large databases.
For example, if an employee wants to find out how many vacation days they have based on their employment, the agent can retrieve the necessary information from HR databases. On the other hand, a project manager can use an agent to generate status reports and analyses on project progress.
Agents save time and streamline tasks, especially when processing large amounts of data. A salesperson can ask an agent to create statistics and analyze and visualize customer feedback directly from Excel spreadsheets. Autonomous agents can serve customers on the website or via email at any time. Agents can instantly answer technical product questions by referencing a product manual containing hundreds of pages of information.
However, agents do not provide complete outsourcing – AI agents still need human expertise, and people can always amend and ensure the end results before sending them to customers.
The Microsoft Copilot agent can be fully customized to the needs of the company and its employees. Companies should start using Microsoft Copilot agents once their employees are familiar with Microsoft 365 Copilot. A good rule of thumb is to wait at least six months after Copilot is deployed.
Testing agents should not be left solely to the IT department because the benefits are most apparent when different departments try the functions in practice.Organizations can begin by sharing one license among different departments, such as IT, Marketing, Sales, and HR. Finished agents can be directed toward specific target groups and connected to different channels, such as Teams. This ensures that they become a natural part of daily activities.
AI agents have the potential to extend the use of artificial intelligence within the organization. However, optimal use of Copilot products requires updated data security practices and a willingness to try new functions. Staff must also be committed to incorporating AI-driven innovations into their work environment.
Have you become interested in the possibilities provided by agents? We help companies securely and efficiently deploy artificial intelligence solutions, such as Microsoft Copilot products. We also help acquire and manage the necessary licenses. Check out Pinja’s IT outsourcing services and contact our experts.
Follow the latest Microsoft Copilot feature news and updates on Microsoft’s site.
Functions of Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot Studio
Blog post: Using Microsoft 365 and Copilot – what to consider