Microsoft Copilot Studio

In a nutshell: What is Microsoft Copilot Studio?

The Microsoft Copilot Studio allows you to customize Microsoft Copilot and design your own Copilots. The studio is therefore an offering that allows Microsoft's artificial intelligence (AI) to be individually adapted and used in various scenarios and areas of application.

 

The individual copilots are compatible with all Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Azure apps.

 

Reasons for using Microsoft AI and the use of individual co-pilots

The use of AI technologies relieves companies and private individuals in numerous processes. Microsoft Copilot provides comprehensive support for the use of Microsoft 365 (M365 for short).

 

Microsoft 365 is a package that includes the following apps, among others:

 

• Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint for creating text documents, statistics and presentations
• Microsoft OneDrive as online storage
• Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Teams for better collaboration in teams

 

In our article with strategies and tips for working efficiently with Microsoft Copilot, we explain in detail how AI models provide support in a wide range of areas within the company. For example, an AI assistant in Microsoft Word can be used to generate automatic drafts for documents, while artificial intelligence in Microsoft Teams automates the summarization of meetings.

 

Advantages of Microsoft's standard AI

The reasons for using artificial intelligence are clear: users can be relieved of various tasks from their day-to-day work. Above all, AI can perform trivial tasks to a high standard with little explanation. Artificial intelligence can also help efficiently with complicated tasks.

 

When using an AI assistant, companies and private users benefit from relief in everyday tasks, the automation of certain processes and an increase in productivity. In addition, when analyzing data, an AI assistant can identify trends and patterns that companies and their employees have not previously noticed.

 

Individual copilots created by users in Copilot Studio extend the added value of the standard AI.

 

Extended benefits through individual co-pilots

Thanks to the customization in Copilot Studio, the standard AI becomes an individual assistant that is tailored to the personal needs of users. For example, companies can feed their individual AI in Microsoft Copilot Studio with internal company knowledge and thus receive more precise answers in conversations with chatbots.

 

As a specialized service provider, we at innobit are familiar with various AI technologies. This also includes Copilot. We offer companies a workshop for Microsoft Copilot, in which we provide valuable information on how Copilot can be used in the best possible way. We also provide instruction on how to use Copilot Studio.

 

 

Options for individualizing the co-pilots

A co-pilot is created either via the chat interface or from a selection of templates. Both are processes in which a co-pilot can be created very easily and without any IT knowledge. Users can customize the co-pilot using simple instructions or create a new, individual AI.

 

The scope for customization is extensive and includes, for example, networking with other apps. The individual Copilot can be connected to other Microsoft data sources or external data sources from other providers. For example, a user could connect the Copilot to their online banking and train it to create financial reports.

 

Overview of possibilities with Microsoft Copilot Studio

 

• Actions in the middle of conversations: With the help of the so-called Power Platform Connectors, AI prompts and other features, the co-pilot can be set so that it automatically intervenes in conversations and performs helpful actions at appropriate points.
• Further processing of data: There are more than 1,200 connectors to choose from, which can be used to optimize Copilot specifically for Microsoft 365 so that it can process data from other programs. Among other things, this helps to ensure precise analyses and high-quality data processing.
• Checking analyses: If the individual Copilot is connected to third-party software, it can carry out and evaluate analyses of important KPIs. For example, the user experience can be optimized by connecting it to a marketing tool.
• Promoting corporate governance: By training the copilot on aspects such as data protection, data integrity and other relevant aspects of corporate governance, companies ensure support that helps them comply with legal regulations.
• Automation of processes: Copilot for Microsoft 365 offers the option of automating selected processes. Among other things, this can simplify the onboarding of new employees, which has a positive impact on the employee experience.

 

The features of the AI in Copilot Studio can therefore be specifically aligned with the company's purpose. This makes the work of managers and employees easier in many ways. Employees can use the individual Copilots for themselves, and it is also possible to individualize the AIs for collaboration in entire teams.

 

The functions of a co-pilot are even helpful in advanced areas of application within the IT department. IT experts can use AI to increase general cyber security. Furthermore, developers can have customized code snippets created by the copilot.

Microsoft Copilot Studio: Can only be used with a subscription

There are two subscriptions in Copilot Studio. One subscription model is called Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, the other Microsoft Copilot Studio. The two models differ significantly in terms of price and functions.

 

Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365

With Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, it is possible to create extensions to Copilot. The AI can be used in the Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook and Edge apps (the latter only in the Business package). Extensions for Microsoft Teams can also be created and used.

 

Cost: €28.10 per user per month, annual subscription required

 

Microsoft Copilot Studio

The Microsoft Copilot Studio subscription model provides more scope and features. Here it is possible to create your own Copilots. They can then be made available to employees and/or customers via various channels. Microsoft Copilot Studio offers users a graphical interface with a high level of usability for developing their own copilots.

 

Cost: €187.20 for 25,000 messages and per month

 

Is Microsoft Copilot free of charge?

Yes, Microsoft Copilot is free of charge. Unlike Microsoft Copilot Studio and Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, where users customize Copilot to their own needs, Microsoft's standard AI is free.

 

The free Copilot creates content in various formats (e.g. text, presentations, tables) and helps to analyze data. The free Copilot can also create images. This is an overview of some of the features:

 

• Hold conversations in the chat using text, voice and image input
• Have pictures created
• Have texts created
• Use plugins and Copilot GPTs from the store

 

Create copilot: Basic information on the process

In Copilot Studio, users will find the "New Copilot" option under "Create" in the left-hand sidebar. Before the copilot is created in detail in conversation with an AI and provided with instructions, users should first select the "Skip to configuration" option.

 

In the screen that now appears, it is possible to enter basic information such as this about the new co-pilot:

 

• Name of the copilot
• Image/icon
• Description of the copilot
• Instructions for the co-pilot
• Language
• Sources from which the co-pilot should obtain his knowledge

 

The details are confirmed with "Create" at the top right. From now on, the co-pilot's name will be listed under all other self-created co-pilots.

 

The collection of copilots can be viewed by clicking on "Copilots" in the left sidebar. It is important to enter the basic information and, above all, the name to distinguish all copilots from each other.

 

In the next step, the new copilot that the user wants to edit is selected from the collection. During the editing process, the copilot is created in a detailed manner. There are various options for this: Apart from entering instructions, users can select the option to create the co-pilot in conversation with the AI.

 

In the course of the conversation with Microsoft's AI, the functions and other features of the copilot are defined and its functionality is tested in between.

 

Another approach to creating a Copilot is the use of templates. The user interface in Copilot Studio includes templates for travel agencies, collaboration, website creation, sustainability and other special topics.

 

The large number of templates on several topics makes it easier to create co-pilots, as the templates can access ready-made settings, instructions, functions and other properties. This makes it easier to create a customized copilot for your own needs.

 

There are several features in Copilot Studio for customization:

 

• Under "Knowledge", users can provide their own knowledge databases to feed the copilot with their own data.
• The "Themes" option allows users to define specific entertainment paths so that the co-pilot reacts correctly to the desired scenarios.
• It is also possible to define "actions". The co-pilot is trained to carry out specific processes or tasks in the company correctly. They are therefore specialized in their areas of application.

 

The Copilot Studio also offers functions for integrating the created Copilots into your own applications and websites. Furthermore, the "Analysis" section provides comprehensive data and visualizations on the use of each individual Copilot. This allows sessions to be analyzed and optimized.

 

Conclusion: What is Microsoft Copilot Studio?

The Microsoft Copilot Studio is used for the extensive individualization and specialization of Microsoft's artificial intelligence. Users can define various topics, actions, knowledge sources and other aspects in Copilot Studio in order to use artificial intelligence more efficiently for their individual purposes.

 

For example, a dedicated co-pilot can be specialized to visualize data in a certain way to make data processing easier for those responsible.