By chance, I came across an article on social media with the headline “Using AI without IT”:
(For those who don't understand German: the screenshot shows an picture that says: Using AI – without an IT team. The technical report shows how 500+ companies are doing it).
Source:
https://business.simpleclub.com/
AI – here to stay
Unfortunately, this is a scenario I have heard about at several workshops and customer meetings. IT departments still struggle with the topic of AI in some cases, but this doesn't have to be the case! See, for example: https://m365techtalk.blogspot.com/2024/05/dont-make-me-think-challenges-with.html
AI is not just a nice gimmick! It can help employees do their jobs better, use their time more wisely, and unlock their potential. Microsoft AI / Copilot is a tool that promises exactly that – but how can you really leverage these benefits?
Here are five practical points that not only increase ROI but also put the employee at the center:
1. Taking decisions
Copilot helps to structure information and reveal connections. This means better decisions, less uncertainty, and more confidence. And not just for managers, but for everyone who makes decisions on a daily basis—in projects, in customer contact, in teams.
2. Time is money – and Copilot can save you both
Copilot can take care of repetitive tasks: drafting emails, summarizing meetings, structuring content. This saves time – but the real benefit is that employees can focus on what their actual job is. Technology as a liberation, not a burden.
Imagine having 30 minutes more every day. Not because you're working less, but because Copilot is helping you with routine tasks.
3. Empowerment
Even the AI Regulation obliges companies to train their employees in AI.
Article 4 of the European Regulation on Artificial Intelligence deals with “AI competence” and says:
"Providers and operators of AI systems shall take measures to ensure, to the best of their ability, that their personnel and other persons involved in the operation and use of AI systems on their behalf have a sufficient level of AI competence, taking into account their technical knowledge, experience, education, and training, and the context in which the AI systems are to be used, as well as the persons or groups of persons for whom the AI systems are intended to be used."
Source: Regulation (EU) 2024/1689
Based on our experience with our customers, I can say that the success of AI and Copilot depends on how well employees understand the technology. Training is important – but even more important is a culture that promotes learning, allows for mistakes, and rewards curiosity. Copilot is a tool that you have to get to know.
4. Clean up your data – otherwise nothing will work
Copilot needs good data to work effectively. This is not a task for IT alone, but a shared responsibility. Transparency, governance, and clear structures help. See, for example: https://m365techtalk.blogspot.com/2024/05/dont-make-me-think-challenges-with.html
5. Measure impact – have the courage to change
Of course, ROI is important. But it shouldn't be the only metric. Anyone introducing Copilot should also consider the following: How is collaboration changing? How do employees experience working with AI? How much time is left for training?
Copilot is a beginning. Not an end. Anyone who introduces it should also be prepared to go further. Try new things. Collect feedback. Measure KPIs, for example with the Copilot Dashboard. See also: Connect to the Microsoft Copilot Dashboard
And above all: let people do their thing. Because innovation doesn't happen in an imaginary world, but in everyday life.
Conclusion: Copilot is not a miracle cure—but it is a damn good tool!
Microsoft AI/Copilot can do a lot. But only if you use it correctly. With planning, training, data maintenance, and a dose of courage. Then you will also see a return on investment. At the beginning of an AI project, it is always important to identify the needs of employees. See also: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/viva/insights/org-team-insights/copilot-dashboard
