Copilot for 365 - 6 Month Review

What do SMEs think of Microsoft Copilot?

6 months after launch, small and medium businesses have been using Copilot for 365 to great effect. But what are the most interesting trends, and where can small and medium businesses use AI to it's most efficient capacity? This article details the path forward for small to medium businesses who want to make the most of AI tools.

Leaders need to catch up with their employees

The most surprising outcome of the 6 months post launch has been that employees and teams are outpacing their employers when it comes to AI adoption. Most employees are bringing their own AI to work, like Copilot on browser or consumer Copilot memberships, and implementing it into their workflows without the necessary training, oversight, or data protection processes.

Many SMB teams are already using AI tools, and while leaders agree that AI is critical, 61% of them also say that they don't have an implementation plan. This means that employees have begun to take things into their own hands, and 'Shadow AI' has become commonplace, with 80% of employees having used their own AI tools in the workplace. This gap, however, doesn't need to give rise to panic - there is a huge opportunity for business leaders to build an AI strategy that takes advantage of the technical capabilities of AI without the risks of employees using outside tools.

Copilot for 365 presents an opportunity

However, when it comes to Microsoft Copilot for 365, it's clear that small and medium sized businesses are using AI to create competitive advantages. 79% of the businesses using Copilot for 365 say that AI adoption has been critical for their competitiveness, while 91% of SMBs using Copilot say they have seen an ROI on their license costs.

So what is the path forward? Well, the opportunity for SMB leaders to channel employee enthusiasm for AI into business transformation is huge. The plan will look different depending on your business, but there are a few ways to make a start.

Looking to get started with AI? Speak to the Mason Infotech team.