May 2025 Live Office Hours Q&A Recap: Unlocking the Power of Microsoft Copilot

With AI making headlines everywhere, many businesses are left wondering: How can tools like Microsoft Copilot actually make a difference in our work? That’s exactly what we tackled in our latest Sikich Live Office Hours Q&A session, where we explored the real-world impact, best practices, and challenges of implementing Microsoft Copilot across different environments. 

If you missed the session, you can watch the full recording below or you can continue reading to see what you’ve missed.  

This session was packed with insights and honest conversations—here’s a deeper dive into the top questions our attendees asked and the guidance our experts shared: 

What exactly is Microsoft Copilot? 

Copilot isn’t just one tool—it’s a suite of AI-powered capabilities embedded throughout Microsoft’s ecosystem. Think of it as your personal assistant for work, helping you summarize meetings, draft emails, analyze data, and even automate business processes, all while staying grounded in your organization’s data and security frameworks. 

What is the difference between Copilot and Copilot Studio? 

Copilot delivers out-of-the-box AI experiences right inside Microsoft 365 and Dynamics apps, enabling quick wins like meeting recaps and content suggestions. Copilot Studio, on the other hand, takes it further by allowing organizations to build custom AI agents tailored to their own workflows—think of it as your toolkit to design AI experiences for specific teams, departments, or use cases. 

What are the top three uses of Copilot? 

While many organizations begin their Copilot journey with quick wins like drafting emails or summarizing meetings, the potential goes far beyond day-to-day productivity. Copilot can also be used to uncover deeper organizational efficiencies, close process gaps, and address complex business needs—especially when paired with Copilot Studio for building custom agents. 

That said, here are three ways Copilot is consistently used:  

1. Meeting and conversation summaries – saving time by instantly capturing key points, action items, and next steps. 
2. Document and email summarization – cutting through lengthy reports and threads to deliver the highlights. 
3. AI-powered search and assistance – getting answers faster by asking natural language questions instead of searching through files manually. 

What is your favorite way to use Copilot? 

Attendees shared how Copilot has become their go-to tool for handling repetitive tasks—like drafting client emails or prepping reports—freeing them to focus on higher-value work that drives their business forward. 

Can you share some real-world examples of how Microsoft Copilot has improved productivity or decision-making in IT operations? 

One standout example came from an IT operations team that leveraged Copilot’s ability to integrate with meeting transcripts. Instead of spending hours summarizing discussions and writing follow-up emails, Copilot generated these updates in minutes—accelerating communication and decision-making. 

What are the best practices for securely deploying and managing Copilot features across an organization? 

Security and governance are crucial. Experts recommended starting with a readiness assessment to ensure data is well-organized and appropriately secured. From there, define clear success criteria, select a pilot group, and focus on user training to build confidence and adoption. 

How do you tailor Copilot to a specific SharePoint site of documents and query only that information? 

Copilot Studio offers the ability to build custom agents that can target specific data sources—like a dedicated SharePoint library—ensuring responses are relevant and accurate. This means teams can get answers from their most important documents without wading through irrelevant data. 

What are the challenges of deploying Copilot/AI? 

Data readiness and user adoption top the list. Poorly organized data can lead to inaccurate or misleading results, eroding trust. A solid governance framework and a clear plan for user training are essential to overcome these hurdles and realize the full potential of Copilot. 

What integrations exist for Copilot with other Microsoft products? 

Copilot works seamlessly across Outlook, Teams, Dynamics 365, and beyond. Whether you’re drafting an email, collaborating in Teams, or managing ERP data, Copilot’s AI capabilities help streamline workflows and improve productivity. 

How accurate is the output? 

Copilot’s output is only as good as the data it’s trained on and the security frameworks in place. Clean, well-organized data yields accurate, reliable results—while inconsistent or poorly managed data can produce confusion and errors. 

What are the standard Copilots offered within Dynamics 365 for Finance and Supply Chain? 

Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain users benefit from Copilot features like sidecar assistants, embedded dashboards, and even external agents that can automate tasks like supplier communications or purchase order updates—streamlining complex processes with AI assistance. 

What are the standard Copilots offered within Dynamics 365 Business Central? 

In Business Central, Copilot is infused across the product, supporting tasks like bank reconciliations, data lookups, and user assistance. It’s designed to help users work smarter within the ERP system by delivering quick answers and guidance when they need it most. 

Looking Ahead 

Microsoft Copilot is already transforming the way organizations work—simplifying complex processes, driving productivity, and empowering users to focus on what matters most. But success starts with data readiness, security, and user adoption. 

Want to learn more about how Copilot and AI can work for your organization? Contact us today to learn more about Sikich AI Studio and how we can help you build a smarter, more productive future with implementing Microsoft Copilot.