Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI assistant for Microsoft 365 applications, and it’s not cheap, with prices reaching up to $36 per month per employee. Some estimates suggest it could cost over $250,000 per year. Is it worth it? Multiple companies have asked us about the ROI. Are employees driving value from this, or are they indifferent and confused?
I started asking dozens of people, “Do you have a killer app for Microsoft 365 Copilot?” and found very few. On LinkedIn, I offered to pay $50 for answers, but had zero takers.
When I increased the offer to $150, finally, one person, Jared, stepped forward. Jared had three killer use cases. I was most impressed by his take on how Copilot can work for brainstorming and categorization. For example, if your company is looking to refine its marketing plans, Copilot can help to sort tasks or goals as diverse as these: from things like “create interactive content” and “host virtual events” to more lofty ideals, like “collaborate with Gen Z influencers” and “engage with meme culture.” That’s a use that might help to drive forward motion in these sorts of processes, and you can think about it as similar to a SWOT analysis, with a lot of moving parts represented by digital post-it notes.
Jared’s other two use cases involved asking Copilot to analyze meeting notes and propose an agenda for a follow-up meeting, and using Copilot as a patient and competent helper for Excel formulas.
So at least we know that one person is able to derive the kind of value from the program that merits adoption.
What is your experience at work with Microsoft 365 Copilot? Is this tool driving productivity improvements? Are employees embracing the significant change management required to reap the benefits?