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Unlocking the Power of Microsoft Copilot for 365: The Latest Updates!

By Ted Brown | July 30, 2024
Ted Brown is Ntiva’s Director of Product Management, our go-to guy for all things product related and our certified Microsoft expert!
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As AI technology continues to break new ground, Microsoft Copilot 365 stands out as a transformative solution that is reshaping the way we approach our daily tasks. For those who have been part of our informative webinars on Copilot in the past, brace yourself for a fresh wave of innovative features and enhancements to dive into!

With these latest updates, Copilot is set to elevate your productivity to unprecedented heights. From new licensing options that make it more accessible to powerful upgrades in essential tools like Outlook, Teams, Excel, and Word, Copilot is meticulously crafted to streamline your workflows and enhance efficiency.

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Expanded Access With New Licensing Options!

micorosft 365 licensing

One of the most exciting updates in Microsoft Copilot for Office 365 is the recent licensing changes. Previously, Copilot was limited to higher-end licenses like Business Standard, Business Premium, Office E3, E5, and Microsoft E3 or E5. However, Microsoft has now expanded its availability, allowing a broader range of users to access the powerful features of Copilot.

With these changes, even users on lower-end licensing SKUs, such as Apps for Business or Enterprise, can add Microsoft Copilot to their suite. This means if you're using a license that allows you to install Office applications, you can now integrate Copilot into Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for just $30 per user per month. (However, it's important to note that this doesn't extend to email or Teams if those applications aren't included in your license.)

This increased availability opens the door for a wider range of businesses to harness the power of Copilot, simplifying workflow processes and enhancing overall productivity.

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Master Your Inbox with New Outlook Updates

Microsoft has introduced some significant updates for using Copilot in Outlook, making it even more powerful and user-friendly. One of the standout changes is that Copilot is now available in the classic version of Outlook, which was previously limited to the new Outlook interface.

With this latest update, Copilot now has the ability to condense lengthy email threads into concise summaries, allowing you to quickly grasp the main points without having to sift through every message. This feature saves you time and ensures that you don't overlook any crucial details.

Outlook copilot

Plus, you can let Copilot do the heavy lifting for you by generating suggested email responses with just a click of a button. This nifty feature not only makes communication a breeze but also boosts your productivity by helping you reply more effectively.

These updates bring the full capabilities of Copilot to the classic Outlook you're familiar with, making it easier to integrate AI assistance into your daily email management.

Boost Collaboration with Teams Updates from Copilot

Microsoft Teams has also rolled out some new updates with Copilot, aimed at boosting collaboration and refining communication within your organization.

One standout update is the ability to customize draft messages in Teams or Channels. With Copilot, you can now draft and refine messages using AI, ensuring your communication is spot-on. Whether you need to tweak the tone, lengthen the message, or adjust the content, Copilot helps you craft the perfect draft effortlessly.

Another notable feature is controlling access to AI-generated insights from meeting transcripts. Copilot can generate summaries and insights from your meeting transcripts, and you now have the power to decide who gets access to this information. This ensures that sensitive details are shared only with the right team members, enhancing both security and collaboration.

These updates transform Teams into an even more potent tool for communication and collaboration, leveraging AI to streamline tasks and improve information management. Make sure to dive into our full webinar for a detailed look at these new features and learn how to make the most of them.

Excel Magic Makes Data and Insights Easy

Excel copilot

Excel just got a major upgrade with the latest Copilot updates, designed to make your data work more efficient and intuitive. These new features transform how you handle data, providing smarter, faster ways to analyze and visualize information.

One of these game-changing updates is the expansion of data structure support. In the past, to make the most out of Copilot in Excel, you had to format your data as a table. But now, Copilot can handle a wider variety of data structures, allowing you to ask questions and gain insights without the hassle of extensive formatting. This update simplifies your workflow, making it easier to analyze and visualize data.

Copilot also provides more comprehensive answers within Excel. For instance, if you need to restrict data entry to specific formats or values, Copilot can guide you through setting up data validation. Simply ask Copilot how to prevent incorrect data entry, and it will give you detailed steps to implement the necessary restrictions.

All in all, these updates make Excel even more powerful and user-friendly, enabling you to get more done with less effort.  

M365 Copilot Blog CTA

Enhance Document Creation with Word Wonders

Microsoft Word has also seen several exciting Copilot updates, aimed at enhancing your document creation and editing experience.

One of the standout features is the ability to create documents from PDFs. With Copilot, you can now reference a PDF and generate a new document based on its content. This feature is particularly useful for creating newsletters, reports, or any document that requires information from existing PDFs, saving you time and effort.

Another significant update is the integration of Microsoft Designer with Copilot. You can now add visuals directly to your Word documents by describing what you need, and Copilot will generate images that match your description. This makes it easier than ever to create visually appealing documents without leaving Word.

Additionally, Copilot now allows you to refine and rewrite specific sections of your document. Highlight a section, and Copilot can suggest improvements, make the text longer or more exciting, or even adjust the tone. This feature is perfect for polishing your content and ensuring it meets your exact needs.

And finally, you can now ask questions not related to the document you’re working on directly within Word. This means you can get research and reference information without leaving your workspace, keeping your focus and productivity high.

These updates make Word an even more versatile and powerful tool for document creation. For a comprehensive look at these new features and to see them in action, make sure to watch the full webinar!

Discover What's New in Loop and Forms

Microsoft Loop and Forms have also received noteworthy updates with Copilot.

In Microsoft Loop, Copilot now assists in drafting and refining content within Loop components, making collaborative projects more efficient. We're excited to announce an upcoming webinar dedicated entirely to Microsoft Loop, where we'll explore these features in detail. Stay tuned!

For Microsoft Forms, Copilot can now help you create forms based on brief prompts, streamlining the process of gathering information and feedback. This feature simplifies form creation and ensures you collect the necessary data quickly and efficiently.

Explore New Features in Copilot Lab

Copilot Labs

Copilot Lab is an invaluable resource for getting the most out of Microsoft Copilot. This feature provides a variety of prompt ideas and best practices to help you refine your use of Copilot across different applications.

One of the latest enhancements in Copilot Lab is the ability to filter prompts by job type and application. Whether you're in finance, retail, or any other sector, you can find tailored prompts that suit your specific needs. This makes it easier to discover new ways to leverage Copilot's capabilities and improve your workflow.

If you're new to Copilot or looking to enhance your prompting skills, Copilot Lab is the perfect place to start. Explore different prompts, get inspired, and see how others are using Copilot to streamline their tasks. For a detailed look at how to utilize Copilot Labs and make the most of these new features, be sure to watch the full webinar.

Stay Tuned For More...

These exciting updates to Microsoft Copilot for 365 are designed to make your work more efficient and productive. From new licensing options and powerful feature enhancements in Outlook, Teams, Excel, and Word, to the integration of Microsoft Designer, there's something here for everyone to benefit from.

Whether you’re summarizing emails in Outlook, drafting messages in Teams, analyzing data in Excel, or creating visually stunning documents in Word, Copilot’s latest updates are here to help you every step of the way. Don’t forget to explore the new capabilities in Loop and Forms, and take advantage of Copilot Labs to refine your prompting skills.

If you're an organization looking to get started with Copilot but need some guidance, reach out to get started. We offer programs to help train your teams and ensure you get the most out of these powerful tools.

We've got an exciting webinar lined up for Q4 to dive deeper into additional updates and features, so make sure to stay tuned. In the meantime, don't miss out on our full webinar to witness these transformative new features in action and discover how they can streamline your workflow. Here's to your productivity! 🙌

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Tags: Microsoft, Digital Transformation