If You're Not Using Copilot Yet, You Should Be

Artificial Intelligence is no longer something that's coming someday. It's already changing how organizations write emails, create documents, analyze data, and find information. Yet many nonprofits, associations, and small businesses are still sitting on the sidelines waiting for the "right time" to get started.

My advice is simple: stop waiting

Over the last year, I've worked with organizations of all sizes that are exploring AI. The ones seeing the greatest benefits aren't necessarily the ones spending the most money. They're the ones actively learning how to use the tools available to them today.

Step 1: Start Using Copilot

Many organizations already have access to Microsoft Copilot through Microsoft 365, Edge, Windows, or the web. Before worrying about advanced licenses and custom solutions, start by learning how to use AI in your daily work.

Use Copilot to:

• Draft emails

• Summarize documents

• Brainstorm ideas

• Research topics

• Create reports

• Rewrite content

• Organize information
  

The goal isn't perfection. The goal is building new habits and learning how to work alongside AI.

Step 2: Add Microsoft 365 Copilot

Once your team is comfortable using AI, the next step is Microsoft 365 Copilot.
This is where things become much more powerful.

Instead of working with general information, Microsoft 365 Copilot can work within the context of your organization's Microsoft 365 environment, including:

• Email

• Teams conversations

• Meetings

• Documents

• SharePoint

• OneDrive
  

Users spend less time searching and more time working. Meeting summaries become automatic. Emails get written faster. Information becomes easier to find.
For many organizations, this is where they begin to see measurable productivity gains.

Step 3: Deploy Custom Copilot Agents

The next phase isn't more licenses.
It's agents. Custom Copilot agents can be trained to understand your organization's specific knowledge, policies, procedures, projects, and documentation.

Imagine asking:

• What is our reimbursement policy?

• Where is the latest board report?

• What are the onboarding steps for a new employee?

• Show me information about a specific project.
  

Instead of searching through folders, emails, and SharePoint sites, users simply ask a question and receive an answer.

This is where AI begins transforming how organizations access and use institutional knowledge.

The Organizations That Start Today Will Have an Advantage Tomorrow

The biggest risk organizations face isn't adopting AI too quickly. It's waiting too long.
The companies, nonprofits, and associations that begin learning today will be far ahead of those that spend another year wondering whether AI is worth exploring.

• Start with Copilot.

• Move to Microsoft 365 Copilot when the timing makes sense.

• Then deploy custom agents that understand how your organization works.

The future of work is already here.

Don't get left behind.

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