Are you excited about harnessing the full potential of Copilot for Microsoft 365 but not quite sure if your organization is ready for takeoff? Our Preflight Playbook will help prepare your M365 environment for the journey ahead. Let’s embark on this adventure together and explore the steps to clean up and optimize your digital workspace for a seamless Copilot integration.

Channel updates for a smooth flight

First things first, let’s talk about Channel updates. To deploy Copilot for Microsoft 365 effectively, it’s crucial to steer clear of the Semi-annual Channel. Why? Because Copilot thrives on the latest updates, and the Semi-annual Channel just doesn’t keep up the pace. 

Steps to take:  

  • Inform users about this change resulting in more communications about updates. 
  • Teach users about the latest functionality by building customer Skill Paths or Flows.  

 

Adopt the necessary Microsoft 365 apps for Copilot  

Copilot for Microsoft 365 was built to bring the power of AI to where your users need it which is in the Office apps they use every day. Make sure your organization has the latest Office apps deployed.  

Helpful content to deploy: 

Deploy the following Skill Paths to your organization.  

  • Skill Path – Meet Excel for Microsoft 365 
  • Skill Path – Meet PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 
  • Skill Path – Meet Word for Microsoft 365 
  • Skill Path – Meet OneNote for Microsoft 365 
  • Event – Explore the Desktop Apps with Microsoft 365 
  • Event – Learn the Basics of Microsoft 365  

 

Optimize your organizations OneDrive & SharePoint environment 

Copilot for Microsoft 365 taps into the wealth of knowledge stored in your OneDrive & SharePoint. Ensure your organization has a cleaned up and optimized OneDrive & SharePoint environment for Copilot to leverage.  

Helpful content to deploy: 

  • SkillPath – Meet OneDrive 
  • SkillPath – Meet OneDrive Mobile 
  • Skill Path – Sync OneDrive and your PC 
  • Skill Path – Sync OneDrive and your Mac 
  • Skill Path – Meet SharePoint for Microsoft 365 
  • Skill Path – Collaborate in SharePoint  
  • Skill Path – Build and manage a SharePoint Teams Site 
  • Event – Use OneDrive for Work and School to Share and Collaborate  
  • Event – Build a SharePoint Site from the Ground Up  
  • Event – Learn how to collaborate with SharePoint online  

 

Adopt New Teams  

New Teams was built with Copilot for Microsoft 365 in mind, and Microsoft is transitioning users quickly. Ensure your users are taking advantage of New Teams to maximize value.  

 Helpful content to deploy:  

  • Skill Path – Meet Microsoft Teams 
  • Skill Path – When to choose Teams Chat, Channels, or Email 
  • Skill Path – Communicate and Collaborate in Microsoft Teams 
  • Skill path – Participate in Teams Meetings 
  • Event – Learn how to use Microsoft Teams  

 

Adopt Loop & Whiteboard  

Copilot for Microsoft 365 is integrated in these tools and both are rising quickly in popularity and functionality. You’ll want to get users into these tools quickly to capture all the value here.  

Helpful content to deploy:  

  • Skill Path – Meet Microsoft Loop  
  • Skill Path – Meet Microsoft Whiteboard  
  • Skill Path – Improve virtual meetings with the Whiteboard experience 

 

Declutter your cloud storage 

Copilot leverages cloud data as inputs. Encourage users to clean up cloud storage providing an optimized environment for Copilot to leverage.  

Helpful content to deploy:  

  • Skill Path – Manage your files and storage in OneDrive  
  • Skill Path – Meet OneDrive 
  • Event – Learn how to collaborate with SharePoint online  

 

Improve sharing & permissions management  

If information is accessible, Copilot can find it. That’s why it is important to ensure that users have updated permissions on files appropriately. Leverage these Skill Paths to remind users to take inventory of their file accessibility and permissions.  

Helpful content to deploy:  

  • Skill Path – Manage permissions in SharePoint 
  • Skill Path – Share files securely in Microsoft 365

 

Adopt New Outlook 

While Copilot will be coming to the classic version of Outlook soon, New Outlook has been built to be compatible with Copilot. Encourage users to start learning New Outlook as the features are optimized to ensure the best experience with Copilot for Microsoft 365.  

Helpful content to deploy: 

  • Skill Path: Meet the New Outlook 
  • Skill Path: Meet Outlook 
  • Skill Path: Meet Outlook Mobile – iOS 
  • Skill Path: Meet Outlook Mobile – Android 
  • Skill Path – Prepare to go out of office with M365

 

Adopt the Microsoft 365 apps in the browser  

Once your Copilot for Microsoft 365 licenses are activated and assigned it can take a few days for users to see them in their desktop apps. To get value right away and avoid issues, encourage users to first leverage the browser-based apps.  

Helpful content to deploy:  

  • Skill Path – Meet Excel in the browser 
  • Skill Path – Meet PowerPoint in the browser 
  • Skill Path – Meet Word in the browser

 

Adopt Copilot  

What better way to prepare your users for Copilot for Microsoft 365 than to encourage them to start leveraging the version of Copilot already available to them on the web. This version of Copilot will be an important tool even with the addition of Copilot for Microsoft 365 license.  

Helpful content to deploy:  

  • Skill Path – Meet Copilot 
  • Event – Begin your AI journey with Copilot