Copilot for All!
If you follow my blogs you will know that I have been covering the development, usage scenarios and launch of Microsoft Copilot for months.
Whilst this new AI-based tool provides incredible potential for Users of Microsoft 365, the only fly in the ointment was the limitation of the technology to subscribers of specific (and expensive) Microsoft 365 Enterprise Plans and with a minimum purchase of 300 seats (gulp!).
Copilot for Businesses of All Sizes
Well, as of yesterday, Microsoft announced it is expanding Copilot for Microsoft 365 to businesses of all sizes and most notably to the following subscriptions:-
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium
- and also holders of Office 365 E3 and Office E5 plans.
Whilst Microsoft Copilot was originally made available to large corporate enterprises like Visa, BP, Honda, and Pfizer, and partners like Accenture, KPMG, and PwC, Microsoft has been appreciative of the fact that small and medium sized businesses are critical to the heartbeat of local economies. Plus they have been cognisant that it is these businesses which can benefit most substantially from the use of AI.
If fact, Microsoft has conducted extensive research into small and medium sized businesses and found these firms can gain the most based on the fact:-
- 66% of SME owners report that communicating with customers takes up most of their time
- 50 % of SME owners report managing budgets takes up the majority of their day
- 48 of SME owners report administrative tasks occupy a substantial portion of their schedule
Therefore Microsoft has decided to rollout Copilot to SME customer groups, so it can be used to improve these statistics and also give back time to business owners so they can focus on other salient value-added activities.
Copilot versions
Microsoft is launching several versions of Copilot.
Copilot Pro
Copilot Pro is a new subscription tailored for individuals and priced at $20 per month per person. Copilot Pro seamlessly integrates foundational capabilities within a unified experience that spans your devices, comprehends your context on the web, your PC, across apps, and soon on your phone, delivering the necessary skills precisely when you need them. With inherent web grounding, it ensures constant access to the most up-to-date information.
Copilot for Microsoft 365
Copilot for Microsoft 365 is for organisations and stands out as the premier offering. This version ensures you receive top-tier access to the latest AI models, available seamlessly in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Microsoft Teams. Integrated with your comprehensive data universe, Copilot for Microsoft 365 comes with enterprise-grade data protection. This implies it adheres to your existing Microsoft 365 security, privacy, identity, and compliance policies, ensuring a robust safeguarding of your organisation’s sensitive information.
The table below summarises the products feature sets:-
Copilot Studio which is bundled with Copilot for Microsoft 365 allows organisations to have the flexibility to tailor Copilot for Microsoft 365 to their needs. They can create personalised copilots and plugins, managing and securing these customisations and standalone copilots with precise control over access, data, user settings, and analytics.
And remember these versions are not restricted to businesses with 300 seats minimum in fact Copilot for Microsoft 365 for organisations is now accessible to small and medium-sized businesses, ranging from solo entrepreneurs initiating their first ventures to rapidly expanding startups with up to 300 personnel. So if your business is currently using either Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Microsoft 365 Business Premium, you can now purchase Copilot for Microsoft 365 for $30 per user per month or £24.70 (subject to Annual commitment) as advertised on Microsoft’s website below (please be aware Fusion can beat this price as we get preferential pricing as a Microsoft Cloud Service Provider).
We have lift-off!
Thanks
Richard
