5 key steps for success
As a Microsoft Modern Work Solutions partner specialising in Adoption and Change Management, AspiraCloud is excited to be working with Microsoft as we introduce Copilot for Microsoft 365. This powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool helps organisations onboard, engage, and drive impact with their Microsoft 365 implementation, and we are ready to support both businesses and schools prepare their employees for their AI transformation journey, address technical deployment and optimisation, and ensure a successful adoption of Microsoft 365.
In this series of blog posts, Adrian Edgar, CEO here at AspiraCloud, lifts the lid on best practices to support a successful Microsoft Copilot implementation. His first blog looks at Copilot readiness and best practices. This is the second part of the series, which looks at the Adoption Accelerator process for Copilot, focussing on the key essentials for a successful implementation.
Read on:
Implementation – a phased approach
The implementation of Copilot for Microsoft 365 consists of several key phases, including user enablement and technical readiness. During the user enablement phase, organisations can select initial departments for rollout, identify their success team, and lay the foundation for an intelligent progression of AI skills with Copilot Lab. Training and champion programs can be deployed, and success measures can be reviewed with the Copilot Dashboard and User Survey Kit.
During the technical readiness phase, organisations can perform the Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 Optimisation Assessment, which addresses data security, governance, and data access questions, and also prepare Microsoft 365 for AI deployment with the Setup Guide. Appropriate data security controls can be put in place, and AI management skills can be matured through improved IT service delivery.
Essentials for Copilot success
The journey to becoming an AI-powered organisation starts with leadership, human change, and technical skills. Copilot for Microsoft 365 can help you develop these capabilities, by providing a clear path to deployment and optimisation.
To ensure a successful implementation of Copilot for Microsoft 365, organisations should nominate and empower Copilot project sponsors, in partnership with the Senior Leadership Team. Initial quick wins or high-value scenarios should be defined, and you should identify users who will see value quickly and ultimately form the basis of your success evangelists. Data security must be addressed as a priority and a clear plan put in place to secure data for compliance and peace of mind. Don’t forget: AI will highlight any gaps you have in your compliance boundary, so getting this right at the start is essential.
5 aspects to consider for a successful Copilot implementation
1) Strategy – State the business objectives and outcomes that you expect Copilot to enable and then communicate these to everyone involved in the project. Decide how these objectives align with the vision of the organisation.
2) Scenarios – Identify some key use cases and quick wins within your organisation. Map these quick wins to the strategic aims of the business.
3) Skills and Readiness – Assess the skill set of the people in your business. Identify any gaps and decide how to plug those gaps. Make sure you have a team capable of supporting and delivering the change.
4) Staffing – Make sure you have the techies or a partner relationship to support your Copilot implementation. Ensure the roadmap and strategy identifies any priorities. Identify the executive sponsors, adoption leaders, power users and IT professionals within the organisation who will support the project at each stage.
5) Support for the organisation – Initiate a centre of excellence to demonstrate excellence and maintain momentum.
Adoption Accelerator Engagement
The Copilot for Microsoft 365 Adoption Accelerator Engagement is designed to help partners work with clients across several phases of their Copilot project. During the Onboard & Engage phase, organisations can confirm scenarios, onboard with the Onboarding Wizard, and easily migrate data. Organisations can look at how best to operate from a single tenant, work with stakeholders to identify and secure data and set a scope to ensure early success for the program champions. Organisations can then use the learnings from phase 1 to plan a wider implementation and adoption strategy.
Once you have a successful pilot program in place, the next stage is to measure the impact this is having on the organisation. Telling real success stories and sharing feedback across the organisation will help drive more rapid growth.
Key questions to ask yourself:
- Are you technically ready to support extra services across the organisation?
- Have you identified and amplified your quick wins?
- Have you asked for feedback from the pilot users and acted on it?
- Have you addressed the security concerns and strengthened data governance?
How to get started
To get started with Copilot for Microsoft 365, organisations should agree a clear adoption plan across the organisation, identify key stakeholders, and look for strategies to keep the users engaged in the project.
AspiraCloud can support your organisation with the onboarding, engagement and user adoption process to help drive Microsoft Copilot success. Find out more about our Copilot Readiness or simply contact us to discuss more.