Microsoft says that  Copilot for Microsoft 365 delivers efficiency and productivity gains across the board. But is the cost worth it? How can you ensure you get the most from your Copilot investment?

Microsoft reports that 75% of users find files faster and 85% write quality drafts faster the first time. What value that time savings equates to will be different for every organization but what you can do is follow these four steps to make sure you achieve maximum ROI of Copilot for Microsoft 365.

1.  Set a Clear Use Case

Anytime you’re using AI for business growth or transformation, a defined use case is the starting point. Budgets and timeframes can stretch on and on when objectives aren’t clear. With Copilot for Microsoft 365, start by selecting individuals that share a common function or department and brainstorm the problems they’re all experiencing. Narrow that down to a short list and identify the scenarios Copilot for Microsoft 365 can solve.

Start small, then expand. Go after Copilot use cases that are highly valuable and require the least amount of effort. Set clear, measurable goals for how Copilot will enhance productivity or streamline workflows.

Find users who are ripe for extra help and rely on the tools within Microsoft 365 every day to do their jobs. Heavy communicators in sales, marketing, and customer service. Writing intensive activities like proposals and contracts. These are activities Copilot can make more efficient fast and get users excited about the potential.

2. Calculate ROI of Copilot for Microsoft 365

Now that you know the problem or goal you want Copilot to achieve, and the number of users involved, the next step is to calculate the ROI of Copilot for Microsoft 365 bases on the investment to prove that Copilot makes sense financially.

Budget owners are likely going to ask, “is Copilot worth the cost”? You’ll need to justify the additional spend and have a trackable metric to measure the investment against. Copilot for Microsoft 365 pricing is $30 per user per month billed annually. So, at $360 per year the cost can add up.

We have made it easy for you to find out the expected ROI, cost savings, and breakeven point with our Copilot for Microsoft 365 ROI calculator. All you have to do is input the number of users and their hourly wage. At the end of the day, the higher the hourly wage, the higher the ROI of Copilot for Microsoft 365.

If you want to do the math on your own, follow this formula:

3. Assess Organizational Readiness

To use Copilot, there are foundational technical and licensing requirements you need to meet including:

• Apps need to be up to date.
• Having a qualifying Microsoft 365 license: Microsoft 365 E3 and E5, Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Business Standard
• An Azure Active Directory account.
• Using Microsoft Edge. While you can still use other browsers like Chrome, Edge is better integrated with Microsoft.
• Make sure the network is aligned to Microsoft 365 network connectivity principals.

Microsoft has a self-guided assessment you can take here or you can work with a top Microsoft Partner like ProArch to help get ready for Copilot.

4. Prepare Permissions and Data

Data is a big part of organizational readiness. Do you know who has access to what within the organization? Sensitive data that was hard to find Copilot for Microsoft 365 can be easily surfaces with a prompt.

The permissions you have determine the boundaries of what Copilot users get access to so make sure your data security is in place using Microsoft Purview. Ensure that the Microsoft 365 (graph) data estate is properly secured and find gaps in data governance and remediate them before a broader Copilot deployment.

“Copilot sets a new baseline—one where every employee gains the skills to write, design, code, analyze data, and more,” Microsoft puts it. With a clear use case, alignment on ROI expectations, and permissions in place, you’re on your way to positive results from your Copilot for Microsoft 365 investment.

Need help? ProArch is a top Microsoft Partner. We can get your organization ready for Copilot with our Microsoft 365 Copilot Readiness Assessment. Reach out today.