Alice Chambers |
Karuana Gatimu, director of customer advocacy for AI and collaboration at Microsoft, demonstrated how organisations can successfully integrate Microsoft Copilot into their workflows in her ‘Copilot Implementation Essentials’ session at the Microsoft AI Tour in London.
Gatimu opened the session by discussing the shift towards an “agentic world,” where AI-powered tools are streamlining business processes and reducing repetitive tasks. However, she emphasised that “humans are always in charge” and must guide AI’s implementation thoughtfully.
She noted that many of the best practices being discussed have always been relevant, but now organisations are realising the urgent need to upskill employees in AI.
“Think about how you’re skilling leaders in your organisation – how do they learn and understand these new capabilities?” she asked, stressing the importance of technology professionals engaging in ongoing dialogue with their teams.
Gatimu then outlined Microsoft’s four pillars for success: get ready by preparing the organisation and ensure technical readiness; onboard and engage by introducing the technology to users and foster adoption; deliver impact by measuring success and drive business value; and extend and optimise by refining processes and scale AI adoption over time.
She explained that “user enablement and technical readiness have to run hand in hand” for the most successful AI rollouts. A structured milestone timeline is crucial, and she shared a framework for implementing Copilot over a 12-week period.
Strategic implementation was a key part of that timeline. Gatimu advised organisations to start by identifying a group of employees who share “common actions” and to focus on transforming one business process at a time.
“Bring these people together so you are transforming one business process at a time,” she said, emphasising the need to prioritise certain lines of business first.
She also encouraged companies to “find those who are enthusiastic about driving AI” within their organisations, as these individuals can help champion adoption.
“It’s not a technology thing,” she said. “It’s a human thing. Communication is essential for successful implementation.”
Gatimu then reassured attendees that AI adoption does not have to be overwhelming.
“At the beginning of your journey, it’s just important that you understand how the system works,” she said. “Then the more detailed work comes with producing agents at scale.”
Dan Stevenson, partner director of product management for the Copilot ecosystem at Microsoft, then took the stage to discuss how AI agents extend core AI capabilities to an organisation’s unique data, apps and services.
His “recipe for success” for Copilot implementation includes choosing scenarios where AI will deliver the most value, starting small, refining technology based on employee feedback and scaling gradually as adoption increases and insights are gained.
He also highlighted several real-world examples of successful Copilot implementations, such as Insitut Curie working with Microsoft partner Witivio to use AI for healthcare research, and Unilever using Copilot to create marketing material for its brand Knorr.
The session concluded by reinforcing that AI adoption is not just about technology – it’s about people, processes and communication. By following a structured approach, organisations can successfully implement Copilot to enhance productivity, drive business value, and empower employees to work more efficiently.