Is Microsoft 365 Copilot Worth It? The Real-World Verdict and What Business Owners Need to Know
When Microsoft announced Copilot for Microsoft 365, the tech world was abuzz with excitement. The promise of an AI assistant seamlessly integrated into the apps we use every day – Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams – was nothing short of revolutionary. The original expectation was a true digital partner, capable of effortlessly handling mundane tasks, summarizing complex documents and generating content with a few simple prompts. The vision was a significant boost in productivity that would justify the price tag, which is about $1 per day per user.
Now that Copilot is in the hands of users, real-world feedback has emerged, and it paints a more nuanced picture. While there is no doubt about the potential of Copilot, many users and businesses are finding that the current reality does not necessarily live up to the initial hype. So, is the investment in Copilot worth it right now?
What Users Are Saying: A Mix of Promise and Practicality
The feedback from those who have adopted Microsoft 365 Copilot is a mixed bag. On one hand, there are undeniable success stories, but on the other, there are clear signs that the product is still a work in progress.
The “Wow” Moments:
Users consistently praise Copilot’s ability to summarize long Teams meetings and email threads. This feature has been a game-changer for many, particularly managers and executives who spend significant time in meetings or sifting through a large volume of correspondence. The ability to quickly get a recap, identify action items and even draft a follow-up email is a genuine and valuable time-saver. Some users also report great success with using Copilot to draft code or write scripts, which significantly accelerates their work.
The Reality Check:
Despite the successes, many users report that Copilot’s performance can be inconsistent. The tool’s effectiveness is often dependent on the quality of the prompt, and it can sometimes “hallucinate” or provide inaccurate information. For example, it might miss a key detail when summarizing a meeting or a document, requiring a human to manually review and edit the output. In applications like PowerPoint, the content and formatting often require significant manual adjustments. For many, the time spent editing Copilot’s output is not much less than the time it would have taken to create the content from scratch. This leads to a sense that the tool is more of a “suggestion engine” than a true co-pilot.
The high cost of the subscription also raises concerns, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. Many feel that for the current level of functionality, the price is not justified. The consensus seems to be that while the potential is there, the current version may not be delivering enough consistent value to warrant the significant monthly expense for every user in an organization. Some of the most valuable features, like meeting summarization, are often only useful for a small percentage of a company’s workforce.
Why the Gap Between Expectation and Reality?
A significant reason for the mixed feedback is that Microsoft 365 Copilot is still in its early stages. Like any new technology, it requires time to mature and learn from user interactions. The original expectations may have been based on the abstract power of AI, without accounting for the complexities of integrating it into a real-world, dynamic work environment.
Furthermore, the effectiveness of Copilot is highly dependent on how a business has prepared its data. For Copilot to be truly effective, a company’s data within its Microsoft 365 environment needs to be organized, clean and properly secured. If a company has a chaotic file system or poor access controls, Copilot may not be able to find and use the necessary information, or it could potentially access data that it should not.
A Strategic Recommendation from Fairdinkum
Microsoft’s push for Copilot is a strong signal that AI-infused productivity is the future. However, based on current user feedback, the technology may not be fully “baked” yet. For most businesses, especially SMBs, the investment of about $30 per user per month is substantial, and the return on investment for all but the most data-intensive roles is still unproven.
Instead of rushing to be an early adopter, we at Fairdinkum recommend a more strategic and cautious approach. The wise move is to hold off on a large-scale deployment and wait to see what the next version of Copilot will look like. Microsoft is continuously updating the service, and as more users provide feedback, the accuracy and functionality of Copilot will undoubtedly improve. The price may also be adjusted as the market evolves.
In the meantime, businesses can focus on preparing their digital environment. This includes cleaning up file systems, auditing data access, and ensuring all software is properly updated. By getting your digital house in order, you will be well-positioned to take full advantage of AI tools like Copilot when they mature and offer a more consistent, verifiable value proposition.