Now that many government agencies are coming to the end of their six-month trial of Microsoft Copilot, there is one key milestone I’m recommending – it’s getting 100% of government users AI-enabled.

Yes, it’s a big call, but it’s an important one.

Why?

Because although this is the end of the trial, it should be the start of something bigger. A springboard to broader AI adoption within government, in our age of AI reinvention. A chance for government employees to develop their abilities and take hold of the opportunities that are available. A chance for the workforce to improve productivity and a stimulus for government to retain talent.

But before diving in, let's explore the specifics. What exactly is Microsoft 365 Copilot, and how can it benefit users?

Adopting M365 Copilot
M365 Copilot is a generative AI tool that is embedded across Microsoft 365 apps, in a private and secure environment. Now, it might seem like equipping every government employee with AI tools might be ambitious. However, starting with a user-friendly tool like M365 Copilot allows agencies to introduce employees to the power of AI in a safe, responsible, practical and accessible way. After all, we are all familiar with Microsoft apps and understand how we can work across them.

Consider a typical government workflow: reviewing policy and regulatory documents, attending meetings, drafting documents, responding to countless emails, complex reports, and repetitive tasks. AI assistants like M365 Copilot can automate these processes, freeing up valuable employee time for more strategic endeavours. Imagine summarising what you missed in a meeting, summarising lengthy emails or chains, or generating content drafts based on specific parameters. M365 Copilot can handle these tasks, and in many cases improve the quality of outputs, allowing employees to focus on higher value work such as analysis, decision-making, and community engagement. And once employees start this process, they’re more likely to adopt a mindset of continuous learning and evolution to unlock the full potential of AI.

To take workers on this journey, some organisations are offering foundational AI learning and development modules, including prompt training for employees. This is necessary, and great as a starting point. To extend this work, users can equip themselves with out-of-the-box features for specific applications, and string together multiple tasks into a flow that may take minutes instead of hours. Furthermore, M365 Copilot can be extended to a multitude of other productivity, corporate and business applications to extend the AI benefits across more types of work, business functions, and processes. In time, we will create new daily habits with GenAI tools that create greater value. And that time is coming quickly.

Mastering the mundane
As mentioned, many government trials of M365 CoPilot are coming to the end of their intended period. The results have been good.

In surveys during the trial, we found that:

More than 70% of Copilot users said they were more productive, saved time on mundane tasks or could complete tasks faster.
Around 65% reported they saved at least 30 mins per day.
Around 68% of Copilot users said it improved the quality of their work.
Around 57% said it made them more creative. This could be in generating ideas, jump-starting the creative process, or improving the quality of outputs.

These percentages also translate to other value levers including reducing risk, improving customer experience (and the employee experience), and upping employee satisfaction and wellbeing - improving the likelihood of talent retention.

While a significant portion of the employees who took part in the trial have been able to integrate M365 Copilot into their work processes, in many instances leadership is still looking for more time to assess and determine a clear path forward to build on this initial phase. This uncertainty stems from wanting more time to:

Prove readiness and incremental increases in user confidence
monitor the evolution of WofG AI, Privacy, FOI, security, legal and records management policies and practices,
Stabilise the underpinning M365 platform across the agency’s environment.

To ensure M365 Copilot delivers value beyond the trial period, government agencies should take a proactive approach to M365 adoption, whilst navigating these guardrails. This includes conducting value case assessments to quantify the efficiency gains and improved outcomes, building a holistic case for scale up, identifying the use cases, and offering a structured onboarding and training program for employees to leverage M365 Copilot's full potential.

Get onboard
It is clear – AI isn't going to completely replace human expertise. Instead, it can augment human capabilities, freeing workers from routine tasks so they can focus on what they do best: strategic thinking, problem-solving, and community interaction.

But choosing to embrace AI through M365 Copilot isn't just about efficiency gains – it's about staying ahead of the curve. In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, those agencies who lag behind risk falling victim to declining productivity and the potential loss of talent who are seeking a more innovative work environment, with tools which amplify their impact. By investing in AI now, government agencies can empower their workforce and pave the way for a more efficient and intelligent public sector future.

Find out more about Avanade’s Government and Public Services solutions.

Jump aboard: The power of AI in the public sector workforce