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Client implementation is just the beginning of the Copilot journey. Extensibility unlocks specialized Copilot capabilities so you can maximize your Copilot investment.
Author: Courtney Johnson
Employee Experience Partner @ Cyclotron
Congratulations on your successful implementation of Copilot for Microsoft 365! Your organization is now poised to leverage the power of AI to enhance productivity and streamline workflows. But what comes next? The journey doesn’t end with implementation; it’s just the beginning. To truly maximize your investment, it’s time to explore the extensibility options that Copilot offers.
Understanding Extensibility
Extensibility in the context of Copilot for Microsoft 365 means augmenting the capabilities of Copilot by integrating it with other services, applications, and data sources. This allows Copilot to not only assist with general tasks but also to perform specialized functions tailored to your organization’s unique needs.
A Few Extensibility Options
Teams Message Extension Plugins: You can create custom message extensions to enhance chat experiences, such as retrieving data from external sources or integrating with other services.
Graph Connectors: Employ connectors to integrate your enterprise data into the Copilot experience seamlessly. This enables Copilot to draw from a wider pool of organizational knowledge, making it even more powerful.
Power Platform Connector Plugins: These plugins allow you to leverage your existing investment in Power Platform and is ideal for no-code or low-code developers. Power Platform connectors expose external data not only to Copilot but also to Power Platform itself.
Developing for Extensibility
When considering extensibility, it’s essential to evaluate your organization’s needs. Are you looking to connect structured or unstructured data? Is your data volume high, and do you require real-time updates? These considerations will guide you in choosing between Graph connectors and message extension plugins.
Practical Examples
Issue Tracking: Enhance project management by building a tool that allows users to monitor open tickets directly through Copilot.
Custom Inventory Lookup: Connect Copilot to your product database to streamline inventory checks and updates.
Customer Insights Integration: Create a connector that retrieves customer profiles, purchase history, and support tickets.
Knowledge Base Enrichment: Connect to your organization’s SharePoint sites or OneDrive folders.
Custom Commands with Open AI Plugins: Define specific phrases or keywords that trigger Copilot to perform certain actions. These custom commands can be tailored to your organization’s unique needs.
Next Steps
Extending Copilot for Microsoft 365 is not just about adding more features; it's about creating a more cohesive, efficient, and intelligent workspace. Exploring relevant extensibility options amplifies the impacts of Copilot for your organization.
With a clear understanding of the extensibility options and practical examples, it's time to take the next step. Cyclotron can help you select and integrate the right tools and resources so your organization can unlock the full potential of Copilot, driving innovation and maintaining a competitive edge.