If you had an AI-agent that knew everything about your project, what would it know? A successful implementation of AI in your organization starts with this question. It is about more than just technology – it’s about process and knowledge.
“If you had an AI-agent that knew everything about your project, what would it know? Start with this question before building your agents.”
AI can only act as your assistant and give you a shortcut to knowledge and insight – if it knows about your project.
With Microsoft copilot agents you can build your own agents that unuquely suit your needs. However, to achieve success, you need to asses what it needs to know.
Copilot agents are specialized AI assistants designed to work with Microsoft 365 offerings. It can support you by offering suggestions when writing emails, automating repetitive tasks like data entry and scheduling, and provide insights to make more informed decisions such as providing .
Explore more of the Microsoft Copilot Agents capabilities here.
A lot of companies make the mistake of looking at AI implementation as a purely technogical process. But gaining value from Microsoft Copilot is about more than making the technology available. It should fit the organization and this process begins with asking the right questions.
This means identifying who has the relevant knowledge and then interviewing the experienced professionals to understand their work situation. You should understand the tools, processes, and rhythm: what do they do, how do they do it, and how often?
“The people who know the answers to these questions are your domain experts – not your IT or AI team. That’s where you should start.”
This knowledge allows you to design a virtual agent that can fit into this, provide value, and understand the right things.
“As an adviser, and trainer, on Copilot and Agentic AI, I have learned that defining, before designing, is crucial for agent development success.”
Here are the five question, I always ask during implementation.
What type of information is relevant for the AI assistant to provide value? This could be
Mapping out the information requires insight into knowledge sources. Where is the information the AI needs located? How will it access the information?
This could be via
Understanding when and how you’ll use your AI assistant helps shape its integration with key systems and the knowledge it needs to be effective.
Will it assist during specific times of the day, such as daily stand-ups or end-of-day reporting?
Is it most valuable during certain project phases, like planning, execution, or review?
Or is its role tied to critical milestones, such as quarterly reviews, stakeholder presentations, or compliance deadlines?
Defining these contexts ensures your AI assistant delivers the relevant insights exactly when they’re needed.
Different roles benefit from AI in different ways.
Almost every role in the organization can benefit from AI by getting faster insights, reducing manual efforts, and improving data-driven decision making. By asking these questions, you ensure that you deliver the right information, to the right people, at the right time.
Defining where the AI assistant should be available will help guide you in your technological investments.
In the future, people will work alongside AI.
Whether embedded in Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot Chat, or custom business applications, these AI-powered assistants ensure that the right information reaches the right people at the right time. As AI technology evolves, the potential for custom agents will only expand, unlocking new levels of efficiency and innovation.
