Maximizing Copilot: How to Leverage AI for Business Growth

Manual research, emails, reports, meetings—small businesses often juggle it all with limited time and lean teams, requiring team members to wear multiple hats. That’s where Copilot for small business comes in. Built into tools you already use, Microsoft Copilot uses powerful AI to automate the daily grind and free up your focus for growth.

Here’s how to use it, where to find it, and why it’s fast becoming a must-have productivity tool for small teams.

What is Microsoft Copilot?

Copilot is Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant built into Word, Teams, Excel, Outlook, and other apps. It relies on OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Microsoft’s enterprise-level models to help write content, summarize data, answer questions, and automate repetitive tasks, all within your Microsoft 365 environment.

For a small business, that’s like adding a virtual assistant to every desk (without the overhead). Of course, there is an investment involved. So, how much is Copilot for businesses? It depends on the plan, but it starts at $30 per month on top of your M365 plan.

How to Use Copilot in Microsoft Teams

If Microsoft Teams is a big part of your workflow, Copilot can help by:

• Summarizing meetings and chats so everyone is on the same page
• Highlighting action items automatically during discussions
• Drafting follow-ups or meeting recaps instantly
• Surfacing relevant documents based on your chat context

This means you’ll spend less time scrolling through threads playing catch-up and more time taking action.

How to Use Copilot in Word

In Word, Copilot is your writing partner, the one that knows your tone and cuts straight to the point. In a small business setting, it can:

• Draft client proposals, reports, or blog posts from a simple prompt
• Rewrite or polish documents for tone, clarity, or grammar
• Summarize lengthy text into key points for quick review

You’ll need to be clear with your prompts to get output you can actually use, especially if you need something more technical or specific, but it’s far faster to tap out a prompt than do the whole project from scratch.

How to Use Copilot in IntelliJ IDEA

If your small business includes software development, GitHub Copilot integrates directly with IntelliJ IDEA. To use it, you’ll need to install the GitHub Copilot plugin from IntelliJ’s Plugin Marketplace and sign in with your GitHub account.

Once you’re in, you can start typing code or comments, and Copilot will suggest relevant snippets in real time. It accelerates coding, helps reduce bugs, and can even learn your team’s coding style over time.

Other Integrations that Matter

Copilot goes beyond Word and Teams. It pops up across Microsoft 365 tools, which can be a great help in automating all kinds of work:

• Excel: Analyze data, create formulas, generate pivot tables, identify trends—all it takes is a quick prompt.
• PowerPoint: Turn Word docs or Excel data into slides, tweak tone or design, and reformat your deck in seconds.
• Outlook: Summarize long email threads, draft replies in various tones, and pull in relevant files or context immediately.
• Planner: Create tasks, assign owners, and track progress without ever leaving your chat or document.

How to Get the Most From Copilot for Your Business

Anyone can use Copilot, but to use it well, keep these things in mind:

• Be specific with prompts: It can’t read your mind. If you want something specific, be specific. Instead of “summarize this,” say, “summarize this marketing proposal for a client presentation.”
• Review and revise: It’s fast but not flawless. Always review outputs for tone, accuracy, and context.
• Train your team: The more familiar your staff is with what Copilot can do, the more time they’ll save.
• Start small, scale fast: Use it for recurring tasks, like meeting notes or content drafts, and go from there, expanding it into more complex workflows.

Turn Everyday Tasks into Growth Opportunities

Copilot for small businesses gives your team leverage, whether you’re running a marketing agency, an e-commerce shop, or a dev-focused startup. It’s like hiring an assistant for every department without the cost or ramp-up time.

So, yes, Copilot does use GPT-4, but it’s more than smart tech. It’s a practical tool you can use right now to write faster, meet smarter, and build better. If you’re curious about how to use Copilot, start with the tools your team already knows, like Word, Teams, and IntelliJ, and branch out from there.

And if you need help with setup, guidance, or just general support, Safepoint IT is here to help. We help small businesses integrate AI tools like Copilot securely and strategically as part of a broader managed IT solution so your team can focus on growth, not troubleshooting. Contact us today to learn more.