While Power Apps is used to create intuitive mobile apps, Power Automate automates processes, Power BI analyses data and Power Pages specializes in the creation of websites and web portals, Copilot Studio is aimed at the creation of chatbots.
What is Microsoft Copilot Studio?
Microsoft Copilot Studio is a tool that enables companies to design AI-powered chatbots and integrate them into their work processes. Copilot Studio was developed as an extension to Microsoft Copilot, the AI to support users, which has been available in most Microsoft services since the end of 2023. With Copilot Studio, you can create your own chatbots that go beyond the applications of the standard Microsoft Copilot.
Would you like to find out more about Copilot Studio in the Power Platform and how you can use it for your company?
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Background and development
All solutions that are part of the Microsoft Power Platform were developed by Microsoft with one goal in mind: To enable companies to drive forward their digital transformation at a low threshold and optimize collaboration between their employees. This is also where Microsoft Copilot Studio comes in. It uses technologies such as generative AI, machine learning and natural language processing and is seamlessly integrated into the existing Microsoft 365 ecosystem. The solution helps to make workflows more efficient and improve collaboration.
Copilot Studio templates
With Microsoft Copilot Studio, chatbots can be easily created and integrated into websites, internal portals or Microsoft applications. The standard templates available in Copilot Studio include the following chatbots:
- Q&A for websites: This chatbot answers questions from website visitors based on the website content and other knowledge bases.
- IT helpdesk: The chatbot supports employees in solving IT problems and quickly creating support tickets.
- Financial Insights: This chatbot helps employees to quickly and accurately retrieve information from the company’s financial documents and other sources of information if necessary.
- Teams Navigator: The chatbot supports employees in their search for colleagues and their position in the company structure.
Create chatbots yourself
In addition to the templates, chatbots can be freely created in Copilot Studio. In the first step, various databases can be connected as a knowledge base, such as SharePoint pages, OneDrive folders, specific documents, public websites, the Dataverse, Azure DevOps, Confluence, Jira, SAP, Salesforce or Oracle. Other basic settings of the chatbot include the name, an icon or avatar, a description of what the chatbot should help with, as well as a description of the target group and the end goal to be achieved by using the chatbot.
Furthermore, the behavior of the chatbot can be defined, its tasks can be stored and the way in which it has to complete them. For example, the chatbot’s tone of voice and the detail of its answers, whether it provides sources and how it should react if it does not know. Once the chatbot has been completed, it can either be shared via a URL or integrated into an existing system.
Advantages for companies
The advantages of Microsoft Copilot Studio are obvious:
Information research is accelerated, which can contribute to internal efficiency and – depending on the application – also to customer satisfaction.
Automating simple routine queries, for example in customer support, can increase employee satisfaction as the chatbot relieves them of time-consuming but less demanding tasks.
Technological basics
Copilot Studio is based on a low-code/no-code environment that enables people without in-depth technical knowledge to create powerful applications and automations. The core functionality of Copilot Studio is driven by the use of advanced generative AI models such as OpenAI GPT4o-mini or GPT3.5. It is able to process the information provided to it and reproduce it in the right context – and it does so securely within the Azure Cloud. The highlight: Copilot Studio is able to communicate seamlessly with other Microsoft products as well as external platforms and services in order to find the relevant information.
Examples and applications of Copilot Studio
The use cases for Microsoft Copilot Studio are almost endless. As soon as information is searched for, a chatbot created with Copilot Studio can speed up the search and trigger follow-up activities. The following application scenarios are particularly suitable:
Customer support
A chatbot can answer customer queries around the clock, clarify frequently asked questions and help with problems. This improves customer satisfaction and relieves the support team.
E-Commerce
A chatbot can help customers search for products, make recommendations based on preferences and simplify the purchasing process. It can also provide order status and delivery information.
Education
In educational institutions, chatbots can act as virtual tutors, provide learning materials and answer students’ questions. They can also help with the administration of courses and appointments.
Healthcare
A chatbot can help patients make appointments, provide medical information and assess symptoms in advance. It can also send reminders to take medication.
Travel industry
Travelers can use chatbots to book flights and hotels, plan itineraries and receive information on destinations. They also offer support in the event of delays and cancellations.
Financial services
Chatbots can help customers manage their accounts, carry out transactions and provide financial advice. They can also support security alerts and fraud detection.
Human resources
In HR, chatbots can answer applicants’ questions, automate the application process and support employees with internal inquiries.
Event management
Chatbots can help with the planning and organization of events, manage registrations and provide information about events. They can also collect feedback after the event.
Real estate
Real estate companies can provide a chatbot that gives potential buyers and tenants information about properties, arranges viewing appointments and answers questions. It can also provide market analyses and price valuations.
Entertainment
In the entertainment industry, chatbots can inform fans about news and events, sell tickets and offer interactive experiences. They can also make personalized recommendations for films, music and games.
Future outlook
With the rapid development of AI technology, Microsoft is expected to further expand the functionalities of Copilot Studio. Possible enhancements could include even greater customization, more seamless integration with other applications and an expansion of automation options. It is therefore worthwhile for companies to rely on this promising technology!
