4 Critical Steps for Rolling Out AI and Dynamics Copilot for Business

“It’s time,” you say.

You’ve heard about the groundbreaking advantages of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the increased efficiencies and productivity organizations are seeing from its integration: optimized operations, enhanced customer experiences, and greater employee empowerment.

Your company is already using Microsoft Dynamics 365, and you know the AI benefits of Copilot could be transformational with organization-wide implementation:

• Data-driven insights and improved decision-making
• Streamlined workflows and collaboration
• Reduced costs and increased ROI
• Personalized customer experiences
• Overall enhanced productivity and efficiency

“This is a no-brainer,” you’re thinking. “Let’s get this rolled out ASAP!”

Easy does it. Don’t let your excitement get in the way of a well-thought-out AI strategy and implementation.

Dynamics 365 Copilot is a powerful tool, as you’ve learned. But proper preparation is critical to avoiding potential pitfalls, such as security concerns, data quality issues, and resistance to change among employees, to name just a few.

This article outlines four essential steps to ensure your company is ready for AI and can maximize its benefits and your investment in this robust tool.

Four Critical Steps to AI Readiness

1.       Prepare Your Data

Preparing your data should be the first step to successfully implementing Copilot for Business (and AI in general). Dynamics Copilot's ability to deliver accurate and efficient results depends on clean, structured, and accessible data.

Siloed, incomplete, and inconsistent data are some of the common challenges you’ll want to resolve before moving on to step #2, moving your data to the cloud.

2.     Move to the Cloud

Now that you’ve adequately prepared your data, centralizing it in the cloud will ensure that everything Copilot needs to access is in a single, accessible location. Missing or inaccurate data can compromise the accuracy of AI results, so proper cloud storage setup ensures that the most current information is accessible in real-time. Without this critical step, there’s no assurance that Copilot is using the correct and most up-to-date information.

Another benefit of moving to the cloud prior to AI implementation is the scalable infrastructure for handling Dynamics Copilot’s increasing data demands, not to mention the robust cloud security protocols that will protect the sensitive information Copilot offers for analysis and insights. 

Once your data is organized in the cloud, you can rest assured that the information Copilot uses is current and reliable, paving the way for accessibility and scalability.

3.     Security and Compliance - Non-negotiables

The potential for security breaches is no joke. When sensitive data winds up in the wrong hands, privacy violations, scams, identity theft, and discrimination are valid concerns.

Addressing security when implementing AI is imperative.

The training and operation of an AI system will rely heavily on user data. If that data is exposed via a security breach, the consequences can be devastating, leading to a loss of trust and damage to the company’s reputation.

And then there’s compliance. Failing to comply with relevant data privacy regulations can lead to legal issues and undermine your ability to operate responsibly and ethically in your new AI landscape.

There is no universal AI handbook, but consulting with a trusted partner like TrellisPoint for expertise and direction can go a long way in ensuring security and compliance.

4.     Pre-Implementation Training

Any new company-wide initiative will be more successful when combined with proper employee training, and AI implementation is no different.

Without pre-implementation training, your teams may not fully grasp the breadth of what they can achieve through adoption.

Employees who are confident in using AI tools and invested in their benefits will maximize the company’s investment in the technology through increased confidence in its capabilities, using it creatively and ethically, while promoting trust and mitigating potential risks.

Pitfalls of Premature Dynamics Copilot Integration

If you’re not yet convinced about the importance of a well-planned AI implementation strategy, here’s a sampling of the challenges that may surface without one.

Not being in the cloud - Without migrating your data to the cloud, you’ll be severely limited by on-premise software. From integration obstacles and accessibility constraints to licensing requirement issues, NOT being in the cloud before integrating Copilots for business will limit their benefits and your company’s scalability.

Data issues - Incomplete and inconsistent data may cause AI tools to generate inaccurate or misleading suggestions, resulting in compromised decision-making and workflows. Siloed data can limit functionality, and biases in data can translate to inaccurate outputs.

Security, privacy, and non-compliance - Rushing Copilot implementation can raise security risks that can lead to data breaches and the leak of sensitive information, as well as possible reputational damage, fines, and even legal issues. Non-compliance with data privacy regulations can result in penalties and restrictions.

In addition to the above pitfalls, other considerations should include the potential of employee frustration and resistance due to initial unreliable results, missed opportunities from delaying AI readiness, and wasted resources due to resolving all of the above.

AI-Readiness Benefits

MIT’s Sloan Review reports that three-quarters of executives believe AI will enable their companies to move into new businesses, and nearly 85% believe AI will allow their companies to obtain or sustain a competitive advantage.

While Microsoft Copilot, and AI in general, hold immense potential, creating a comprehensive pre-integration strategy and navigating the implementation can feel insurmountable.

TrellisPoint can help you work through your company’s unique challenges and unlock the full potential of these technologies.

Our experts can guide you through the pre-implementation process, ensure your data is solid, implement privacy and security measures, ensure you have the right Copilot licenses, and ensure the implementation goes smoothly.

We’d love to help you leverage the power of Dynamics Copilots to transform your business for the competitive edge the majority of executives anticipate.

TrellisPoint is a seasoned and trusted partner to companies in your situation.

Whether you’re new to Dynamics 365 or looking for ways to optimize your use of the platform, we have 20+ years of experience transforming and personalizing departments like Sales, Customer Service, Marketing, and more, with cutting-edge decision-making analytics.

Reach out for a free consultation!