TrellisPoint Blog | Dynamics 365 and Power Platform

AI Adoption Isn't a Choice Anymore - It’s a Competitive Advantage

Written by Mike Spence | Oct 25, 2024 7:44:31 PM

Companies that have embraced AI are pulling ahead — faster workflows, better decisions, lower costs, and stronger customer experiences. Companies that haven't are watching the gap widen. AI adoption used to be a strategic experiment. Today it's a baseline requirement, and Microsoft Copilot is where most of TrellisPoint's clients are starting. Here's what you need to know.

Why AI Adoption Isn't Optional

AI tools like Microsoft Copilot are changing how businesses operate in concrete, measurable ways. According to Forrester, businesses leveraging Copilot have seen a 6% increase in net revenue, a 20% reduction in operating costs, and a 25% acceleration in new-hire onboarding. Another 24% of businesses reported a 16% to 20% reduction in time to market for new products.

Those aren't rounding errors. They're structural advantages that compound over time. Companies leading their industries today are the ones that moved early — using AI to improve decision-making, sharpen customer experiences, and eliminate the manual overhead that slows everyone else down.

There's also a talent dimension that often gets overlooked. Employees want to work for forward-thinking organizations. Companies that delay AI adoption don't just fall behind operationally — they become harder to recruit for as competitors modernize their environments.

The bottom line: AI isn't a pilot program anymore. At TrellisPoint, we work with Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Copilot to help businesses turn AI into a real competitive advantage — not just a talking point.

Building the Right Foundation First

AI isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, and it doesn't fix broken processes — it amplifies them. Successful Copilot integration starts with automating and cleaning up existing workflows before layering AI on top. If your data is siloed, your processes are inconsistent, or your team hasn't adopted the tools you already have, AI will surface those problems faster than it solves them.

TrellisPoint starts every AI engagement with an assessment of your data infrastructure, technology stack, and employee readiness. From there we build a roadmap that prioritizes high-impact automation opportunities first — the time-consuming, repetitive work that doesn't require creativity — so your team can immediately see results and build confidence before tackling more complex use cases.

Change management is a core part of what we do. Employees who understand how AI supports their roles — rather than threatening them — adopt faster and get more out of the tools. We build that alignment from day one.

Copilot Makes Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Better

TrellisPoint's approach to Copilot focuses on enhancing the tools your organization already uses. Copilot adds an intelligence layer directly inside Dynamics 365 and Power Platform — making processes smarter without requiring a rip-and-replace of your existing tech stack.

Inside Dynamics 365, Copilot helps sales and service teams understand customer behaviors faster, surfaces relevant data during interactions, and automates follow-up communications that would otherwise fall through the cracks. Inside Power Platform, it can automate complex workflows, accelerate app development, and improve business intelligence across your organization.

Copilot Studio extends this further by letting businesses build custom Copilots that respond proactively to specific data, events, and business processes — making it a versatile tool across industries and use cases, from predicting equipment maintenance needs in manufacturing to surfacing personalized product recommendations in retail.

The value of integration: Copilot's impact multiplies when it's connected to clean, well-structured data in Dynamics 365. That's why foundation work matters — the better your data, the more useful Copilot becomes.

Using AI to Improve Customer Experiences

Customer experience is where AI creates its most visible competitive advantage. Copilot gives customer service and sales teams real-time, data-driven context at every touchpoint — surfacing what a customer needs before they have to ask, and giving teams the information to respond quickly and accurately.

AI also improves alignment across departments. Sales, marketing, and support all working from the same AI-generated insights means less friction in handoffs, more cohesive outreach, and a customer experience that feels connected rather than disjointed. That kind of organizational alignment is difficult to achieve manually and nearly automatic with the right tools in place.

Leaders also benefit directly. Copilot reduces the burden of manual data analysis and delivers real-time insights that support faster, better-informed decisions — a meaningful edge in any industry where timing matters.

Practical Steps to Start Your AI Journey

Getting started with AI doesn't require overhauling everything at once. TrellisPoint recommends a phased approach:

1. Assess your readiness. Understand your current data infrastructure, technology stack, and where your team actually stands on adoption. This is where gaps and quick wins both surface. TrellisPoint's strategic growth consulting starts here.

2. Identify high-impact automation targets. Start with repetitive, time-consuming tasks that don't require creative judgment. These deliver fast ROI and build organizational buy-in for broader AI adoption.

3. Select the right tools. Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Copilot are designed to work together. TrellisPoint helps you evaluate what fits your needs and guides implementation without unnecessary complexity.

4. Build for adoption, not just deployment. A tool no one uses delivers zero value. Training, change management, and ongoing support are what turn a successful go-live into a lasting capability.

Worth remembering: AI adoption is a journey, not a project. The organizations getting the most from Copilot are the ones treating it as a capability to grow over time — not a one-time implementation to check off.

The Copilot Ascend Workshop

If you want to cut through the noise and get a practical, tailored plan for AI adoption, TrellisPoint's Copilot Ascend Workshop is the place to start. In two hours, our experts work directly with your team to:

  • Map out high-impact use cases specific to your business
  • Identify the automation opportunities with the fastest time to value
  • Develop a practical roadmap for Copilot integration across your operations
  • Explore Copilot Studio capabilities and what custom Copilots could do for your workflows

You leave with a clear picture of where AI fits in your business, what it will take to get there, and where TrellisPoint can support the process. No generic demos — every session is built around your specific challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions About Copilot Integration

What is Copilot, and how can it help my business?

Copilot is Microsoft's AI-powered assistant that integrates directly with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform. It automates repetitive tasks, generates data-driven insights, and supports decision-making — allowing your team to spend more time on strategic work and less on manual processes.

Why is AI adoption important for businesses today?

Companies leveraging AI are seeing measurable advantages in revenue, cost reduction, and speed to market. Beyond the numbers, AI is becoming a talent and customer experience differentiator. Businesses that delay adoption risk falling behind on all three fronts simultaneously.

How does the Copilot Ascend Workshop work?

It's a 2-hour session with TrellisPoint experts focused entirely on your business. We help you identify high-impact AI use cases, assess your readiness, and build a concrete roadmap for integrating Copilot. You leave with a practical plan, not just a demo.

How can AI improve my company's productivity?

By automating routine, time-consuming tasks, AI frees your team to focus on higher-value work. Copilot also improves collaboration by giving all departments access to the same real-time insights — reducing the back-and-forth that slows decisions down.

Do we need to replace our current systems to use Copilot?

No. Copilot is designed to enhance the Microsoft tools you already use — particularly Dynamics 365 and Power Platform. TrellisPoint's approach builds on your existing tech investment rather than replacing it, which means faster implementation and lower disruption.

What if our data or processes aren't ready for AI?

That's exactly why the foundation phase matters. TrellisPoint helps organizations clean up and automate their existing processes before adding AI on top. Poor data and broken workflows won't stop you from adopting AI — but they will limit what AI can do. Getting the foundation right first is always worth the investment.

Ready to Start Your AI Journey?

Join the Copilot Ascend Workshop and walk away with a practical roadmap for AI integration tailored to your business — in just two hours.

Contact TrellisPoint