Microsoft Copilot is increasingly appearing in Microsoft 365. In Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint, AI seems to be suddenly everywhere. However, we notice that many SMEs still have a lot of questions. What can Copilot do today? What is the difference between Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot? And when is an extra license really worth it?
In this article, we clearly explain what options are available today, where the differences lie, and how you as an organization can smartly determine which Copilot approach fits your operations.
What exactly is Microsoft Copilot?
Most people now know that Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant that helps you create, analyze, and summarize information. What is often overlooked is that this is possible in different ways. Depending on your license and configuration, there are three methods:
Based on public web information.
Based on the content or document you are currently working on.
Based on your complete Microsoft 365 environment, such as emails, files, meetings, and chats, within existing access rights.
Additionally, the options also depend on whether you choose Copilot Chat versus Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Copilot Chat: accessible AI assistance
Copilot Chat is ideal for introducing AI in an accessible way in your organization. Within your Microsoft apps, you can use the sidebar where Copilot can contextually read along with what is on your screen, without additional licensing. For example, you can efficiently summarize certain emails in Outlook or structure notes in OneNote.Copilot Chat will be available from July 1, 2026, for all Microsoft users with a business or enterprise license.
This version is primarily aimed at users who mainly want to create or rewrite content with limited input, as classic LLMs do. When you need contextual analyses and connections across different applications and documents, Copilot Chat is less suitable.
Microsoft 365 Copilot as the next level
When AI can think along with your entire work environment, a Microsoft 365 Copilot license is a logical choice. Copilot can then not only work with what is on your screen but also reason about: emails and calendars, Teams meetings, and documents in SharePoint or OneDrive. It also always takes existing access rights into account.
Copilot is not magic, but an accelerator
Copilot works best in environments where the data is logically structured and the rights are correctly set. Without that foundation, Copilot can sometimes just increase the chaos. Therefore, we assist customers not only with the license but also with:
preparation of the Microsoft 365 environment
clear use cases per role
step-by-step adoption by users
Conclusion
Copilot Chat is already a valuable assistant within Microsoft 365 applications today and can be an excellent start for many SMEs. Microsoft 365 Copilot goes further and becomes truly interesting when you want AI to think along about your entire work environment.
Choosing the right level is not an all-or-nothing story, but a strategic decision for each organization.
Are you considering Microsoft 365 Copilot for your organization? Then this is an interesting time to explore the possibilities.
Tricore is happy to help you determine whether Microsoft 365 Copilot is the right step for your organization today, which users will benefit the most, and how to roll this out safely and manageably.
Schedule an exploratory conversation