The ROI of AI - Microsoft 365 Copilot Benefits, Cost and Overall Business Value

Copilot is designed to make life easier, streamlining tasks to help people achieve more. But while it can undoubtedly act as a super-efficient assistant, the true value proposition of Microsoft Copilot extends far beyond mere efficiency, to its potential as a catalyst for overall business success. In this blog we’ll take an in-depth look at its value to businesses as a strategic asset, exploring use cases, return on investment (ROI) and total cost of ownership (TCO).

Dan Hall, Technologist for Data Centre & Cloud Practice 

Licensing: Microsoft 365 Copilot cost per user

However beneficial Copilot will be, you’ve got to speculate to accumulate, so inevitably Microsoft Copilot adoption  will represent a new cost for your business. 

Currently, the Microsoft 365 Copilot cost per user, for businesses using Microsoft 365, is £25 per month. (Of course, if you’re not already paying for Microsoft 365 licences, you’ll need to cover these too.) 

There are also some indirect costs to consider, such as the expenses incurred by providing Copilot training for your team , along with ongoing support and troubleshooting costs.

It’s worth remembering that you don’t have to invest in Copilot for everyone. Deciding how many users will benefit from the technology is a strategic business choice based on variables that will differ for every company. If you are concerned about the Copilot cost to your business and not yet convinced it will provide a return on investment, there’s no harm in starting small and only deploying it for a few select users at first. 

What you’ll get out: Microsoft 365 Copilot benefits and added value 

The business value of Copilot is likely to be significant, but it’s important to take full advantage of its potential after deployment, if you want to get the best return on investment. 

Because it’s designed to reduce the time users need to spend on routine and repetitive tasks, one of the biggest Microsoft Copilot benefits is increased productivity. Remember, at a cost of £25 per user, each person would only need to save around 30 minutes per month, depending on their salary, for your business to “profit.” (The real business value will of course depend on what is achieved with that extra time). 

Here’s what typical Microsoft Copilot time savings could look like:

• Drafting an email
  ○    Usual time taken: 5-10 minutes to draft and revise a professional email
  ○    Time taken with Copilot: 2 minutes with suggested responses and text generation
  ○    Time saving: 3-8 minutes per email
  
  
• Summarising a 30-60 minute meeting recording
  ○    Usual time taken: 30 minutes
  ○    Time taken with Copilot: 11 minutes
  ○    Time saving: 19 minutes
  
  
• Creating a report
  ○    Usual time taken: Several hours
  ○    Time taken with Copilot: Minutes (data can be collated and the report structure generated quickly)
  ○    Time saved: This will vary depending on the report complexity, but potentially several hours

As we’ve seen, the time savings add up quickly, translating into valuable additional human resources for your business. If you’re interested in learning more about the productivity boost that Copilot offers to your colleagues, you should download our free eBook: The Business Boost: Unleashing Copilot for Enhanced AI-Powered Productivity 

More than just time savings: how Copilot adds value through innovation

We’ve looked at some quantifiable metrics, but there are also wider Copilot benefits to consider, that are not so easy to translate into cold, hard figures. Importantly, simply slashing the time it takes to carry out routine tasks isn’t the only way that Copilot can add value to your business. 

One of the most valuable Microsoft Copilot benefits is its ability to support and encourage innovation. 

For example, Copilot's ability to generate ideas encourages users to think outside the box and explore alternative solutions they might not have considered otherwise. This "what if" exploration can lead to innovative solutions and unexpected discoveries.

Meanwhile, the time you are saving across the team can be put to better use, allowing people the time to think more creatively and opening up a space for experimentation. 

As well as resulting in new ideas that could put your business ahead of the competition, this climate of creativity is also likely to increase employee satisfaction, morale, and engagement, allowing you to attract and retain top talent. 

The total cost of ownership of Microsoft 365 Copilot for your business

Of course, it's difficult to provide a single, definitive TCO calculation as it depends on several variables that will vary from business to business. But here’s a rough guide to the factors you’ll need to consider, to help you get an idea of the total cost of ownership:

• Number of users
  
  
• Existing Microsoft 365 subscriptions
  
  
• Internal resources (the cost of adoption and change, training, managing, and supporting Copilot will vary based on your existing IT infrastructure and available resources)
  
  
• Expected benefits. While we’ve seen that Copilot should easily provide a good ROI, the full extent of the potential Microsoft Copilot benefits is harder to quantify. Potential savings are likely to come from increased productivity, improved quality, and reduced development costs, but also from “softer”, more long-term benefits such as employee retention. 
  
  

  Conclusion: The total cost of ownership of Microsoft 365 Copilot

  Deployed wisely, Copilot is a strategic investment with the potential to transform your business. And it’s one that will be vital if you are to adapt to evolving market demands and maintain a competitive edge in the long run. By unlocking the full potential of your teams and fostering a culture of innovation, Copilot can be a catalyst for success, adding crucial business value in today's dynamic and competitive landscape.
  
  Ready to implement Copilot within your organisation? Contact us for an envisioning call with our Microsoft team.