Enable and Use Microsoft Copilot in Business Central: A Beginner’s Guide
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has revolutionised how small and medium-sized businesses manage their operations. With the introduction of Copilot, Microsoft’s advanced AI assistant, companies can enhance productivity and accuracy significantly.
This guide will provide steps on enabling and using Copilot within Dynamics 365 Business Central, allowing businesses to maximise efficiency and decision-making.
What is Microsoft Copilot?
Copilot is an AI-driven assistant integrated into Dynamics 365 Business Central, leveraging natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to automate routine tasks, offer intelligent suggestions, and improve overall accuracy.
Why Use Copilot in Business Central?
- Boost Productivity: Automate mundane tasks, reducing manual data entry.
- Increase Accuracy: Minimise errors through AI-driven recommendations.
- Enhanced Insights: Access intelligent analysis for improved decision-making.
- User-Friendly: Simplify interactions with intuitive, natural language commands.
Related Article: How AI Will Change ERP
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How to Activate Copilot in Dynamics 365 Business Central
Before activating Copilot, ensure you have administrator-level access or appropriate permissions.
Step 1: Open Copilot & Agent Capabilities
- Log in to Dynamics 365 Business Central.
- Use the shortcut Alt + Q and type “Copilot & agent capabilities”
- Select from the search results to open the settings.
Step 2: Enable Data Movement
- Locate “Allow data movement across geographies”.
- Toggle this setting On to enable cross-region data processing, enhancing feature responsiveness.
Step 3: Activate Key Copilot Features
Activate the most relevant features first:
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Marketing Text Suggestions:
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Locate and click Activate.
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Sales Line Suggestions:
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Click Activate for efficient order processing.
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Bank Reconciliation Assist:
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Select Activate to automate matching bank transactions.
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Analysis Assist:
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Enable by clicking Activate for simplified financial reporting.
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Item Substitution Suggestions:
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Activate for efficient inventory management.
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Sales Order Copilot (Preview):
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Enable by clicking Activate.
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Step 4: Assign User Permissions
Copilot requires specific permissions:
- Press Alt + Q, search for “Users”.
- Open User Setup.
- Assign permissions such as:
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D365 COPILOT ASSISTANT -
D365 BANK RECONCILIATION AI -
D365 MARKETING AI
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Using Copilot for Daily Business Tasks
Generating Marketing Text
- Navigate to Item cards.
- Click “Generate with Copilot”.
- Enter product details and receive instant, SEO-friendly descriptions.
Optimising Sales Orders
- Create a new Sales Order.
- Click “Copilot Suggestions” after entering customer details.
- Select recommended products based on customer history.
Efficient Bank Reconciliation
- Open Bank Reconciliation.
- Select “Copilot Assist”.
- Automatically match bank statements with ledger entries.
Creating Financial Reports
- Go to Analysis view.
- Select “Ask Copilot”.
- Type queries such as “sales by region last quarter”.
Related Article: Top 10 CoPilot Features
Essential Copilot Shortcuts and Tips
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Tell Me Shortcut: Press Alt + Q for rapid feature access.
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Quick Activation: Type feature names directly into “Tell Me”.
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Routine Reviews: Regularly check Copilot settings to optimise usage.
Copilot Best Practices for New Users
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Start by enabling key features for immediate productivity benefits.
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Regularly gather feedback to enhance feature utilisation.
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Provide continuous employee training using integrated learning resources.
Why Copilot Basics Matter to Your Business
Implementing Copilot addresses common challenges like manual errors, slow processes, and complex reporting, directly translating to tangible business benefits:
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Time Savings: Frees up time for strategic initiatives.
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Accuracy: Ensures financial integrity by reducing mistakes.
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Improved Customer Service: Offers quicker and more accurate customer interactions.
Conclusion
Microsoft Copilot in Dynamics 365 Business Central is a powerful partner that enhances productivity and decision-making capabilities. By following these steps, your business can quickly leverage Copilot to transform operations, streamline workflows, and achieve greater efficiency and accuracy.
Start your Copilot journey today and revolutionise your business processes.
FAQs: Using Microsoft Copilot in Dynamics 365 Business Central
What is Microsoft Copilot in Business Central?
Copilot is Microsoft’s built-in AI assistant that helps Business Central users with tasks such as drafting text, analysing data, and streamlining workflows directly within the ERP.
How do I enable Copilot in Business Central?
Copilot is enabled in the Business Central Admin Centre. Your environment must be on the supported release wave, and administrators need to switch on AI features under Feature Management.
Is Copilot included in my Business Central licence?
Core Copilot features are included in Business Central SaaS, but some advanced AI features may require additional licensing or Microsoft 365 integration.
What tasks can Copilot help with?
Copilot can generate product descriptions, summarise financial data, draft emails, suggest corrections in journals, and help automate repetitive tasks through natural language prompts.
Do I need technical skills to use Copilot?
No. Copilot is designed for end users and works through natural language input. Users can type or select suggested prompts to complete tasks faster.
Does Copilot work with my data securely?
Yes. Copilot uses Microsoft’s Azure AI infrastructure. Your business data remains within the Microsoft cloud, following the same security, compliance and privacy standards as the rest of Business Central.
Can Copilot be customised for my company’s needs?
Yes. Developers can extend Copilot scenarios using AL code and Power Platform. Businesses can also build custom AI prompts to suit industry-specific processes.
Which Business Central versions support Copilot?
Copilot is available in current Business Central SaaS releases as part of Microsoft’s wave updates. On-premise versions do not support Copilot.
Does Copilot integrate with other Microsoft 365 apps?
Yes. Copilot connects with Outlook, Teams, and Word to draft communications, create meeting summaries, and insert data from Business Central into documents and chats.
What are best practices for adopting Copilot?
Start with simple use cases, train staff to use AI responsibly, monitor output for accuracy, and extend Copilot gradually as users become confident.
Next Steps:
If you want to discuss further automations using CoPilot then get in touch for a free no-obligation conversation.
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