Introduction
As organizations seek to integrate AI deeper into workflows, the ability to customize and extend AI assistants like Microsoft Copilot becomes a competitive advantage. “Custom Copilot” focuses on how businesses can train and tailor Copilot experiences using proprietary data, domain-specific language, and internal tools—enhancing both productivity and strategic alignment. This session introduces methods for configuring Copilot to better understand your organization’s unique context while ensuring control, compliance, and innovation.

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with Microsoft 365 and Copilot basics

• Understanding of organizational data structures and access permissions

• Experience with Power Platform, Microsoft Graph, or Azure OpenAI (optional but helpful)

• A strategic objective to enhance Copilot with custom data and workflows

Table of Contents

1. The Case for Custom Copilot
    1.1 Why Customize? Business and Technical Drivers
    1.2 Opportunities Across Roles and Departments

2. Building Your Foundation
    2.1 Understanding Microsoft Copilot Architecture
    2.2 Data Access and Permissions Management
    2.3 Preparing Internal Knowledge Sources (SharePoint, OneDrive, CRM, etc.)

3. Extending Copilot with Microsoft Graph and Azure
    3.1 Using Microsoft Graph Connectors for Internal Content
    3.2 Custom Skills and Plugins with Azure OpenAI
    3.3 Leveraging Power Platform for Tailored Automations

4. Training Copilot with Organization-Specific Context
    4.1 Fine-tuning Language and Terminology
    4.2 Feeding Custom Scenarios and Business Workflows
    4.3 Using Prompt Engineering for Repeatable Success

5. Use Cases and Scenarios
    5.1 HR: Personalized Onboarding and Policy Guidance
    5.2 Legal: Document Drafting and Compliance Checks
    5.3 Sales: CRM Integration and Proposal Generation
    5.4 IT: Ticket Analysis and Knowledgebase Answers

6. Governance, Security & Monitoring
    6.1 Responsible AI Use and Oversight
    6.2 Data Residency and Compliance Considerations
    6.3 Feedback Loops and Continuous Improvement

7. Rollout and Adoption Strategy
    7.1 Piloting with Champions
    7.2 Change Management and Training
    7.3 Measuring Success and Scaling Impact

8. Resources and Next Steps
    8.1 Microsoft Tools and Documentation
    8.2 Partner Solutions and Support
    8.3 Planning for AI Maturity and Future Evolution

Customizing Copilot unlocks its full potential—transforming it from a general AI assistant into a business-aware copilot tailored to your people and processes. With the right data, tools, and governance, organizations can build an intelligent layer that aligns Copilot with internal systems, knowledge, and workflows. As AI becomes a core enabler of work, those who invest in training and extending Copilot will lead in digital agility, innovation, and workforce enablement.