How to Get Ready for Copilot?
SharePoint isn’t just about documents and sites anymore — it’s evolving fast with AI, and it’s completely changing how we work.
New tools like Microsoft Copilot and SharePoint Syntex are adding automation, smart content management, and powerful new ways to collaborate and find information. It’s exciting — but it’s also made something very clear to me: your information architecture needs to be in order before you can get the most out of it.
I’ve been testing Copilot for a while now, and to be honest, it’s still hit and miss at the moment. I want it to be my everyday assistant — but right now, it’s just not where I need it to be. More often than not, I still rely heavily on ChatGPT and a few other tools at work because I can get the answers I need more consistently.
That’s not to say Copilot isn’t powerful. It absolutely is. It can help with:
- Drafting news posts and pages
- Summarising long documents
- Answering questions about your content
- Suggesting metadata and organising information
- Assisting with content updates across sites
By using natural language, it makes the SharePoint experience smoother, faster, and far less reliant on digging through endless menus. But here’s the catch: if your SharePoint environment isn’t structured properly, Copilot can only do so much.
When your content is messy, your metadata is non-existent, and documents are scattered everywhere, Copilot can’t magically find what it needs. It’s like asking a librarian to locate a book in a library where nothing’s sorted and there’s no catalogue.
That’s why I always say: your information architecture isn’t optional — it’s essential. It’s the foundation for making AI tools like Copilot truly work for you.
Smarter Content Management Is Here
Beyond Copilot, AI is being woven into SharePoint in all kinds of ways. Some of the biggest innovations I’m seeing include:
- SharePoint Syntex: Automating the tagging, classifying, and extraction of information from documents
- Intelligent Search: Delivering better, more personalised results based on what you work on
- Smart Media Management: Automatically transcribing videos, analysing images, and recognising content without manual effort
All of this leads to less manual data entry, faster search, better compliance — and most importantly, fewer headaches for everyone using the platform.
Automating Workflows with AI
Automation isn’t new to SharePoint, but AI is making it a whole lot smarter. Tools like Power Automate and AI Builder are enabling automated approvals, content processing, and predictive workflows.
Even better, Process Mining is helping to uncover hidden workflows and suggest better ways of working — something that would have taken months of analysis in the past.
The goal here? Faster processes, fewer errors, and more time for the work that really matters.
Building a More Intelligent Workplace
Microsoft’s bigger vision for SharePoint is clear — it’s not just a document library anymore. It’s becoming a smarter, more adaptive platform that actively supports users every day.
AI-driven features like:
- Knowledge Mining (finding hidden expertise across your content),
- Personalised Experiences (tailoring updates and search results based on your work patterns), and
- Adaptive Recommendations (offering proactive suggestions)
are all pushing SharePoint towards a future where collaboration is faster, easier, and way more intelligent.
Why SharePoint Innovation Matters
Keeping up with these innovations isn’t just about having the latest tools — it’s about working smarter:
- Faster access to the right information
- Smarter collaboration across teams
- Better use of your content and data
- More automation and fewer manual tasks
- A workplace that adapts to how people actually work
Of course, making the most of SharePoint’s AI features isn’t just a case of flicking a switch. It takes good planning, a clear information architecture, and a smart strategy.
Done right, it can completely change the way your organisation works — and set you up for everything that’s coming next.
I’ll be sharing more real-world experiences and tips as I continue working with these tools. It’s an exciting time, but the basics are more important than ever.
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