What is Copilot for Finance? 6 Key Features You Should Know About!

In today's ever-changing financial world, technology is more important than ever in helping businesses grow. Microsoft's Copilot for Finance is at the forefront, changing how we manage finances with smart solutions.

Launched for public preview by Microsoft on February 29, 2024, this latest extension of Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 is designed to make financial teams' work easier by using artificial intelligence (AI). This tool helps with everything from daily tasks to making big decisions, all while improving how money is managed.

This blog will tell you everything you need to know about Copilot for Finance, including what it does and how it can help your business reach its financial goals with top-notch support at every step.

Jump to a section:

📈 Understanding Today’s Financial Trends

💡 What is Microsoft Copilot for Finance?

🗂️ 6 Key Features of Microsoft Copilot for Finance

🏁 Conclusion

Understanding Today’s Financial Trends

Chief financial officers and financial leaders play essential roles in supporting strategic decisions and weathering volatile markets. However, studies show that currently, 88% of them feel that their primary responsibility is restricted to transactional functions, such as financial reporting, leaving them little space in their schedule to tend to strategic functions. This growing desire among financial executives to dedicate their time to finance-first innovation elucidates the need for a cultural shift.  Not just leaders, even 97% of finance professionals stated that they waste precious time chasing invoice details every month, according to survey reports. 

As finance teams strive to extend their roles beyond everyday duties, more than 80% of them are struggling to cope with the lack of automation tools needed to complete repetitive tasks.

These trends underscore the necessity for a sophisticated, AI-powered financial tool that can help companies succeed with their financial planning in today's rapidly evolving world. Microsoft Copilot for Finance aims to do just that by offering advanced capabilities, enabling finance professionals to look beyond the books.

What is Microsoft Copilot for Finance?

Microsoft Copilot for Finance is a new cutting-edge AI-powered financial management solution. It not only aims to alleviate the burden of routine, transactional work but also seeks to empower teams with insights and predictive analytics, enhancing decision-making and financial strategy planning.

Moreover, its ability to streamline financial processes and provide real-time, actionable data represents a cultural shift towards smarter, more efficient financial management practices that accelerate growth and reduce costs.

Developed with insights from Microsoft's own world-class finance organization, Copilot for Finance is putting AI at the forefront of business growth.

“Our finance organization is just like any other – looking for technology to help us do our work in a more efficient and impactful way – and we’re excited to track our journey as customer zero of Microsoft Copilot for Finance.”
– Cory Hrncirik, Modern Finance Lead, Microsoft

By integrating seamlessly with Microsoft 365, Microsoft Copilot for Finance provides an intuitive and unique experience that enables finance teams to achieve more with less.

6 Key Features of Microsoft Copilot for Finance

Utilizing the capabilities of generative artificial intelligence and machine learning, Microsoft Copilot for Finance serves as your ultimate companion in financial management. From automating labor-intensive tasks like collections and contract and invoice capture to providing actionable recommendations, proactive anomaly detection, and personalized guidance, this AI partner covers all bases.

Let's dive into some of the primary functions of Copilot for Finance:

1. Automated Data Analysis and Reporting

Copilot for Finance simplifies Excel reconciliation by automating data structure comparisons and offering guided troubleshooting. This transition from insight to action enhances the reliability and accuracy of financial records.

2. Streamlined Variance Analysis

Copilot for Finance assists financial analysts in efficiently performing a variance analysis in Excel by utilizing natural language prompts to scrutinize datasets for anomalies, risks, and unmatched values. This analytical approach enables finance teams to offer strategic insights to business leaders regarding the areas where financial goals are being achieved, surpassed, or not met as planned, along with the underlying reasons.

An article by ZDNET further illustrates its abilities, stating that by using recommended prompts like "help me understand forecast to actuals variance data," the software can extract data directly from ERP and financial system records for comprehensive analysis.

3. Speeding Up Collections Process

Copilot for Finance provides a detailed overview of essential customer account information directly within Outlook, such as balance statements and invoices, streamlining the collections process. With the help of Copilot's guided prompts and recommendations, users can swiftly generate the necessary documentation.

4. Instant Data Transformation Into Visuals

Copilot for Finance empowers users to transform raw Excel data into presentation-ready visuals and reports that are easily shareable across Outlook and Teams.

5. Effortless Customer Communication

Copilot for Finance generates initial drafts for customer communications, including all necessary attachments. This approach enables finance teams to spend less time on manual drafting and more time communicating with customers.

6. Quick Access to Data

Copilot for Finance lets teams switch seamlessly between Excel, Outlook, and Teams, making it simpler to locate just about anything they need.

Additionally, it allows teams to link with their current financial data sources, such as ERP, using prebuilt connectors and Microsoft Copilot Studio.

Excited to elevate your business and its financial journey with Microsoft Copilot for Finance? Get a deeper look at it first. Microsoft is offering a Copilot for Finance demo available here.

Individuals can also sign up for a public preview of the software in just a few steps.

Conclusion

Microsoft Copilot for Finance is a groundbreaking tool ready to reshape the landscape of financial management. Its broad range of functionalities will allow finance teams to speed up time spent in decision-making, cut costs across critical processes, and boost productivity in the workflow. The potential for deep analysis and data-driven insights that Copilot offers will prove to be an invaluable asset to financial leaders looking to create impact that's as meaningful as it is strategic. What's more is that in tandem with Microsoft Copilot for Sales and Micrsoft Copilot for Service, companies will be able to take collaboration and tech innovation to the next level.

Prepared to let artificial intelligence propel your business to new heights? ProServeIT is just the place to get started. If you want to inject greater productivity and creativity into your organization, partner with us to integrate Microsoft Copilot into your workspace. If you are eager to begin your journey with AI, ProServeIT's experts can guide you through it. With our AI Roadmap development service, get a tailored plan that suits your business objectives and empowers you to unlock success with the right AI tools. Reach out to us today to unless the power of artificial intelligence for your business.