The way we work and the tools that we use in the workplace have slowly changed over the last decade. The pandemic, acting as a turbocharger, thrust us into a new era—one where work transcends office walls and embraces flexibility. Marcus Bailey, Head of Cloud, tells us about the benefits of AI to boost productivity in the workplace.
We can now work from anywhere; we can be present on meetings while sunbathing on holiday with a smart phone in one hand, a pina colada in the other, or do a full day’s work from comforts of our garage turned office.
At first glance these newfound methods of working have been beneficial, but they have come with some impact to our productivity and worklife experience. We are now carrying something called digital debt. The inflow of data, emails, meetings, and notifications has outpaced our ability to process it all. The pace of work is only intensifying and every signal we receive needs our attention, so we spend our workdays in meetings or playing email and chat ping-pong, desperately searching for the uninterrupted focus time that we need to do our job in the precious time that we have left.
- Nearly 2 in 3 people (64%) say they struggle with having the time and energy to do their job.
- 62% say they struggle with too much time spent searching for information in their workday.
The Weight of the Workday
In today’s workplace, the average employee devotes a staggering 57% of their time to communication—whether in meetings, emails, or chat platforms. Unsurprisingly, these interactions often hinder productivity. In fact, inefficient meetings top the list as the number one disruption, while an overload of meetings ranks at number three.
But that’s not all. A whopping 62% of workers grapple with the relentless search for information during their workday. The result? We’re left with precious little time to tackle the very jobs we signed up for—the ones we envisioned when submitting our CVs.
So, it is clear we need help to navigate this digital labyrinth, to reclaim our focus, streamline communication, and carve out space for meaningful work. After all, our dreams didn’t include endless meetings and data scavenger hunts.
- 85% of emails are read in under 15 seconds, and the typical person has to read about 4 emails for every 1 they send.
2024- The Year that AI become a reality
We are already halfway through 2024 and the use of Generative AI in the workplace since ChatGPT became generally available in November 2023 has become increasingly prevalent. Employees are leveraging AI to save time, boost creativity, and focus on critical tasks. AI is making us more productive. We are starting to see these gains on an individual level and this is just the beginning, as generative AI at work spreads, AI will not just transform personal productivity but lift the capability of the entire organisation.
- 75% of knowledge workers now use AI at work With 46% users only starting to use it within the last six months.
- 78% of AI users are bringing their own AI tools to work (BYOAI)
Copilot For Microsoft 365
Copilot for Microsoft 365 is Microsoft’s Generative AI tool. Billed as our everyday AI companion, it is an AI-powered assistant designed to enhance productivity and amplify human creativity within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. By seamlessly integrating with applications, we regularly use, like Microsoft Teams, Excel, Loop, Whiteboard and OneNote, Copilot streamlines complex work tasks, summarises meetings, and provides customised answers to data-related queries. Microsoft 365 Copilot’s responsible and secure AI practices ensure that organisations can achieve more than ever before, making it a valuable asset for businesses seeking efficiency, increased productivity and innovation.
The harmonious relationship between Copilot and Microsoft 365 applications lies at the heart of understanding Copilot’s significance and generative AI’s impact to the workplace revolution. As the majority of business users are part of the Microsoft ecosystem, use of Copilot is a natural extension.
Microsoft’s deliberate decision to embed Copilot directly into our daily work applications empowers us to introduce groundbreaking technology to our workforce. From dawn to dusk, every day of the week, Copilot becomes an indispensable ally. This harmonious fusion with Microsoft 365 not only streamlines our tasks but also grants us the transformative ability to reshape how businesses approach productivity and collaboration—right at our fingertips.
Impact
Copilot has quickly emerged as a transformative force for workplace productivity. Recent Microsoft studies have shown remarkable productivity gains among Copilot users, with 70% reporting increased productivity and 73% completing tasks faster. The integration of Copilot into daily workflows has led to a 29% increase in speed for tasks such as searching, writing, and summarising. Moreover, Copilot has been instrumental in reducing email processing time by 64%, allowing professionals to focus on more strategic tasks.
- Users from Microsoft’s early adopters’ programme for Copilot reported saving an average 14 minutes a day, or 1.2 hours a week, with 22% of users saying they saved more than 30 minutes a day.
- 30% said access to Copilot would even influence their choice of employer.
These statistics not only highlight the efficiency of Copilot but also underscore the potential of generative AI in enhancing workplace productivity. As we continue to harness the power of AI, the future of work looks more promising, with tools like Copilot paving the way for a more efficient, creative, and fulfilling professional environment. There is opportunity ahead for leaders is to channel employee enthusiasm for AI into business transformation, break free from the administrative shackles that the modern workplace has placed on us and pursue bold opportunities.
This article first appeared in Connect Magazine
