Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday work. Microsoft Copilot is one of the main tools helping businesses use AI in a simple and safe way. One of the most important parts of Copilot is something Microsoft calls agents.
Agents are changing how people work with AI. They do more than answer questions. They can help complete tasks, support decisions, and save time across the business.
In this blog, we will explain what agents are in Copilot, how Microsoft describes them, and how they help businesses work better.
What Is Microsoft Copilot?
Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant built into Microsoft tools such as Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint. It uses large language models together with your company’s data to help with daily work.
Copilot can help you write emails, create documents, summarise meetings, analyse data, and answer questions using your organisation’s information. Microsoft designed Copilot to work securely inside Microsoft 365, following company permissions and data rules.
However, Microsoft has made it clear that Copilot is not just one assistant. It is a platform. This is where agents come in.
What Are Agents in Copilot?
According to Microsoft, agents are specialised AI helpers that focus on specific tasks or areas of work.
Instead of being a general assistant that helps with anything, an agent is designed to do a particular job. It can understand requests, use business data, and take action within clear limits.
In simple terms:
- Copilot helps you
- Agents work for you
Agents can answer questions, guide users, and complete tasks automatically. They can be built to support roles such as HR, IT, sales, finance, or customer service.
Microsoft describes agents as a way to move from “asking AI for help” to “having AI carry out work”.
How Are Agents Different from Normal Copilot Use?
When you use Copilot in Word or Teams, you usually give it a prompt, such as:
- “Summarise this document”
- “Write an email to a customer”
- “Explain this spreadsheet”
An agent goes further than this.
An agent:
- Has a clear purpose
- Uses set rules and instructions
- Can follow steps and processes
- Can connect to business systems and data
For example, instead of asking Copilot how to raise a support ticket, you could talk to an IT support agent that creates the ticket for you, checks the details, and updates you on progress.
Where Do Agents Live?
Agents live inside the Microsoft Copilot experience. Users can chat with them in familiar tools such as Microsoft Teams or Copilot Chat.
Businesses can build and manage agents using Copilot Studio, which is Microsoft’s tool for creating AI experiences.
Copilot Studio allows organisations to:
- Create agents without deep coding skills
- Set what the agent can and cannot do
- Connect the agent to company data
- Control security and permissions
This means businesses stay in control while still gaining the benefits of AI.
What Can Agents Do?
Microsoft explains that agents can support many types of work. Here are some common examples.
1. Answer Questions Using Business Data
Agents can be connected to company knowledge such as:
- Policies and procedures
- Internal websites
- SharePoint documents
- FAQs
This allows employees to get clear answers without searching through files or asking colleagues.
For example, an HR agent could answer questions about holiday rules, expenses, or parental leave using official company documents.
2. Automate Repetitive Tasks
Many business tasks are repeated every day. Agents can handle these tasks automatically.
Examples include:
- Creating service requests
- Filling in forms
- Routing queries to the right team
- Sending updates or reminders
By automating these actions, agents reduce manual work and free up staff time.
3. Support Employees in Their Roles
Agents can be designed for specific jobs.
For example:
- A sales agent could help prepare customer summaries
- A finance agent could explain spending data
- An IT agent could help fix common problems
Because agents are focused, they give more useful and accurate help than a general assistant.
4. Guide Users Step by Step
Agents can act like guides. They can ask follow-up questions and lead users through a process.
For example:
- Onboarding a new employee
- Reporting a problem
- Requesting approval
This reduces mistakes and makes processes easier to follow.
How Do Agents Help Businesses?
Microsoft positions agents as a way to improve how organisations work, not replace people. The benefits are practical and clear.
Better Productivity
Agents save time by handling routine tasks and answering common questions. Employees spend less time searching for information or repeating the same work.
This allows people to focus on higher-value tasks such as planning, problem-solving, and customer care.
More Consistent Answers and Actions
Because agents use approved data and set rules, they give consistent responses.
This is especially important for:
- HR policies
- Compliance rules
- IT processes
Everyone gets the same information, based on official sources.
Faster Decisions
Agents can bring together information from different places and present it clearly.
This helps managers and teams make quicker, better decisions without waiting for reports or emails.
Lower Pressure on Support Teams
IT, HR, and service teams often deal with the same questions again and again. Agents can handle many of these requests, reducing workload and response times.
This improves the experience for employees and customers.
Secure and Controlled AI Use
Microsoft built agents to work within its security model. This means:
- Data access follows existing permissions
- Sensitive data stays protected
- Businesses control what agents can do
This is a key reason many organisations trust Copilot agents for real business work.
Who Can Build Agents?
One of Microsoft’s main goals is to make agents easy to create.
Using Copilot Studio:
- Business users can design agents using simple tools
- IT teams can add deeper connections and controls
- Organisations can test and improve agents over time
This approach means AI is not limited to technical experts. Teams closest to the work can shape the agents they need.
Why Agents Matter for the Future of Work
Microsoft sees agents as the next step in how people use AI at work.
Instead of AI being something you ask for help, it becomes something that:
- Understands your role
- Knows your processes
- Takes action within clear limits
Agents turn Copilot into a true digital assistant for the organisation, not just an individual tool.
Final Thoughts
Agents in Microsoft Copilot are about practical help, not hype.
They are focused AI helpers that:
- Use your business data
- Follow your rules
- Support real work
For businesses, agents mean less time on routine tasks, clearer information, and better use of people’s skills.
As Microsoft continues to develop Copilot, agents are likely to become a normal part of daily work, quietly supporting teams, improving processes, and helping organisations work smarter.
At Tecvia, we help you understand how Microsoft Copilot and agents can support your business, step by step. We work with you to identify the right use cases, set clear controls, and make sure AI works securely with your data today and as your business grows.
Ready to explore how Copilot agents could work for your organisation? Contact Tecvia today at tecvia.co.uk to book a free consultation.
FAQ
To help you more effectively, we’ve complied answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. If you have any additional questions or need further clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
What are agents in Microsoft Copilot??
Agents in Microsoft Copilot are specialised AI helpers designed to handle specific tasks or areas of work. Unlike general Copilot prompts, agents follow set rules, use approved business data, and can take action within defined limits.
How are Copilot agents different from Copilot itself?
Copilot is a general AI assistant that helps with writing, summarising, and analysing information. Agents are more focused. They are built for particular roles or processes and can complete tasks, guide users step by step, or automate actions rather than just providing answers.
What business roles can Copilot agents support?
Copilot agents can support many roles, including HR, IT, finance, sales, customer service, and operations. For example, an HR agent can answer policy questions, while an IT agent can create support tickets or help resolve common issues..
Yes. Copilot agents follow Microsoft 365 security and permission models. They only access data users are allowed to see, respect existing permissions, and operate within controls set by the organisation.
Can Copilot agents access company data?
Agents can be connected to approved company data sources such as SharePoint, internal websites, policies, and knowledge bases. Businesses control exactly which data an agent can use.
Do Copilot agents replace employees?
No. Microsoft positions agents as tools that support people, not replace them. Agents handle routine tasks and common questions so employees can focus on higher-value work like decision-making, creativity, and customer relationships.
What should I do if I have a question that isn’t covered here?
We hope this FAQ section provides you with the information you need. For any other inquiries, feel free to reach out to us directly. We’re here to support you and ensure your Dynamics 365 Business Central experience is smooth and successful.
We hope this FAQ section provides you with the information you need. For any other inquiries, please reach out to us directly. We’re here to support you and ensure your Dynamics 365 Business Central experience is smooth and successful.
