Blog: AI for personal productivity: a practical guide

While much of the conversation around AI focuses on large-scale organizational transformation, there is immense, immediate value to be found in a different approach: the widespread adoption of AI to boost everyone's personal productivity. But how does this differ from traditional process automation? And more importantly, how can your organization effectively roll this out to your employees? We asked our AI adoption expert, Max Dugardyn, to share his insights.

Is there a difference between AI for personal productivity and AI for process automation?

The line between them is very thin, especially when you look at it from the perspective of the problem you're trying to solve. In many cases, both approaches can offer a valid solution.

Let's take a common example: answering employee questions for the HR department. You could approach this from a process automation perspective by building an AI chatbot available to all employees. This is a company-wide solution that automates a process.

Alternatively, you could look at it from an individual's perspective. You could equip the HR employees themselves with powerful AI tools that help them find information and formulate answers faster and more efficiently. The problem is the same, but the solution is focused on enhancing an individual's capabilities. The real difference lies in the delivery and the target audience of the solution.

Which platforms allow you to use AI to increase personal productivity?

There are many platforms available today, but in practice, we see a lot of organizations choosing Microsoft Copilot as their go-to AI platform.

This is an obvious choice for a few reasons. AI for personal productivity isn't just about asking a standalone chatbot a question. The real power comes from integrating AI into your daily workflow. That's where Copilot's deep integration within the Microsoft 365 suite becomes a huge added value. It's about using AI seamlessly as a team, during meetings in Teams, while drafting emails in Outlook, or when creating documents in Word.

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How should organizations best approach this?

We recommend a simple, three-step approach that focuses on building momentum from the ground up:

Inspire. Start by identifying a small group of enthusiastic employees who are willing to become AI ambassadors. These are the people who will champion the technology and its benefits within the organization.

Train. Provide this core group with proper training so they can effectively use the technology themselves. This hands-on experience is crucial for them to understand the real-world applications and possibilities.

Support. Finally, support these ambassadors as they start encouraging and guiding their colleagues. By creating a network of internal champions, you can drive adoption organically and effectively across the entire organization.

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Conclusion: empower your people, transform your business

Unlocking the power of AI isn't just about launching massive, top-down projects. It's about empowering every single employee with tools that make their day-to-day work more efficient, creative, and impactful. By focusing on personal productivity and fostering a culture of ambassadorship, you can create a ripple effect of innovation that spreads throughout your entire organization.

Do you feel that your team isn't getting enough out of tools like Microsoft Copilot? Check our assessments. Our experts are happy to share their experiences and help you build a successful adoption strategy.