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Tag: microsoft

  • 6 Simple ways to recover lost Excel files

    6 Simple ways to recover lost Excel files

    Your Microsoft Excel spreadsheets are likely the lifeblood of your small business. Whether it’s your monthly budget, an upcoming payroll sheet, or your entire inventory list, seeing hours of hard work vanish in an instant is terrifying. Before you start retyping everything from scratch, take a deep breath. Your data is probably still hiding on your computer. Work your way down this list of simple methods to rescue your lost work.

    1. Check the recovery panel

    If your computer restarts out of nowhere or Excel suddenly freezes and closes, the program usually tries to save your progress automatically.

    • Step 1: Open a brand-new, blank Excel spreadsheet.
    • Step 2: Look at the left side of your screen. A panel called “Document Recovery” should pop up.
    • Step 3: Look for your lost file, click the version with the most recent time next to it, and go to File > Save As to save it securely.

    2. Recover unsaved workbooks

    We’ve all done it: you close a document and accidentally click Don’t Save instead of Save. Excel actually keeps a hidden stash of files for this exact scenario.

    • Step 1: Open Excel, click File in the top left, and choose Info.
    • Step 2: Click the button that says Manage Workbook, then select Recover Unsaved Workbooks.
    • Step 3: A folder will pop up. Click the “Date Modified” header to sort the files from newest to oldest.
    • Step 4: Open the most recent draft. If it’s your missing work, click File > Save As to save a permanent copy.

    3. Search AutoRecover

    If the first two options didn’t work, Windows might still have a backup tucked away in a hidden system folder.

    • Step 1: Hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and press R.
    • Step 2: In the little box that appears, copy and paste this exact text: %AppData%\Microsoft\Excel\</code> and hit Enter.
    • Step 3: Sort the files by the date they were last modified so the newest ones are at the top.
    • Step 4: Click through the files to find your draft. Open it, then go to File > Save As to save it to your normal business folders.

    4. Use Version History

    If you save your business files to OneDrive or SharePoint, you have a built-in time machine. This is incredibly helpful if you made a huge mistake on a sheet and need to go back to its previous state.

    • Step 1: Open your spreadsheet in Excel.
    • Step 2: Click the file name at the very top middle of the screen and choose “Version History.” (You can also find this by going to File > Info > Version History).
    • Step 3: A panel will open on the right showing previous times the document was saved. Click on them to preview what the file looked like at that exact moment.
    • Step 4: Found the right one? Click Restore to bring it back.

    5. Look at Previous Folder Versions

    If your computer has Windows File History turned on, it regularly takes snapshots of your folders. This is perfect if you completely deleted a file by mistake.

    • Step 1: Open your file folders and find the exact folder where your lost Excel sheet used to live. Right-click that folder and choose Properties.
    • Step 2: Click the tab at the top labeled “Previous Versions.”
    • Step 3: Pick a folder version from a date before you lost the file, and click Open.
    • Step 4: A window showing exactly what that folder looked like in the past will open. Find your Excel sheet, copy it, and paste it back onto your current desktop.

    6. Search the temporary files

    When all else fails, fragments of your spreadsheet might be sitting in your computer's Temp folder — a place where Windows stores leftover data.

    • Step 1: Press the Windows key + R, type in %temp%, and hit Enter.
    • Step 2: In the search bar at the top right, type .tmp and sort the results by date. If nothing shows up, try searching for ~$ instead.
    • Step 3: Look for files created around the time you lost your work. Right-click one, choose Open With, and select Excel.
    • Step 4: If your missing numbers and text magically appear, immediately copy the data, paste it into a new Excel sheet, and save it.

    Pro tip: Don't want to go hunting for files ever again? Take 30 seconds right now to change this one setting:

    1. Open Excel and go to File > Options > Save.
    2. Look for the setting that says “Save AutoRecover information every 10 minutes.” Change that 10 to a 2.
    3. Ensure the box underneath it, “Keep the last AutoRecovered version if I close without saving,” is checked.

    Whenever possible, try to save your business documents to a secure cloud service such as OneDrive. It automatically backs up your keystrokes as you type, giving you total peace of mind to focus on what really matters: growing your business.

    Reach out to our experts today for more valuable tech tips!

    Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

  • How Microsoft Whiteboard brings visual collaboration to remote teams

    How Microsoft Whiteboard brings visual collaboration to remote teams

    Modern work rarely happens in one place anymore. While emails and chat apps handle conversations well, they often fall short when teams need to brainstorm, plan, or visualize ideas together. That’s where Microsoft Whiteboard steps in. Let’s explore how businesses can use the app’s tools, templates, and sharing features to improve teamwork and turn ideas into action.

    What is Microsoft Whiteboard?

    Microsoft Whiteboard is a shared digital workspace that allows people to sketch ideas, organize thoughts, and collaborate visually in real time. Whether you’re outlining a new project, mapping out a process, or hosting a creative brainstorming session, Whiteboard gives teams the flexibility of a physical whiteboard without the physical limitations.

    Getting started on any device

    Microsoft Whiteboard is available on Windows, web browsers, and mobile devices running iOS or Android. Once you sign in, you’re taken to a dashboard that shows all your existing whiteboards in one place. From there, creating a new board is as simple as selecting the option to start fresh.

    A new whiteboard opens as a blank, infinite canvas. Along the side, you’ll find a panel filled with tools you can use to build your board, while drawing tools are placed at the top for easy access. The layout is designed to be intuitive, even for less tech-savvy users.

    Building your ideas visually

    Adding content to a whiteboard is straightforward. You can type text directly onto the canvas, draw freehand using pens, or add visual elements such as shapes and images. Each item can be placed anywhere, giving you complete freedom over how ideas are arranged.

    Drawing tools are especially useful for quick sketches or highlighting key ideas during meetings. If you’re not comfortable with freehand drawing, shapes provide a clean and structured alternative that keeps things easy to understand.

    Editing and organizing content

    Once elements are on the board, adjusting them is simple. You can move items around to reorganize ideas, resize them to emphasize key points, or remove anything that’s no longer relevant. Switching between drawing and selection modes lets you either sketch freely or arrange content without leaving accidental marks.

    This flexibility makes Microsoft Whiteboard ideal for evolving projects, where ideas shift and layouts need frequent updates.

    Using structure to improve clarity

    While the open canvas is powerful, structure is what turns a cluttered board into a useful one. Sticky notes are a popular option for capturing ideas quickly. They’re color-coded, easy to move, and perfect for brainstorming sessions where input from multiple people is needed.

    For more detailed planning, note grids offer a way to group related ideas into organized sections. These grids keep information aligned and readable, making them ideal for workflows, task lists, or categorizing feedback.

    If you don’t want to start from scratch, Microsoft Whiteboard also includes a large collection of templates. You can use these templates for brainstorming, project planning, and design thinking. Each one provides a ready-made structure that you can customize to suit your needs, saving time and reducing guesswork.

    Collaborating with others

    Collaboration is at the heart of Microsoft Whiteboard. You can invite others to view or edit your board with just a few clicks. Shared boards update in real time, allowing team members to contribute ideas simultaneously, regardless of where they’re working from.

    This makes the app especially useful during virtual meetings, workshops, or training sessions where visual input helps keep everyone engaged.

    Sharing beyond your team

    You may want to share your work without letting others edit it. In those cases, exporting your whiteboard as an image is a practical option. You can save the entire board as a PNG file and share it through email, presentations, or messaging platforms.

    This approach is useful when working with external partners or when you need a snapshot of your ideas for documentation purposes.

    Making the most of Microsoft Whiteboard

    Microsoft Whiteboard isn’t just a drawing tool but a collaboration platform that supports creativity, planning, and teamwork. Used effectively, it becomes a central space where ideas grow, evolve, and come to life.

    For more tips on leveraging essential business technology tools, contact our team today.

    Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

  • Windows 11’s AI makeover unveiled at Ignite 2025

    Windows 11’s AI makeover unveiled at Ignite 2025

    At Ignite 2025, Microsoft officially announced that AI will be a core component of Windows 11. Upcoming updates to the OS will introduce integrated AI agents, enhanced Copilot features, and expanded cloud capabilities, all designed to create a smarter, more connected workspace. These innovations highlight Microsoft’s vision of an AI-driven Windows experience while making sure users maintain full control over their digital environment.

    Copilot+ PCs get exclusive AI features

    To unlock the full potential of AI on desktops, Microsoft is introducing Copilot+ PCs. These devices are equipped with specialized hardware optimized for next-gen AI capabilities, including:

    • Writing assistance: Users can now rewrite, summarize, or generate text in any text field across the OS (e.g., emails, documents, web forms, or chat windows). The feature works even offline, thanks to on-device AI models that bring speed and privacy.
    • Outlook summary: Copilot can summarize long email threads or calendar invites in seconds, helping users stay on top of their inbox without having to dig through lengthy threads.
    • Word auto alt-text: AI-generated image descriptions in Office documents enhance accessibility, creating a more inclusive experience for users who depend on screen readers.
    • Fluid dictation: A feature that turns casual speech into clean, formatted text, fluid dictation removes filler words, fixes grammar and punctuation on the fly, and provides a more natural voice-to-text experience for users dictating emails, documents, or notes.

    Cloud PCs and AI at scale

    Microsoft is upgrading its cloud PC platform, Windows 365, to better support AI-driven work environments. Key enhancements include:

    • Embedded AI capabilities: Intelligent features are now baked directly into Cloud PCs, enabling smoother agent workflows and smarter automation without needing local hardware.
    • Support for remote or hybrid workers: Tailored tools and experiences allow field staff and mobile workers to access secure, intelligent virtual desktops, no matter where they are.
    • Windows 365 Reserve: Organizations can now preallocate and reserve Cloud PC capacity, ensuring resources are always ready when needed, such as during large-scale deployments or primary device failures.
    • Windows 365 migration API: This new tool streamlines the move from Azure virtual machines to Windows 365, reducing complexity and downtime for IT teams managing hybrid environments.

    Security built for the AI era

    Security remains a central pillar of Microsoft’s AI vision, with a suite of new protections and management tools rolling out across the OS:

    • Post-quantum cryptography: Windows is now equipped to defend against future quantum computing threats by adopting next-gen encryption algorithms designed to withstand emerging cyber risks.
    • Zero trust DNS: The new DNS model tightens control over internet traffic within enterprise networks, verifying requests and minimizing exposure to threats that exploit DNS vulnerabilities.
    • Passkey manager + Windows Hello integration: Users can manage secure, passwordless credentials directly in Windows, making sign-ins safer and more convenient across devices and services.
    • Windows Cloud IO Protection: This feature adds protection for data exchanged between cloud services and Windows endpoints, making sure that sensitive information is monitored and secured in real time.
    • Intune management of Windows Recovery: IT administrators can now manage and customize recovery options centrally, improving support response and reducing downtime during system failures.
    • Point-in-time restore: Users or admins can roll back the OS to a previous, stable state after an issue or unwanted change. It’s similar to Time Machine on macOS, but optimized for Windows environments.

    The bottom line: AI is here to stay

    Microsoft is clearly focused on making things smarter and simpler through automation and AI. Whether users are ready or not, the company is betting on intelligent agents to shape the future of computing, with Windows 11 serving as the starting point.

    Want the latest tech news and insights? Contact our team, and we’ll help you get up to speed.

    Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

  • Still using Microsoft Office 2016 or 2019? Your business is now at risk

    Still using Microsoft Office 2016 or 2019? Your business is now at risk

    Does your business run on Microsoft Office? If you’re still using Office 2016 or Office 2019, you need to know about a major change. As of October 2025, Microsoft has officially stopped supporting these versions. Your Word and Excel files will still open, but the software is no longer being protected. You are now on your own, and that creates a big risk.

    Why this is a big deal for your business

    “End of support” isn’t just a sales pitch to get you to upgrade. It’s a serious security warning. Your software will keep working, but it’s now a sitting duck.

    Losing support means you’ve lost three key things:

    • No more security updates: Hackers and viruses love finding old, unprotected software. Without new security updates, your business is exposed. It’s like knowing criminals have a copy of your office key but deciding not to change the locks.
    • No more bug fixes: If PowerPoint crashes during a big presentation or an Excel glitch corrupts your file, there will be no fix. Think of it as your car’s manufacturer deciding to stop making spare parts. When something breaks, it stays broken.
    • No more help: Are you having problems? Microsoft’s technical support team can no longer help you with Office 2016 or 2019 issues. Your product’s warranty has expired, so you’ll need to find other support options.

    What are your options?

    Fortunately, you have clear choices to protect your business. Continuing to use the old software shouldn’t be one of them.

    Option 1: Move to Microsoft 365

    Microsoft 365 is the subscription version of Office, where you pay a monthly or yearly fee to access various apps. It’s best for businesses that want to “set it and forget it” and always have the latest, most secure tools.

    Pros

    • You are always up to date and always secure.
    • You get new features as soon as they are released.
    • It often includes other tools such as cloud storage (OneDrive) and communication (Teams).

    Option 2: Buy Office 2024

    If you prefer the “old” way, you can buy Office 2024 once and own it. Keep in mind that this version will be supported until 2029, so you’ll need to plan for another upgrade after that.

    Pros

    • It’s a single, one-time cost.
    • You get the classic apps you know (Word, Excel, Outlook).
    • It’s perfect if you don’t want or need cloud features.

    Option 3: Get Office LTSC 2024

    You might also hear about a version called Office LTSC 2024. LTSC stands for long-term servicing channel, which is a special, one-time purchase version of Office built purely for stability. It’s designed not to get new feature updates over time, only essential security fixes.

    It’s made for specific commercial or government situations. Think of computers that run medical equipment, control machinery on a factory floor, or operate in a lab — devices that need to stay exactly the same for years and often aren’t connected to the internet.

    Like the regular Office 2024, it’s supported until 2029. However, it is typically sold through volume licensing and won’t get any of the new tools or features that Microsoft 365 or even the standard Office 2024 might get. For nearly all small businesses, Option 1 (Microsoft 365) or Option 2 (Office 2024) is the simpler and better choice.

    It’s not just Office — check these apps too

    This end-of-support announcement also affects other related Microsoft programs. It’s a great time to do a quick check-up on all your software.

    Make sure you have a plan to upgrade these if you use them:

    • Project (2016 and 2019)
    • Visio (2016 and 2019)
    • Skype for Business (2016 and 2019)

    The same thinking also applies to other major products such as Windows 10 and Exchange Server 2016/2019, which are also at or near their end of support.

    Don’t wait for a problem, and make a plan today

    Your old Office software will keep working, but the risk of a security breach, data loss, or a major glitch is now very high.

    Switching systems can take time, so we recommend starting your upgrade plan now. Whether you choose the flexibility of Microsoft 365 or the simplicity of Office 2024, upgrading is a small step that protects your business from big problems. Contact our experts today for help.

    Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

  • Supercharge your note-taking with Copilot in OneNote

    Supercharge your note-taking with Copilot in OneNote

    OneNote just got smarter. Discover how Microsoft Copilot’s integration can transform your note-taking process, making it faster, more efficient, and more organized. From summarizing meetings to turning notes into visuals, here are nine practical ways to make the most of Copilot’s capabilities.

    Summarize and simplify notes

    Copilot can condense your notes into digestible summaries. Whether it’s a single page or an entire notebook, Copilot quickly identifies the key points so you can quickly distill valuable insights. With everything neatly sorted, managing your notes across multiple pages or sections becomes much easier.

    To turn meeting notes into a concise summary, simply highlight your notes, and ask Copilot to summarize the main points, agenda items, and discussions.

    Easily keep notes organized

    It can be challenging to manage notes across multiple pages or sections. Copilot makes organizing effortless by automatically sorting your pages by creation date, topic, or other criteria. Just let it know your preferences, and it will suggest a neat, organized structure for you to approve.

    Create custom templates for meeting notes

    If you hold regular meetings, Copilot can quickly generate a template with predefined sections such as agenda, action items, and meeting notes so your meetings are consistently well-structured and documented. This means you can focus on the meeting itself, not on creating the same templates every time.

    Turn notes into study materials

    Preparing for a test, meeting, or presentation? Copilot can scan your notes and pull out key concepts. It can even create flashcards or quizzes to help you retain the most important information, giving you an easy way to study directly from your OneNote pages.

    Generate visuals from notes

    Copilot can convert your notes into visuals that simplify complex information. For example, it can create graphs to track sales performance, generate mind maps to organize ideas, and produce visual comparisons to spot trends and forecast outcomes.

    Search and cite external sources

    Copilot isn’t limited to your notebook; it can also pull in external information from the web. Whether you’re searching for the latest statistics, definitions, or industry news, Copilot can instantly find credible sources and cite them for you in popular formats such as APA or MLA. This is particularly useful for writing research papers or white papers, blogs, business proposals, and other professional documentation that require hard evidence.

    Convert notes to Excel, Word, or PowerPoint

    OneNote’s content is versatile, and Copilot helps you unlock its full potential. If you want to convert your notes into a more formal document such as a Word report, an Excel spreadsheet, or a PowerPoint presentation, Copilot can do the heavy lifting. Just give it a prompt, and it will format everything according to your preferences.

    Brainstorm ideas with Copilot

    Copilot is perfect for sparking your creativity when you’re planning an online event, crafting a marketing campaign, or tackling other complex projects. It can provide suggestions, help you think through challenges, and even create mind maps to bring clarity and structure to your ideas.

    Translate notes into multiple languages

    With Copilot, you can easily translate your OneNote pages into various languages, making it easy to collaborate with international teams or communicate with clients across the globe. Simply highlight the text and command Copilot to translate it into the language you need.

    For more tips and insights on how to maximize Copilot’s potential, reach out to our IT experts and discover how we can help you optimize your Microsoft experience.

    Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

  • Achieve more with Excel: A productivity guide for Microsoft 365 users

    Achieve more with Excel: A productivity guide for Microsoft 365 users

    Excel for Microsoft 365 is packed with new features that can significantly improve your productivity. From real-time collaboration to dynamic arrays, discover the essential tools that can help you get the most out of this powerful spreadsheet tool.

    Get things done faster with SEARCH

    If you’ve ever struggled to find a command in Excel’s Ribbon, the SEARCH feature is a game-changer. Simply type what you need, such as “pivot table” or “sum,” and Excel will show you the best options to get started. It also remembers your previous searches, making frequent tasks more accessible. Managing complex spreadsheets then becomes significantly easier and more efficient, helping you save valuable time.

    Explore advanced chart types

    Visualizing data is crucial; that’s why Microsoft has introduced a range of new chart types to help you display your information more effectively. From treemaps (perfect for hierarchical data) to waterfall charts (ideal for financial statements), Excel now offers a variety of ways to see your data come to life. These chart types can help you uncover insights that might otherwise go unnoticed, such as revenue trends or sales patterns.

    Real-time collaboration

    The era of exchanging Excel files through endless email chains is over. With Microsoft 365, your team can collaborate simultaneously on the same spreadsheet. As long as the file is saved in SharePoint or OneDrive, your team can work together in real time. You’ll see exactly what others are editing, and you can even leave comments inside cells to discuss changes.

    Linked data types

    Excel’s linked data types are a powerful feature that lets you pull in real-time, updated information from the web directly into your spreadsheets. For example, if you’re tracking stock prices, you can enter a company’s ticker symbol, and Excel will automatically fetch the latest stock price. The data in these cells updates regularly, so there’s no need to manually update figures.

    Dynamic arrays for smarter formulas

    Dynamic arrays are one of the most exciting additions to Excel for Microsoft 365. These formulas allow you to return multiple results from a single calculation. The FILTER function, for instance, can be used to pull only certain data from a list. As your data changes, the dynamic arrays adjust automatically, making them perfect for ever-changing datasets.

    Version History and AutoSave

    Losing your work is probably the most nerve-wracking thing about working on spreadsheets. Fear no more. With AutoSave enabled on files stored in OneDrive, SharePoint, or OneDrive for Business, your changes are saved automatically. If anything goes wrong, Version History lets you easily restore an earlier version of your file. You can review, compare, and recover past versions whenever you need to, giving you complete control and peace of mind.

    Sheet Views for custom filtering

    Team members often need to look at data in different ways because of their unique roles or perspectives. With Sheet Views, Excel allows you to create custom filtered or sorted views of your worksheet without affecting the rest of your team’s view. Whether you’re analyzing sales data or project timelines, this feature makes it easy to personalize your experience while keeping everyone else’s work intact.

    3D maps to visualize geospatial data

    For those working with geographical data, Excel’s 3D Maps feature provides an interactive way to display and analyze information on a three-dimensional globe. This feature is great for presenting sales or demographic data across regions and allows you to see patterns that are much harder to spot in flat spreadsheets.

    Microsoft 365 Copilot

    For users who subscribe to Microsoft 365 Copilot, Excel now includes an AI assistant that can help you generate charts, summarize data, and even suggest formulas. While it’s still in its early stages, Copilot can offer guidance for users who may not be Excel experts. However, don’t expect it to replace the experience of manually crafting detailed analyses just yet.

    For more Microsoft 365 tips and technology insights, contact our knowledgeable team. We’re always ready to assist you.

    Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

  • Unlock efficiency with Microsoft Power Automate

    Unlock efficiency with Microsoft Power Automate

    Running a small business often means wearing many hats. You’re handling sales, marketing, customer service, and a lot more. It can get overwhelming, and you might find yourself doing the same tedious tasks day after day. But what if there is a way to free up some of your precious time and focus on growing your business? Enter Microsoft Power Automate, a handy tool that acts like your digital assistant, automating those repetitive tasks so you don’t have to keep doing them yourself.

    What is Microsoft Power Automate?

    Think of Power Automate as a helpful robot that lives in the cloud and can be trained to do all sorts of routine tasks for you automatically. It works based on two main things: triggers and actions. A trigger is like a starting signal; it tells the robot when to begin. For example, a trigger could be “when a new email arrives” or “when a new customer fills out a form on your website.” Once the trigger happens, the robot performs one or more actions. An action is a specific task, such as “save the email attachment to a folder” or “add the customer’s information to a spreadsheet.”

    The great thing is that you don’t need to be a computer whiz to set up these automated workflows. Power Automate offers many ready-made templates for common tasks, and you can also create your own custom workflows without writing a single line of code.

    Power Automate key features

    Power Automate comes packed with features designed to make automation accessible. Here are some of the key components that make it so user-friendly:

    • Connectors – Connectors allow Power Automate to communicate and work with various apps and services you likely already use, such as email platforms, file storage services, and online forms.
    • Templates – Power Automate offers a library of templates, which are prebuilt workflows for common tasks. Basically, they’re ready-made recipes for automation, such as automatically saving tweets to a spreadsheet or sending a welcome email to new subscribers.
    • Drag-and-drop simplicity – Creating your own automated workflows is surprisingly easy. Simply pick the trigger you want and then drag and connect the actions you want to happen afterward.
    • Different ways to automate – Power Automate gives you different types of (work)flows to choose from:
      • Automated flows – These start automatically when something happens, such as when you receive a new email.
      • Instant flows – You can start these yourself with the click of a button on your computer or phone.
      • Scheduled flows – These run automatically on a schedule you set, such as daily or weekly reports.

    Getting started with Power Automate

    If you have a Microsoft account, you can use Power Automate for free on a limited basis to explore some of its capabilities. However, if you want to access key connectors and more advanced tools to really streamline your operations, you may need a paid subscription.

    The good news is that Power Automate is often included with most Microsoft 365 enterprise plans, so your business might already have access to it. It’s worth checking with your IT administrator or exploring your Microsoft 365 subscription details. If it’s not included, separate Power Automate plans are available, starting at $15 per user per month.

    Once you have access, just look for the Power Automate app online. You’ll see a dashboard where you can browse the templates to find ready-made automations that suit your needs. If you want to create something unique, head to the “Create” section. You can start from a blank canvas or choose a connector, or the app or service you want to automate something with.

    The process usually involves selecting a trigger and then adding one or more actions. You can test your flow as you build it to make sure it works correctly. If something isn’t quite right, Power Automate usually provides helpful tips for troubleshooting.

    Simple ways you can use Power Automate

    To give you a better idea of how Power Automate can directly benefit your small business, here are a few simple and practical examples:

    • Automated email management – Set triggers to send important email attachments straight to a specific folder, making them easy to find later.
    • File syncing – Automatically copy files between different cloud storage services, such as OneDrive and Dropbox, so your files are always backed up and accessible.
    • Form data collection – If you use online forms to collect customer information, you can automatically save that data to a spreadsheet or database without manual entry.
    • Social media management – Get notifications for new social media mentions or even schedule basic posts (depending on the platform’s connectors).

    Don’t be intimidated by the word “automate.” With its user-friendly interface and helpful templates, Power Automate can become your secret weapon for boosting efficiency and reclaiming your valuable time. Why not take a few minutes to explore what it can do for you? You can also give our experts a call for more help or information.

    Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

  • How Microsoft Copilot AI agents are changing the way we work

    How Microsoft Copilot AI agents are changing the way we work

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is fast becoming a key business tool, and Microsoft 365 Copilot is leading the way. The AI-powered tool now features new AI agents that help organizations boost productivity, simplify tasks, and expand its functionality. Here’s how these agents work and how to start using them to maximize your Microsoft 365 investment.

    What are Microsoft 365 Copilot agents?

    In Microsoft 365 Copilot, agents are AI-driven digital entities built using Microsoft Copilot Studio. Unlike traditional AI assistants that rely on direct prompts, agents are multi-turn, task-oriented, and capable of handling complex business logic. Think of them as guided workflows that can respond, decide, and even take action, making them closer to a virtual team member than a support bot.

    For example, a company’s finance department could deploy an agent that receives vendor invoice queries, verifies payment status against internal systems, and initiates follow-ups all without human intervention. What makes AI agents a step above simple macros or workflows, which finance teams normally use, is that their decisions and actions are completely autonomous, rooted in data, logic, and context.

    Benefits of enabling agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot

    Enabling agents improves automation to the Microsoft 365 environment, offering users the following benefits:

    • Scalable assistance: Agents can manage repetitive or time-consuming queries, freeing up staff to focus on higher-value tasks.
    • Domain-specific expertise: Organizations can design agents for specific workflows such as HR onboarding, IT support, procurement, etc.
    • Contextual interaction: Rather than reacting in isolation, agents pull from your data ecosystem (e.g., SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, internal APIs) to provide grounded, meaningful responses.

    A support agent, for instance, might access ticket histories, user permissions, and company policies to triage an IT issue before escalating it, something traditional chatbots can’t do effectively.

    Understanding agent consumption

    Microsoft is introducing a consumption-based pricing model for agents. Instead of paying a flat rate per user or per month, organizations are billed based on actual usage, measured in messages. A message refers to an interaction between a user and an agent (whether initiated directly or indirectly).

    This flexible model allows early users to start small and scale as agents integrate into daily operations. Businesses with specific workflows or seasonal needs can use agents without high upfront costs.

    Classic and generative answers: Two modes of response

    Agents can respond using two main types of outputs:

    • Classic answers: These are rule-based, deterministic responses driven by decision trees or flows defined by the developer. They’re reliable for consistent, structured tasks like policy queries or form completions.
    • Generative answers: These use large language models to formulate responses dynamically. They’re particularly useful when users ask open-ended or nuanced questions where a classic answer doesn’t suffice.

    For example, a generative agent might summarize key updates from multiple meeting transcripts stored in Microsoft Teams, while a classic agent might simply provide a prewritten policy explanation. Both types of answers can coexist within an agent, depending on the use case, which allows for a more personalized and versatile user experience.

    Grounding messages with tenant data

    One of the standout capabilities of Copilot agents is tenant graph grounding, which means the agent’s responses are rooted in your organization’s internal data as well as generic web knowledge. Tenant Graph Grounding enables agents to pull contextually relevant insights from your Microsoft Graph, including user calendars, emails, documents, shared chats, and more. This makes the agent’s replies hyper-relevant and less prone to errors or misunderstandings.

    Imagine asking an agent, “What’s the latest update on the Q2 marketing campaign?” Instead of giving a vague answer, the agent might pull recent planning docs from SharePoint, quote an email from the campaign lead, and even suggest next steps based on recent meetings.

    Currently, Microsoft is rolling out autonomous AI agents in paid preview, with broader availability expected soon. So if you want to take your productivity and collaboration to the next level, keep an eye out for this exciting new feature.

    For more exciting updates about Microsoft developments, our experts can help you stay ahead of the curve and even assist you with implementing these new features in your business.

    Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

  • Harnessing the full potential of Microsoft Copilot

    Harnessing the full potential of Microsoft Copilot

    Microsoft Copilot and other AI tools are changing how people work, research, and create. But are you using these tools to their full potential? This guide provides tips to get the best results from Copilot, whether you’re summarizing information, drafting content, or creating AI-powered images.

    Use Copilot to summarize web pages

    If you’re browsing with Microsoft Edge, Copilot can summarize web pages for you. Just click the Copilot icon and select Create a summary to get a concise version of lengthy articles. This feature is incredibly useful when conducting research, as it helps you quickly grasp the key points without reading through entire pages.

    For an even more refined summary, you can customize the output by asking Copilot to highlight specific aspects, such as:

    • Key statistics and data points
    • Main arguments and conclusions
    • Counterpoints and alternative perspectives

    Generate first drafts quickly

    Struggling with writer’s block? Copilot can help jump-start your writing process by generating structured, high-quality drafts. Whether you need an email, a blog post, a report, or a presentation, simply provide a detailed prompt and specify the desired tone (e.g., formal, casual, or professional) to get the words flowing.

    To make the most of this feature:

    • Provide clear, specific instructions for better results.
    • Include key points or ideas you want covered.
    • Indicate formatting preferences, such as bullet points or paragraph structure.

    Additionally, Copilot can suggest alternative phrasing, improve readability, and format text in specific ways, such as outlines, making your writing process smoother and more efficient.

    Sign in for a personalized experience

    While you can use Copilot without signing in, logging in with your Microsoft account unlocks additional features, enabling the AI to better tailor responses according to your needs. Benefits of signing in include:

    • Access to past conversations – Pick up where you left off across multiple sessions.
    • Extended voice chat durations – Engage in longer, more detailed discussions.
    • Cross-device synchronization – Seamlessly continue interactions across different platforms.

    Personalized settings also allow Copilot to refine its responses based on your history, improving accuracy and relevance.

    Use Think Deeper for in-depth analysis

    For those needing more than just a basic answer, Copilot’s Think Deeper feature enhances responses by breaking down complex queries into well-structured, insightful explanations. This tool is particularly useful for analyzing multifaceted problems, conducting comparative research, and seeking detailed step-by-step guidance.

    Enabling Think Deeper provides thorough responses that may include:

    • Pros and cons of different solutions
    • Case studies and real-world examples
    • Expert opinions and industry best practices

    Create AI-generated images

    Copilot isn’t limited to text-based assistance; it can generate custom images as well. Whether you need illustrations for presentations, marketing materials, or creative projects, Copilot can generate it for you with a simple prompt and description of the image you need.

    To get the best results:

    • Provide a detailed description, including color, style, and composition.
    • Refine the generated images by adjusting prompts or requesting variations.
    • Download high-quality visuals for professional use.

    Microsoft Copilot is a game-changing tool, but unlocking its full potential requires a deep understanding of its features. For expert guidance on getting the most out of Microsoft products and other tech solutions, reach out to our IT specialists today.

    Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

  • Unlocking the full potential of Outlook in Microsoft 365

    Unlocking the full potential of Outlook in Microsoft 365

    Managing your emails doesn’t need to be overwhelming. With Outlook in Microsoft 365, you can effortlessly organize your inbox, simplify scheduling, and communicate more efficiently than ever.

    Classic Outlook vs. new Outlook

    Microsoft offers two versions of Outlook: classic Outlook and new Outlook. The former is the current version bundled with Microsoft 365, while the latter is intended to replace the built-in Windows Mail and Calendar apps.

    Although the new Outlook is available for testing, it currently lacks some key business features. So for now, it’s best to stick with classic Outlook, which Microsoft will support until at least 2029

    Key features to improve your Outlook experience in Microsoft 365

    Take full advantage of the following Outlook features in Microsoft 365:

    Customizing the ribbon toolbar

    Outlook’s ribbon toolbar, which provides access to various features, comes in two styles: Simplified and Classic. The Simplified Ribbon, the default interface, offers a sleek design that highlights frequently used tools for a more streamlined experience. Meanwhile, the Classic Ribbon — familiar to long-time Outlook users — offers a complete view of all available options.

    To switch between these views, click the downward-pointing caret (˅) in the bottom right corner of the Ribbon and select either Simplified Ribbon or Classic Ribbon. You can also customize the Ribbon by selecting File > Options > Customize Ribbon, where you can add or remove tabs and commands.

    To hide the Ribbon for more screen space, press Ctrl + F1 or click the caret at the far right to toggle between different display modes.

    Using the search bar beyond finding emails

    Outlook’s search bar does more than just locate emails. It also helps you access Outlook functions quickly. This feature replaces the Tell Me function found in Outlook 2016 and 2019.

    To use Outlook’s search bar, either click on the search box or press Alt + Q, then type a command such as “filter email” to filter messages by unread status, attachments, importance, and more. Compared to navigating through menus, using the search bar is a faster, more efficient way to access less common features. Plus, the search bar remembers your previous searches, making it easy to find your most-used tools.

    Researching without leaving Outlook

    Outlook allows you to perform web searches directly within the app, eliminating the need to switch between windows. Just highlight a word or phrase in any email, right-click, and select Search. Outlook will then use Bing to display definitions, Wikipedia entries, images, and other web results in a pane on the right. Take note that you need to enable Microsoft’s Intelligent Services to use this built-in search feature.

    Enabling Focused Inbox

    Struggling with email overload? Focused Inbox is here to help. Powered by artificial intelligence, this feature organizes your inbox by separating essential emails from less critical ones, letting you sift through the noise.

    To turn on Focused Inbox, go to the View tab and click Show Focused Inbox. Outlook will create two tabs: Focused (for high-priority messages) and Other (for general emails). Train Focused Inbox by moving messages between tabs or setting rules for specific senders.

    If Focused Inbox doesn’t suit your workflow, you can disable it anytime by selecting View > Show Focused Inbox.

    Using the Archive folder for a cleaner inbox

    Rather than deleting emails, try using the Archive feature to clear your inbox while keeping messages easily accessible. Archiving is perfect for emails you’ve already addressed but may need to reference later.

    There are three ways to archive emails. After selecting the emails you want to archive, you can click Archive on the Home tab, press the Backspace key, or drag them into the Archive folder. You can retrieve archived emails anytime by browsing the Archive folder or using the Search function. If you’d like to move an email to another folder, just drag and drop it to your desired location.

    Attaching files the smart way

    Outlook simplifies file attachments by displaying your 12 most recently used files. Simply click the Attach icon and choose from the suggested list. You can choose to attach the file itself or include a link to it, which is especially useful for files stored in the cloud. If the file you want to attach isn’t in the recent list, you can browse your PC or web locations such as OneDrive and SharePoint.

    With these Outlook features, you can organize your inbox, automate repetitive tasks, and improve your productivity. For more tips on getting the most out of Outlook, Microsoft 365, and other tech tools, turn to our IT experts.

    Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.