Unlocking the Real Value of Copilot in Dynamics 365 Business Central: Potential, Pitfalls, and Best Practices
Introduction
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future concept—it is actively reshaping how organizations work today. Microsoft Copilot in Dynamics 365 Business Central (BC) represents a significant step forward in bringing AI-driven insights, automation, and productivity gains to finance and operations teams. However, like any emerging technology, realizing its full value requires understanding both its strengths and its limitations.
At Brightpoint Infotech, we work closely with organizations to help them adopt Copilot and AI capabilities in a secure, practical, and value-driven manner. This blog explores where Copilot excels, where caution is needed, and how businesses can maximize outcomes using Business Central data and AI.
What Can Copilot Do Inside Business Central?
Copilot in Business Central is designed to assist users directly within the application, making everyday tasks faster and more intuitive. Key use cases include:
- Natural language queries to ask questions about data without deep technical knowledge
- Summaries and content generation, helping users quickly understand records, transactions, or documents
- Automation support, such as assisting with bank reconciliations and configuration of bank statement imports
- Analyze Lists, enabling users to identify trends and insights directly from Business Central pages
These capabilities significantly reduce manual effort and lower the learning curve for new users, particularly those unfamiliar with Business Central terminology.
Understanding Copilot’s Limitations
While Copilot is powerful, it is not a replacement for structured reporting or advanced analytics. Some important limitations include:
- Dependence on accurate terminology and field names
- Challenges handling questions that span multiple datasets or tables
- Limited support for complex workflows
- Dependency on ISV extensions—Copilot can only interact with extensions that have registered Copilot capabilities
Recognizing these boundaries early helps organizations set realistic expectations and avoid frustration during adoption.
Smart Workarounds to Maximize Value
Successful Copilot adoption often involves combining in-app Copilot with external AI tools. Proven strategies include:
- Using clean, purpose-built datasets (for example, sales data excluding tax) for better AI responses
- Storing ISV documentation, manuals, and reports in a central repository for AI-driven queries
- Leveraging Copilot outside Business Central for workflows involving multiple data sources or advanced analysis
Even organizations still on NAV/Navision can benefit by using Copilot Studio or other AI platforms to extract value from their data before upgrading to Business Central.
Copilot Beyond Business Central
The real power of AI emerges when Copilot is used across the Microsoft ecosystem:
- Outlook: Identify cold leads, summarize customer interactions, and draft follow-up emails
- Excel: Analyze vendor performance, cost variances, delivery timelines, and pricing trends
- PowerPoint: Generate summaries and insights for executive presentations
- Copilot Studio: Build private, secure AI environments connected to internal and external data sources
Security remains critical—private Copilot environments, sensitivity labels, and access controls are essential for protecting company data.
Data Readiness: The Foundation of AI Success
AI is only as good as the data it consumes. Organizations must ensure accurate capture of:
- Costs, taxes, and item charges
- Dates and timelines (expected vs. actual receipts and shipments)
- Reason codes for returns, stoppages, and credits
Well-structured, governed data is the cornerstone of meaningful AI insights.
AI Agents in Business Central: What to Know
AI Agents (currently in preview) represent the next evolution of automation in Business Central. They can:
- Execute tasks on request
- Automate workflows
- Reduce repetitive manual work
However, governance is critical. Best practices include:
- Avoiding personal mailboxes for agent workflows
- Managing permissions carefully
- Monitoring costs using Azure budgets and the Azure Cost Calculator
- Enabling agents strategically during peak business periods
Key Takeaways for Business Leaders
- Copilot is most effective when paired with strong data governance and clear use cases
- Not every task requires AI—focus on high-impact scenarios
- Security, privacy, and cost control must be built into any AI strategy
- AI adoption is a journey—start with one initiative and expand iteratively
How Brightpoint Infotech Can Help
Brightpoint Infotech helps organizations design, implement, and optimize Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Copilot solutions—from AI readiness assessments and data strategy to secure Copilot Studio implementations and ongoing optimization.
Ready to unlock the real value of Copilot and AI in Business Central? Connect with Brightpoint Infotech to explore how AI can drive smarter decisions, streamlined operations, and measurable business outcomes.
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