Microsoft 365 Copilot has revolutionized productivity across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. But its true collaborative potential is unlocked when integrated with Microsoft Teams. Teams, as the central hub for communication and teamwork in Microsoft 365, acts as the perfect launchpad for extending Copilot’s capabilities, transforming routine interactions into intelligent, context-driven collaborations.
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This article explores how organizations can enhance Copilot’s functionality within MS Teams through app integrations, plugins, and custom solutions, bridging conversations with actions in real-time.
Why extend Copilot inside MS Teams?
While Copilot independently streamlines individual tasks, its impact within Teams lies in collective productivity. Here’s why integration matters:
- Contextual AI inside conversations: Copilot can summarize discussions, extract action items, and pull insights from documents shared within a Teams channel or meeting.
- Real-time decision-making: With integration, Copilot becomes a proactive assistant, fetching data from CRM, HR, or ERP systems during a live chat or meeting.
- Custom workflows: Organizations can tailor Copilot responses and prompts by linking them to internal knowledge bases, project management tools, or industry-specific platforms.
Key integration possibilities with MS Teams
- Loop Components + Copilot for Dynamic Collaboration: Integrate Loop components within Teams conversations to allow Copilot to actively monitor evolving discussions and update documents in real-time. For instance:
- Sales teams can use Loop + Copilot to co-author proposals during Teams chats.
- Project teams can track deliverables and instantly update timelines without leaving the conversation thread.
- Power Platform-Driven Custom Scenarios: Use Power Automate, Power Apps, and Dataverse to build apps that Copilot can interact with. For example:
- An HR chatbot built in Power Apps can be surfaced inside Teams, and Copilot can fetch leave balance, policy documents, or onboarding status from it.
- Create automated flows triggered by Copilot recommendations within Teams (e.g., “Send follow-up email to client X”).
- Third-Party SaaS Integrations: Through Microsoft Graph connectors or Teams app extensions, Copilot can pull or push data across tools like:
- Salesforce, ServiceNow, Workday, Jira
- Enabling scenarios like “Summarize all open Jira issues for Project A” or “Pull the latest support ticket for client Y”
- Graph API and Plugin Model: Developers can use the Microsoft 365 Copilot plugin architecture to:
- Register custom APIs Copilot can call
- Extend prompts inside Teams chat with real-time data from line-of-business applications
This enables secure and permission-sensitive interactions between Copilot and business systems within the Teams interface.
- Adaptive Cards + Embedded Copilot: Adaptive Cards provide a way to show rich UI in Teams messages. With Copilot layered in:
- Users can generate, fill, or analyze structured content using AI inside those cards
- Example: “Draft a status report based on this Adaptive Card input” → Copilot fetches data and fills in a shareable summary
Real-world use case: AI-driven decision support in Teams meetings
Imagine a financial services firm using Teams for client meetings. Copilot, integrated with Dynamics 365 and internal compliance systems, could:
- Analyze meeting transcripts in real-time
- Flag potential regulatory concerns
- Surface related case files from SharePoint
- Recommend the next steps like scheduling a follow-up, generating a pitch deck, or initiating a contract review
This kind of contextual decision support, powered by integration and AI, turns every Teams meeting into a strategic advantage.
Steps to start extending Copilot with Teams
- Identify frequently used business systems inside Teams conversations.
- Leverage Power Platform or custom connectors to bridge those systems with Microsoft 365.
- Develop Copilot plugins or adaptive card extensions aligned with Microsoft’s compatibility and validation guidelines.
- Ensure proper permissions and data governance through Microsoft Graph and Entra ID.
- Pilot Copilot-driven interactions in Teams channels and analyze their impact on decision speed and collaboration quality.
How AVASOFT can help
At AVASOFT, we specialize in designing AI-infused collaboration solutions that seamlessly integrate Microsoft Copilot into your Teams environment. From developing custom plugins to orchestrating workflows using Power Platform, we help you unlock the full value of Microsoft 365 Copilot, tailored to your industry and business processes.
Ready to extend Copilot beyond basic functionality?
Contact us at sales@avasoft.com to explore integration possibilities that transform your Teams experience.