In today's energy landscape, companies are under pressure to do more with less. Whether it's optimizing production, managing assets, or meeting sustainability goals, the demand for efficiency and innovation has never been higher. At the same time, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has seriously entered workplaces worldwide, empowering systems and applications with smartness, automation, and efficiency. AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot are starting to redefine how businesses operate, including the energy sector.
At Cegal’s recent seminar, Updates from Microsoft Ignite, Zuleyha Karaagac, Modern Work Specialist at Microsoft, showcased how Copilot can be a game-changer in the energy industry.
I have never seen as significant interest in and uptake of new technology as we have seen with Microsoft Copilot.
Zuleyha Karaagac, Microsoft
(Photo: Zuleyha Karaagac, Microsoft's Modern Work Specialist)
That may not be a surprise when we dive into numbers from the annual Work Trend Index Repost from Microsoft and LinkedIn, and feedback from early Microsoft Copilot users emphasizes productivity gains:
Energy companies generate massive amounts of data daily, from production logs to asset performance reports. But this data often sits in silos, underused and undervalued. Microsoft Copilot changes that by allowing teams to interact with data through natural language, turning complex datasets into clear, actionable insights.
The result?
Faster decisions, fewer errors, and more time to focus on strategic goals.
Karaagac says, “Imagine when you can start talking to your systems and easily get adequate answers instead of fumbling with a bad user interface and trying to analyze data in different formats.”
Gen AI has the potential to revolutionize the energy industry by enabling more efficient operations, better decision making, and improved resource management. Karaagac continues quoting the McKinsey report: “The State of Energy Organizations 2024”.
Though the energy industry has many advantages to embracing AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, there are some obstacles. According to Microsoft's Work Trend report, 65 percent of employees lack the skills to use AI tools fully. According to Cegal’s internal data on AI uptake among our workforce, AI tools should be encouraged. A structured plan that includes learning, team meetings, and sharing AI experience will boost the use of AI.
The good news is that tools like Microsoft Copilot are designed to be intuitive. With natural language prompts, anyone—from field engineers to C-level executives—can harness AI without a technical background.
With Copilot Studio, you can create custom AI agents tailored to your business needs. Imagine having a virtual project manager who tracks tasks, a facilitator who summarizes meetings in real-time, or an HR assistant who automates employee support—all working seamlessly within your existing Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
The future of energy is smarter, faster, and more sustainable—and Microsoft Copilot is paving the way. Whether optimizing workflows, empowering teams, or driving strategic decisions, Copilot can help your business unlock its full potential.
At Cegal, we specialize in guiding energy companies through digital transformation. Let us help you harness the power of AI to drivaccurateal, measurable results.