Copilot is Microsoft's AI-powered assistant that is available across many business applications, including Business Central. Copilot features are automatically added to Business Central environments and can help users find information, analyze data, automate processes, and create content more efficiently. While the features discussed in this session are currently preview features, they demonstrate how AI can simplify common tasks and improve productivity throughout Business Central.

Chat with Copilot

The Chat with Copilot feature allows users to ask Business Central questions directly from within the application. Copilot searches Microsoft documentation and provides summarized answers without requiring users to search through it manually. This can be especially valuable for:

• New Business Central users
• Learning unfamiliar processes
• Answering system-specific questions
• Quickly locating relevant Microsoft documentation

Copilot displays links to supporting Microsoft documentation so users can review additional details if needed.

Getting help with fields

Business Central contains many fields that may not be familiar to new users. While standard tooltips provide basic field descriptions, Copilot can offer additional context. When viewing a field:

1. Hover over the field.
2. Select Ask Copilot.
3. Review the expanded explanation provided by Copilot.

This feature can help users understand how specific fields are used, when they should be populated, and how they relate to other Business Central functionality. Supporting documentation links are also provided when available.

Creating analysis views with Copilot

Analysis mode allows users to organize and analyze list data in ways similar to Excel pivot tables. Copilot can simplify creating these views by generating them based on natural language prompts. To create an analysis view:

1. Open a list page.
2. Select the Copilot option.
3. Choose Analyze list.
4. Enter a description of the analysis you want to see.
5. Review the generated analysis view.
6. Refine the results with additional prompts if needed.

For example, users can request sales totals by month, year, customer, or other available data dimensions. Copilot generates the view and allows additional refinements until the desired result is achieved.

Improving bank reconciliations with Copilot

Copilot can assist with bank reconciliations by identifying transaction matches that the standard matching process may miss. The process begins by importing a bank statement as usual. When users select Reconcile with Copilot, Business Central:

• Runs the standard automatic matching process first.
• Identifies unmatched transactions.
• Uses Copilot to propose additional matches.
• Allows users to review, accept, modify, or reject proposed matches.

This can be particularly useful when:

• Multiple ledger entries correspond to a single bank transaction.
• Transaction descriptions vary from expected formats.
• Standard matching logic cannot determine an exact match.

Users maintain full control over the final reconciliation decisions and can review each proposed match before accepting it.

Posting reconciliation differences to general ledger accounts

When reconciliation differences remain after matching transactions, Copilot can also assist with posting those differences. For selected transactions, Copilot can:

• Analyze the transaction details.
• Suggest an appropriate general ledger account.
• Prepare the transaction for posting to a journal.

For example, bank service fees may be automatically suggested for posting to a bank charges expense account, reducing manual account selection and speeding up the reconciliation process.

Generating marketing text for products

Copilot can create product descriptions using information already stored on an item card. Using item attributes such as:

• Material
• Product features
• Assembly requirements
• Physical characteristics

Copilot generates marketing-ready content for websites, e-commerce platforms, catalogs, and other sales and marketing materials. Users can further customize the generated content by adjusting:

• Tone
• Format
• Emphasis

For example, a description can be generated with a formal tone and a focus on elegance or other key product characteristics. Once approved, the marketing text can be stored in Business Central and used for integrations such as Shopify or copied into other marketing channels.

Key takeaways

• Copilot provides in-app assistance using Microsoft documentation and Business Central data.
• Users can receive expanded explanations for fields and functionality.
• Analysis views can be generated through natural language prompts rather than manual configuration.
• Bank reconciliation processes can be accelerated through AI-assisted matching.
• Copilot can suggest general ledger accounts for reconciliation differences.
• Product descriptions can be automatically generated and tailored using different tones and emphasis settings.
• These capabilities help reduce manual effort while improving productivity throughout Business Central.