Finding Emails in Outlook with Copilot

Don’t you hate it when you’re trying to find that email you received and no matter what, the search function in Outlook doesn’t find it? Microsoft 365 Copilot is here to finally scratch that itch.

13.08.24 Charles Griffiths

Using Copilot to Find Emails in Outlook

Emails are elusive and the search function in Outlook often returns the most random, and far back dated results you could find, without the actual email you were looking for.

Those that have Microsoft Copilot for 365 can now hit the Copilot icon and then ask it to summarise emails, find action items, or locate specific attachments, emails, or event files within your inbox. Whether you’re using the new Outlook on your desktop or online, the experience is much more fulfilling than that of the old search function.

Why is Copilot better than the search function in Outlook?

Unlike the traditional keyword search, which can often miss the mark, Copilot conducts a comprehensive search of your inbox and attachments. It delves into the content of your documents, ensuring that no stone is left unturned. This intelligent search capability means you’re not just searching; you’re finding. It will also use context when searching, so if you haven’t searched the exact word or phrase, but something of the same context it will bring this back as a result. Example: if you search for a ‘launch date’ and the wording used was a ‘go-live date’, Copilot would understand these mean the same thing and return it as a result.

What Else Can Copilot Do in Outlook?

Beyond email retrieval, Copilot is your personal drafting assistant and coach. It can help you draft emails by suggesting content based on the context of your message. Copilot also offers coaching tips to improve your email communication, ensuring your messages are clear, concise, and impactful.

Drafting Emails with Copilot

In this demo, we demo a campaign around an e-bike, so imagine drafting an email about the e-bike project and needing to reference a specific file. Instead of combing through folders, simply ask Copilot to find the file that mentions “e-bike,” and it will search through your inbox and attachments to bring you the relevant documents. You can then even ask Copilot to draft an email about this project, based on the specific file it’s just found.

Coaching with Copilot

Copilot doesn’t just help you find and draft emails; it also coaches you to be a better communicator. It can suggest improvements to your writing, ensuring that your emails are not only informative but also engaging and professional.

WATCH: How to improve tone of your emails with Copilot.

In summary, the power of Copilot in Outlook is a true unsung hero of day-to-day productivity. Retrieving files quickly, drafting emails in no time, and even coaching yourself to deliver more professional responses all add to a hugely positive experience with this new AI.

Get Copilot-Ready

Copilot’s powerful feature set makes it a great addition to any workforce. But setting up Copilot securely can feel daunting.

AAG’s comprehensive support helps you get the most out of Copilot. An initial consultation and readiness assessment ensures that the new services can be accessed securely, while customised training helps your team understand Copilot features and its applications in their workflows. We’ll even run regular updates based on your usage to keep your Copilot services optimised.

Contact us today to get your Copilot readiness assessment.

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