Microsoft is taking Excel’s capabilities to the next level with a powerful new enhancement to its Copilot feature. This latest update allows users to seamlessly reference and extract data from Word, PowerPoint, and PDF files within their organisational data—eliminating the need for time-consuming manual copy-pasting and making data analysis more efficient than ever.

A Smarter Way to Work with Data

Imagine working on a financial report in Excel and needing key insights from a PowerPoint presentation or a Word-based company newsletter. Previously, this meant toggling between files, searching for the right information, and manually transferring it into your spreadsheet. With this update, Copilot in Excel can do the heavy lifting for you.

Now, users can simply prompt Copilot to retrieve specific content from a range of document types. For example:

• “Extract the latest sales figures from the quarterly report (PDF).”
• “Summarise the key announcements from last month’s company newsletter (Word).”
• “Pull the main talking points from our executive presentation (PowerPoint) and add them to my table.”

Copilot will analyse the requested document and insert the relevant data directly into an existing spreadsheet or generate a new table, enabling a smoother, more streamlined workflow.

More Than Just Data Extraction

Beyond cross-file referencing, Microsoft has also expanded Copilot’s Excel functionalities to improve table management and formatting. Users can now:

• Add new columns and rows automatically based on contextual insights.
• Apply conditional formatting with natural language prompts (e.g., “Highlight all revenue figures above $1M in green”).
• Adjust table aesthetics for better readability and presentation with simple commands.

These enhancements help users maintain well-structured, visually appealing spreadsheets with minimal manual effort, making data management more intuitive and efficient.

Stay Ahead with Our Comprehensive Copilot Course

For those looking to master Copilot beyond Excel, our Copilot Course provides an in-depth exploration of Excel and all other Microsoft Office applications, including Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, as well as Copilot Studio for building custom AI assistants. The course is updated every 60 days, ensuring that learners always have access to the latest and most relevant materials as Copilot evolves. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced user, this course will equip you with the knowledge to maximise Copilot’s potential across your entire workflow.

When Will These Features Be Available?

Microsoft has announced that the update will begin rolling out to Windows and web users by the end of 2025. However, access will be limited to those with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, ensuring that organisations investing in AI-powered productivity tools get the first look at these game-changing features.

To take full advantage of these updates, users should ensure their Microsoft 365 applications are up to date. Once the latest version is installed, accessing Copilot in Excel will unveil the new functionalities, enabling a more connected and dynamic workflow across multiple document formats.

Want to See Copilot in Excel in Action? Join Our Webinar!

To dive deeper into these new Copilot capabilities and explore the top five use cases for AI-powered data management, join us for our upcoming webinar:

📅 Excel-lent Productivity: Copilot in Excel Mini Course
📆 Thursday, March 6, 2025
⏰ 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Link: https://www.linkedin.com/events/excel-lentproductivity-copiloti7293525817102389249/theater/

We’ll break down the most impactful ways to use Copilot in Excel and demonstrate real-world applications to supercharge your productivity. Don’t miss out—register now and get ready to transform how you work with data!

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