How to Become a Microsoft 365 Copilot Developer: A Complete Guide for Beginners

The Microsoft 365 Copilot is a groundbreaking AI-powered tool from Microsoft that integrates with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office applications. It leverages the GPT language model to help users perform tasks more efficiently by automating workflows, analyzing data, and providing intelligent suggestions.

If you are interested in becoming a developer for the Microsoft 365 Copilot, it is essential to understand the tools, licenses, and ecosystem surrounding it. This article will guide you through what you need, from the required licenses to free resources that can help you get started with zero investment.

What Is Microsoft 365 Copilot?

The Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI assistant integrated into the Microsoft 365 suite, designed to assist users with various tasks such as document editing, data analysis, and presentation generation. Powered by OpenAI’s GPT model, it acts as a smart assistant, providing personalized suggestions and automating complex workflows.

For developers, Copilot opens a world of possibilities, allowing the creation of custom solutions, automations, and data integrations. These capabilities are built on top of Microsoft’s powerful Graph API and other tools like Power Platform, providing extensive flexibility and functionality.

Tools Needed to Develop for Microsoft 365 Copilot

To get started with developing for Microsoft 365 Copilot, you will need specific tools and services. Below are the key components:

1. Microsoft Graph API

The Microsoft Graph API is the central hub for connecting data across Microsoft 365 services like Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, and more. It allows developers to:

• Access and interact with user data across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
• Automate tasks such as generating reports in Excel or sending automated emails through Outlook.
• Build integrations that can extend Copilot’s capabilities.

2. Power Platform

Microsoft’s Power Platform offers several tools that allow developers to create custom applications, automations, and analytics solutions. These include:

• Power Automate: A tool for creating automated workflows across Microsoft services.
• Power Apps: A low-code platform for building custom business apps.
• Power BI: A business analytics tool for visualizing and sharing insights from data.

3. Licenses Required

For advanced development and deep integration with Microsoft 365 Copilot, the following licenses are recommended:

• Microsoft 365 E5 Developer Subscription: This subscription gives you full access to Microsoft Graph, Power Platform, and other advanced tools necessary for development.
• Azure Active Directory (Azure AD): Used for managing authentication, permissions, and user roles within Microsoft 365 applications.

However, there are free options for those who are just starting out, which we’ll explore next.

How to Get Started for Free

If you’re just getting started and don’t want to spend money on licenses or subscriptions, there are ways to set up your development environment without paying. Below are the steps to follow:

1. Join the Microsoft 365 Developer Program (Free)

The Microsoft 365 Developer Program offers a free developer subscription for 90 days, which includes a Microsoft 365 E5 license. This gives you access to the tools you need to start building applications for Microsoft 365 and Copilot.

Steps to Join:

• Visit the Microsoft 365 Developer Program.
• Sign in with your Microsoft account or create a new one.
• Enroll in the program to receive a free Microsoft 365 E5 subscription for 90 days.

2. Learn and Use the Microsoft Graph API

The Microsoft Graph API is the core technology that you will use to interact with Microsoft 365 services. Start by exploring the official documentation and using the Graph Explorer, which allows you to test API calls without writing any code.

Resources to Begin:

• Visit the Microsoft Graph Documentation to understand how it works.
• Use the Graph Explorer to experiment with API requests and see how it interacts with Microsoft 365 services.

3. Use the Free Version of Power Automate

Power Automate has a free plan that allows you to create basic workflows and automations within certain usage limits. You can start building automations that interact with Microsoft 365 apps, connecting them to your custom workflows or to Copilot.

Resources:

• Visit Power Automate and sign up for a free plan.
• Create workflows that connect to Microsoft 365 apps using Microsoft Graph APIs.

4. Develop with Azure (Free Account)

Azure provides a free account that includes access to Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), which is necessary for managing user authentication and permissions for the applications you develop. Azure AD is crucial when building applications that need to interact with Microsoft 365 services securely.

Steps to Set Up:

• Sign up for a free Azure account.
• Use Azure Active Directory to set up authentication and manage roles for your Microsoft 365 applications.

Best Topics to Start With

When starting out as a developer for Microsoft 365 Copilot, it’s important to pick the right topic or area of focus. Here are a few ideal starting points:

1. Excel Automation

Excel is a powerful tool that allows for a wide range of automation possibilities. By integrating the Microsoft Graph API, you can automate report generation, data analysis, and even chart creation.

• Use Power Automate to build workflows that populate Excel sheets automatically.
• Use Microsoft Graph to pull in data dynamically from other sources and integrate it into Excel for analysis.

2. Automated Report Generation in Word

Microsoft Word is another great area for automation. With Microsoft Graph, you can create custom workflows that generate reports, populate templates, and format documents automatically, making it a perfect starting point for business users.

• Create Power Automate workflows that pull data from SharePoint or Excel and generate formatted reports in Word.
• Use Microsoft Graph to automate Word document creation based on user inputs or data triggers.

3. Outlook Integration

Automating email processes using Outlook is another highly useful area for Copilot development. Automate sending emails, filtering messages, and triggering actions based on email contents using Power Automate and Microsoft Graph.

Next Steps to Expand Your Knowledge

Once you’ve built a basic understanding of the Microsoft 365 Copilot ecosystem, you can dive deeper into more advanced areas:

• Power Platform Advanced Development: Learn how to integrate Power Apps and Power BI into your solutions, allowing for more dynamic applications.
• SharePoint and Web Part Development: If you’re interested in SharePoint, you can create custom web parts using PnP JS and integrate them with Microsoft Graph for a richer user experience.

Conclusion

Developing for Microsoft 365 Copilot opens up many opportunities for building intelligent, automated workflows and solutions across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. You can get started without spending a dime by utilizing the Microsoft 365 Developer Program, Power Automate free plan, and Azure free account.

With the right tools, like Microsoft Graph and Power Platform, and a well-configured environment, you’ll be able to create robust, integrated solutions that leverage the power of Microsoft 365 Copilot to help businesses run smarter and more efficiently.

If you’re serious about becoming a Microsoft 365 Copilot developer, start experimenting today, learn the basics, and expand your skills over time with more complex integrations.