Match tasks to tools
Compare Microsoft 365 assistance, Copilot Studio knowledge agents and custom Azure AI scenarios. Distinguish document extraction, predictive analysis and generative answers; each needs different data and evaluation methods.
Data & AI / Overview
DIGITAL CLOUD / Data & AI
Microsoft AI Discovery
Identify realistic AI opportunities across your business. Compare expected value, data readiness and risks before choosing a pilot.
Plan your solution01
Microsoft AI Discovery
Understanding the solution
Microsoft AI Discovery turns interest in AI into a justified experiment. Digital Cloud brings business and technical participants together to compare opportunities using tasks, available information and process constraints. The selected pilot receives a clear purpose and owner.
Business AI should begin with a bounded task and a way to judge the output. Good results depend on suitable information, defined access and clear handling of uncertainty or mistakes.
Capabilities and scope
Examine feasibility and consequences
Map source access, data sensitivity, integration needs and human review. Ask what an incorrect answer or failed action would mean, and whether a simpler process change could solve the same problem.
Define a measurable experiment
Select a manageable use case, representative examples and acceptance criteria. Agree who evaluates output, which costs will be observed and what evidence supports continuing, changing direction or stopping.
A practical example
A service organization compares email drafting, document intake and internal knowledge search, then chooses the scenario with available evidence and a practical review process.
What your project can deliver
- A prioritized opportunity list with assumptions and dependencies.
- A pilot brief identifying users, data and evaluation responsibilities.
- A preparation checklist for permissions, examples and technical access.
The final deliverables, licensing and responsibilities are agreed for your environment before implementation.
02
Requirements and considerations
Identify permitted sources, sensitive data, expected outputs and human review points. Evaluate quality, costs and failure cases before allowing broader access or connected actions.
Microsoft AI Discovery
Project priorities
Opportunity shortlist
Readiness review
Pilot choice
We begin with a conversation about the task, the people involved and the systems already in place. Together we identify what a useful result would look like and which dependencies need attention first. The agreed proposal sets the delivery boundaries, responsibilities and acceptance criteria.
Your engagement
How Digital Cloud can help
| Project phase | What happens |
|---|---|
| 01Prepare | Involve the relevant process owners and prepare a representative example. Agree on the questions to answer, the preparation needed and the information that can be used safely. |
| 02Review | Work through the agreed scenario with the team. Capture decisions, open questions and the technical or organizational changes needed to move forward. |
| 03Validate | Review the outputs together and assign next actions. A workshop or prototype informs the next decision; production implementation and continuing support are scoped separately. |
Microsoft AI Discovery
Questions before you start
Do we need to choose an AI product beforehand?
No. Product selection follows the task and constraints. The workshop can also identify cases that need data preparation before an AI pilot makes sense.
What determines the cost and schedule?
The starting environment, integrations, user groups and agreed outputs determine the effort. We confirm scope and commercial terms before work begins. Software licenses, infrastructure consumption and ongoing support may be separate items.
What will we receive?
The proposal identifies the deliverables: these may include findings, a prioritized roadmap, a tested configuration, a prototype, documentation or training. We agree what is included and how completion will be assessed.
Can this work with our existing systems?
We review the actual applications, data sources and access requirements before recommending an integration. Dependencies and compatibility limits are recorded so the delivery plan reflects your environment.
What happens after the initial work?
You can use the findings to guide your own team or discuss a follow-on phase. Any maintenance, monitoring or support includes separately agreed service hours, responsibilities and response targets.
Product documentationMicrosoft Learn ↗