War Story: How We Helped Turn Copilot From A Tool Into A Diver Of Productivity

When a UK transport organisation introduced Microsoft Copilot in procurement, adoption quickly became the biggest hurdle. The proof of concept showed real potential, but most employees weren’t engaging with the tool — meaning its AI productivity benefits were being left on the table. In this discussion, Chelsea and Gareth explore how tailored training, bite-sized learning, and Copilot champions helped turn the rollout into a model for successful digital transformation.

Chelsea: Gareth, can you set the scene for us? What challenge was this UK transport organisation facing with their Copilot rollout?

Gareth: The big issue was adoption. They had launched a proof of concept across procurement, but engagement was patchy. Some staff were experimenting, but most weren’t using Copilot consistently. That meant the tool’s potential to actually reduce admin and free up time wasn’t being realised.

Chelsea: So how did we approach fixing that?

Gareth: We co-created a tailored curriculum with the client. Rather than generic training, we focused on real employee pain points. We also introduced Copilot champions who could support their colleagues directly, which made it feel much more relevant.

Chelsea: What did the training look like in practice?

Gareth: We designed 15-minute, bite-sized sessions. The idea was to spark curiosity and show “the art of the possible” without overwhelming people. That format kept energy high and made it easy for staff to fit into their schedules.

Chelsea: And what kind of impact did this approach deliver?

Gareth: Over 250 procurement staff across all regions took part. Crucially, their feedback shaped the content as we went, so training stayed practical and impactful. By the end, Copilot wasn’t just a tool, it became a real productivity driver for the team.

The results were significant: over 250 procurement staff across all regions adopted Microsoft Copilot, embedding it into their daily workflows to save time, reduce admin, and improve efficiency. By focusing on practical use cases and AI literacy, the organisation turned a slow start into a model for successful Copilot adoption.

This case highlights how businesses can unlock the full value of AI in procurement and drive measurable digital transformation by combining technology with people-focused change.