Hargreaves Lansdown achieves transformational benefits with Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365

As the UK’s number one platform for private investors, Hargreaves Lansdown prioritises digital innovation as a source of competitive advantage and driving improvements in the customer experience. When it saw an opportunity to explore the potential of artificial intelligence and, in particular, Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, the business jumped at the chance.

Exploring potential as an early adopter

Vicki Holman, Collaboration Platform Owner at Hargreaves Lansdown, explains, “When I initially heard about Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, I thought, ‘This is a really exciting time.’ So as soon as I knew there was an option for us to apply to go on the early access programme, it was a no-brainer. It was something I felt we absolutely had to do.”

To explore the potential competitive advantage and stay ahead of the curve, the Hargreaves Lansdown team was keen to put the technology in the hands of users as soon as possible.

Vicki Holman explains the approach: “In terms of deployment, we just want to move really quickly. With the initial project team licenced, we had a couple of weeks to become experts ourselves!”

“After two weeks, we ran a demo in the library where people were able to just drop in on a one-to-one basis,” she continues, “have a chat, look at what Copilot could do, how that might fit with their job.”

Positive feedback from around the business

Staff have proved eager to get on board with the technology. Their responses have been varied but overwhelmingly positive.

“The first demo I saw was Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 drafting a set of slides—a quite simple but quite professional-looking presentation. I just felt like I was watching the future happen in front of my eyes!” recalls Julia Legge, IAM Product Lead at Hargreaves Lansdown. “It has enabled us to be able to deliver the value that we can deliver and not get bogged down in tasks that don’t need to be us.”

“My working memory is not too good with dyslexia,” reports Emma Richards, a Senior Graphic Designer at Hargreaves Lansdown. “Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 has been really useful for summarising meeting notes. It has probably saved me about four hours per day.”

“I think it’s made us far more productive. For me, it’s like having a personal PA, honestly,” agrees Rupika Setia, Head of Digital Strategy Realisation at Hargreaves Lansdown. “It very quickly becomes that indispensable part of your daily work life.”

Jim Woods, AV Support Engineer, End User Support at Hargreaves Lansdown, adds, “People find Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 so easy to use because it is so natural. Everybody is kind of blown away by the technology, really … it could be really beneficial for everybody.”

A bright future with Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365

Hargreaves Lansdown has been impressed by the rollout and the reception to Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365. It is now exploring new ways for staff to benefit from the adoption. The team see the programme as a wonderful early success.

Vicki Holman concludes, “People come up to me and say ‘Thank you—you’ve changed the way I work,’ and that’s really rewarding.”