Retail is changing fast. Customers expect more. Staff are stretched. Costs are rising. But there’s a new tool that can help. Microsoft 365 Copilot is already making a difference in retail. It helps people work faster, make better decisions, and improve the customer experience. This article explains how it works and why it matters, especially for retail and facilities management teams in shopping centres and retail parks.
What is Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI assistant built into the tools many people already use—Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and more. It helps users write, summarise, analyse, and automate tasks. It can also connect to business systems and data to provide insights and support decisions. For retail, this means less time on admin and more time on what matters—serving customers and running better stores.
Smarter Store Operations
Store managers and associates deal with a lot—work shifts, stock, displays, customer queries, and more. Copilot helps by taking care of the small stuff. It can draft shift schedules, summarise daily notes, and even help plan store visits. Associates can use it to find product info, check return policies, or locate items in-store. This saves time and improves service.
For example, a store associate can ask Copilot, “What’s the return policy for this item?” or “Where is this product located?” and get an instant answer. That means fewer delays and happier customers.
Microsoft Intune: Secure, Simple Device Management
Microsoft Intune also plays a key role in retail. Many store employees now use tablets to check stock, help customers, or take payments. These devices need to be secure and easy to manage. Intune lets IT teams or your preferred managed IT services provider set up and control tablets in bulk. Devices can be locked down to only show the apps staff need. This keeps things simple and safe. The same approach works well for shopping centre and retail park teams. Facilities, parking, and security staff can use shared devices to log issues, check schedules, or report incidents. Intune helps make sure those devices stay secure and up to date.
Better Marketing and Promotions
Retail marketing teams often struggle with tight deadlines and limited resources. Copilot helps by speeding up content creation. It can suggest SEO keywords, write blog posts, create social media updates, and even design flyers. It also helps track campaign performance and suggest improvements.
Marketing managers can use Copilot to segment audiences, test messages, and analyse results. This leads to more targeted campaigns and better use of marketing budgets.
Improved Merchandising and Supply Chain
Getting the right products in the right place at the right time is key. Copilot helps merchandising teams research trends, compare suppliers, and analyse sales data. It can summarise supplier reports, draft RFx documents, and even suggest new product options.
Supply chain managers can use Copilot to monitor inventory, review contracts, and respond to delivery issues. It connects to systems like ERP and WMS to provide real-time insights. This helps reduce stockouts, avoid overstock, and improve margins.
Personalised Shopping Experiences
Customers want more than just products; they want experiences. Copilot helps create personalised journeys by using data to understand preferences and suggest products. It powers virtual shopping assistants that can chat with customers, recommend items, and answer questions.
This kind of support helps move customers from browsing to buying. It also builds loyalty by making shopping easier and more enjoyable.
Boosting Staff Morale and Reducing Turnover
Retail staff often face high pressure and low flexibility. Copilot helps by simplifying tasks, improving communication, and supporting training. It can draft weekly updates, summarise policy changes, and track training progress.
By making work easier and more predictable, Copilot helps reduce stress and improve morale. This can lead to lower turnover and better performance.
Real Results from Retailers
Retailers like Walmart, Canadian Tire, and CarMax are already using Copilot to improve operations. They’re seeing gains in productivity, customer satisfaction, and revenue. For example, PepsiCo uses Copilot to analyse store performance and share best practices across locations. These are not just tech demos—they’re real-world results that show what’s possible.
Why It Matters for UK Shopping Centres and Retail Parks
For management teams in shopping centres and retail parks, Copilot offers a way to support tenants and improve the overall retail environment. It can help with tenant communications, event planning, and performance tracking. Facilities teams can use it to manage maintenance, track issues, and improve service delivery.
By helping everyone work smarter, Copilot supports a better experience for shoppers, tenants, and staff alike.
Overcoming Barriers to AI with the Right Technology Partner
Retailers across the UK are showing strong interest in AI. Many see it as a way to improve supply chains, cut costs, and build better relationships with customers. Virtual assistants, chatbots, and smart pricing tools are seen as the most useful technologies. But there’s a problem—many businesses don’t have the skills they need to get started. According to a Retail Economics survey, nearly 60% of retailers say a lack of expertise is holding them back. That’s where a trusted technology partner like Modern Networks can help. By working with experts, retailers can overcome these barriers and start using AI to improve operations, boost sales, and deliver better service—right now.
What You Can Do Next
If you work in retail or manage retail spaces, now is the time to explore what Microsoft 365 Copilot can do. Start small. Try it in Teams or Outlook. Use it to summarise meetings, draft emails, or analyse data. Then look at how it can connect to your systems and scale across your teams.
The tools are ready. The benefits are clear. The next move is yours.
To learn more about how Microsoft 365 Copilot might benefit your retail operations, contact Modern Networks today.
References
- Microsoft. (2025). Microsoft Copilot Scenarios for Retail. Internal presentation.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot official site: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/copilot
- Walmart AI news: https://corporate.walmart.com/news/2025/05/29/inside-walmarts-strategy-for-building-an-agentic-future
- Canadian Tire AI initiatives: https://news.microsoft.com/source/canada/features/ai/canadian-tire-ceetee-ai-app/