Not sure where to start with generative AI? This guide breaks down the three most common types of AI solutions: assistants, agents, and custom applications.
And some general info about AI we think it’s vital you know.
Download the free cheat sheet to see real use cases, compare your options, and decide what makes the most sense for your business.
Feeling Overwhelmed by AI Options? You’re Not Alone.
Maybe someone just mentioned Microsoft Copilot in a meeting. Maybe your CEO asked if you could build your own AI agent. Or maybe you’re just trying to make sense of all the buzz around assistants, agents, and custom AI solutions, and wondering what actually applies to your business.
This guide is here to help.
Generative AI is no longer just a trend. It’s already changing how work gets done across industries. But with so many tools and approaches out there, it can be hard to know where to start or how to move forward.
Whether you’re looking for something simple to boost productivity or a more advanced solution tailored to your operations, the key is understanding your options and knowing when to use each.
Choosing the Right AI Approach for Your Business
Generative AI has moved from experimentation to real results. Whether you’re exploring simple assistants or building complex solutions, having a clear strategy makes all the difference.
✨ How We Help You Get Started
We work closely with your team to pinpoint the right approach. Some organizations benefit from fast deployment with tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot. Others need custom-built solutions to fit more complex workflows. Either way, we make sure your AI investments align with your goals.
Take this scenario: we helped a retail client integrate Copilot into their inventory management system. By automating tasks like stock analysis and reorder recommendations, they saved hours of manual work each week and improved efficiency across the board.
Get started Quickly
Out-of-the-box tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot offer speed and simplicity. You can get up and running fast, then extend the tools as your needs evolve.
Empower Everyone
Low-code tools make it possible for both business users and developers to create AI solutions. No heavy technical lift required.
Build to Differentiate
When you’re ready to go beyond basic features, custom AI lets you create capabilities that are tailored to your business. These solutions can give you a clear competitive edge.
Prioritize Security
Microsoft’s AI tools are built with compliance, governance, and responsible AI practices in mind. You can move forward confidently knowing your data and systems are protected.
AI Assistants vs. AI Agents: What’s the Difference?
Understanding the difference between assistants and agents helps you decide what to use, when, and why.
AI-Powered Assistants
Assistants, like Microsoft 365 Copilot, help individuals work smarter and faster. Embedded in familiar tools like Outlook, Word, and Teams, they automate repetitive tasks, surface insights, and enable better decision-making. For example, a salesperson can use Copilot to summarize communications, draft follow-up emails, and prep for meetings in minutes.
AI Agents
Agents act more like digital coworkers. They automate and coordinate multi-step processes across systems. They can be built with low-code or pro-code tools, depending on the complexity needed. A good example is a support ticket system where agents can sort incoming tickets, assign them to the right teams, and draft initial replies.
💡 Want to know more about Copilot Agents?
We’ve broken down what they are, how they work in Microsoft tools, and what they can do for your business in this explainer blog.
Why You Need Both
Assistants help individuals work smarter. Agents transform entire workflows. Using both allows you to scale productivity across your organization.
✨How We’ve Helped Clients Leverage Both
We recently worked with a healthcare organization to deploy AI-powered assistants for case managers and AI agents for operational workflows. The assistants helped case managers draft care plans by summarizing patient data, while the agents automated appointment scheduling and follow-up communications. This combination reduced administrative overhead by 40% and improved patient satisfaction scores.
Grow at Your Own Pace with Extensible AI
You don’t need to build everything from scratch. With extensibility, you can tailor tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot to fit your workflows, systems, and data.
What Extensibility Means
- Add Your Data: Use your organization’s knowledge base to improve results.
- Customize the Experience: Modify prompts, actions, or the user interface to match your needs.
- Integrate with Systems: Connect AI to CRM, ERP, and other tools for seamless workflows.
Benefits of Extensibility
- Move Faster: Start with what’s available and adjust as you go.
- Empower More People: Enable business users to design solutions using low-code platforms.
- Stay Secure: Enterprise-grade governance ensures compliance and data protection.
✨How We Help You Extend AI Solutions
We specialize in extending off-the-shelf AI tools to meet your unique needs.
A good example of this is how we helped a financial services client integrate Copilot with their CRM system to automate client onboarding. By customizing workflows and prompts, we enabled their team to process applications 30% faster while maintaining compliance with industry regulations.
Differentiate with Custom AI Solutions
When your needs go beyond off-the-shelf tools, custom AI solutions provide a true strategic edge. Whether you’re tackling complex processes, working with specialized data, or delivering proprietary experiences, custom development lets you shape AI around what makes your business unique.
Free Download: AI in Action – A Business Use Case Cheat Sheet
Not sure where to begin with assistants, agents, or custom AI? This quick-reference guide breaks down the differences and shows where each type drives real business value.
Build Your Own Advantage
Custom AI applications allow you to:
- Tackle challenges unique to your business.
- Deliver highly personalized customer experiences.
- Innovate faster and create new sources of value at scale.
Microsoft’s AI Development Stack
Microsoft offers a robust foundation for custom AI development:
- Developer Tools: Build with low-code (Copilot Studio) or pro-code (Visual Studio, GitHub).
- AI Application Server: Manage AI apps with Azure AI Foundry.
- Data Foundation: Govern data at scale with Microsoft Fabric.
✨How We’ve Delivered Custom AI Solutions
We recently partnered with a logistics company to develop a custom AI solution for route optimization.
Using Microsoft’s AI development stack, we built an AI-native app that analyzed traffic patterns, delivery schedules, and fuel costs to recommend the most efficient routes. The result? A 25% reduction in delivery times and significant cost savings.
Work Management and Business Transformation
Generative AI is not just about automation. It’s about reshaping how work gets done across your organization. Whether you’re looking to streamline everyday operations or shift your business model entirely, the right AI strategy can unlock new levels of productivity, agility, and value.
Streamlining Work Management
Work management is about more than checking tasks off a list. It’s the way information moves, decisions get made, and teams stay aligned.
AI can support this by automating routine processes, surfacing real-time insights, and helping teams focus on the work that matters most. From scheduling and approvals to reporting and handoffs, AI-driven tools remove friction and reduce delays across the board.
Driving Business Transformation
Transformation happens when AI supports not just tasks, but strategic change. That might mean connecting data in new ways, generating insights that shape long-term planning, or creating entirely new digital experiences for customers or employees.
When AI is built into your core systems and aligned with your goals, it becomes a catalyst for growth, innovation, and differentiation.
Building a Secure Foundation
With AI comes opportunity, but also responsibility. That’s why we focus on secure, ethical, and transparent solutions.
Microsoft’s commitment to responsible AI includes:
- Protecting sensitive data.
- Detecting and responding to emerging threats.
- Enforcing access control and governance policies.
- Complying with evolving regulations.
- Building user trust through transparency and accountability.
✨How We Help You Stay Secure
We saw this in action with a government agency implementing AI solutions with enterprise-grade security measures. By using Microsoft Fabric for data governance and Azure AI Foundry for secure app management, the agency was able to innovate securely and confidently.
Designing Your AI Transformation Strategy
Success with AI starts with a thoughtful strategy. Whether you’re using prebuilt tools, extending existing systems, or building from the ground up, Microsoft offers a flexible foundation that scales with your goals.
We’re here to guide you through every step of the process. Let’s explore what AI can do for your organization, today and into the future.
Looking for inspiration on how to apply generative AI in your business?
Grab our free AI in Action cheat sheet with real-world use cases and prompts to help you plan your next steps.
Ready to Transform Your Business with AI?
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you leverage Microsoft’s AI solutions to achieve your goals.
