AI in the Process
Where does AI change how work gets done?
Value appears when a process is redesigned around AI, not when a tool is added to the old process.
Maturity
Showing level 2, Establishing
Key decisions
- Where to startRepetitive work that crosses systems versus the loudest request
- Augment or redesignLower risk versus bigger return
- Build or buy agentsDifferentiation versus speed
- Where people stay in the loopControl versus throughput
- How far autonomy goes, and what stays humanThroughput versus the cost of an unsupervised mistake
Anti-patterns
- Use-case lists without process owners
- Automating a broken process
- Pilots with no path to production
- Autonomy widened without the error handling to match
Measure progress
- Processes with an owner and a documented baseline
- Cycle time and cost per process instance
- Share of pilots reaching production
- Exceptions handled by people
Builds on
The starting level. Nothing precedes it.
Enables
Only the next level in this pillar.
Only the next level in this pillar.
Top of this pillar. Nothing else depends on it.
Plays to run here
No play for this level yet.
No play for this level yet.
Microsoft-specific guidance, as of September 2026.
Ratings are illustrative and pending author review.
Capabilities
| Capability | Role in this pillar | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Copilot | Individual and team productivity | Adopt |
| Copilot Studio | Low-code agents for business processes | Adopt |
| Microsoft Foundry Agent Service | Pro-code agents and multi-agent workflows | Trial |
Adopt
Proven. Use it by default for this purpose.
Trial
Production-ready. Use it with a clear scope.
Assess
Promising. Explore with a small team.
Hold
Not recommended for new work.
Known gaps
Agents that act across SAP and other systems of record need architecture work, and often partners.