Copilot plugins: What they are and how to create them

Plugins are advanced solutions that allow expanding the capabilities of Microsoft 365 Copilot, adapting them to the needs of businesses and individual users. To do this, they enable the integration of data from the Microsoft ecosystem with information from internal company systems or third-party services such as Salesforce, Slack, and GitHub.

In this article, we will delve into what Copilot plugins are, the advantages they offer, and how to create them without writing code thanks to Copilot Studio, the new development platform of the Microsoft Power Platform. Finally, we will explore some useful use cases to understand how to use Copilot plugins to optimize your company's internal processes.

Copilot plugins: what are they and what are they used for?

Plugins for Microsoft Copilot represent a versatile solution for customizing and expanding the capabilities of Microsoft's new AI, adapting them to the specific needs of businesses and individual users.

Typically, plugins are used to integrate data into Copilot from sources external to those contained in Microsoft 365 applications, which the AI could not access independently. These data include information from:

• Legacy systems
• Custom systems
• Internal company databases
• Third-party applications

Copilot plugins are therefore used to ensure a unified experience, allowing users to leverage all the data useful to assist them in their daily activities using their own words.

An alternative to using plugins is represented by Microsoft Graph connectors.

Both tools are essential for customizing and expanding Copilot's capabilities, but they differ in how they access and integrate data. On one hand, plugins allow real-time access to structured data or data from APIs of systems external to Microsoft 365. On the other hand, Graph connectors focus on accessing data within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

Plugins also allow access to and use of information in both read-only and read-write modes. This means that users can not only view data but also modify it or add new information, depending on the permissions and capabilities of the plugin itself.

Unlike Microsoft Graph connectors, plugins thus offer the possibility of interacting more fully with business information via Copilot chat and making changes directly from their work apps, without resorting to external tools or complex procedures.

The importance of the high customization capabilities of Copilot plugins is also evident in the commitment that Microsoft is dedicating to the continuous development of new extensions, to enrich the AI integrated into its products with features from cross-platforms such as Suno, Adobe, and Spotify.

These recent plugins have been designed to support users in generating new content. Whether it's musical texts or professional graphics like logos, covers, and advertising materials, the range of available tools aims to meet all users' creativity and productivity needs.

Copilot plugins: what are the advantages for companies?

Developing plugins for Copilot translates into a series of advantages for companies. As anticipated, the use of custom extensions is essential to adapt Microsoft's artificial intelligence capabilities to users' specific needs and business activities, increasing the effectiveness of the investment in Copilot and its adoption.

Copilot plugins also offer the opportunity to automate repetitive tasks, allowing users to focus on more strategic and creative activities. For example, a company could create plugins based on Power Automate automation flows to optimize processes such as report creation, sending notifications or internal communications, or updating specific databases.

Companies can leverage Copilot extensions to consolidate uniform coding standards. This is possible through the development of custom plugins capable of automatically applying best programming practices, performing code quality checks, and reporting potential issues or standard violations. IT department members would thus receive valuable assistance in risk management and maintenance of company software.

Copilot plugins: why develop them with Microsoft Copilot Studio?

There are two ways to expand the capabilities of Microsoft Copilot with plugins:

1. Pro code approach: This approach requires advanced technical expertise in the development of custom plugins, using tools such as Teams Toolkit, Visual Studio Code, and Visual Studio. The pro code approach therefore requires specific skills that go beyond simply writing code, as it is necessary to thoroughly understand the architecture of Microsoft Copilot. It is therefore advisable to rely on a specialized team with vertical knowledge in both programming and extension development for Copilot. This choice allows the company to optimize its resources, ensuring the creation of a customized, functional, and reliable solution that fully meets the end user's needs.
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2. Low code approach: This approach represents a more accessible alternative even for those who do not have a deep knowledge of programming. By using platforms with intuitive visual interfaces and pre-configured components, it is possible to create plugins without the need to write code from scratch. This method opens up development opportunities to a wide range of users, allowing them to actively participate in the creation of extensions for Microsoft 365 Copilot. Thanks to these platforms, even non-experts can contribute to improving the software's functionalities, speeding up development times, and reducing dependence on specialized technical resources.

Copilot Studio is the new low-code development platform designed by Microsoft, which offers an intuitive experience for creating custom plugins (although the pro code approach allows for greater flexibility and customization of extensions).

Copilot Studio combines the capabilities of Microsoft Power Platform's Power Virtual Agents with Azure OpenAI's natural language processing capabilities to simplify development and programming tasks. To access this platform, it is necessary to purchase one of the following licenses:

• Microsoft Copilot Studio license for the company tenant
• Microsoft Copilot Studio license for single user

Once the appropriate license is obtained, there are some requirements to meet for the creation and distribution of custom plugins within Copilot:

1. The Microsoft 365 tenant must participate in the preview of Microsoft Copilot plugins.
2. The Copilot Studio application must not be a "classic" Power Virtual Agents bot.
3. The tenant administrator must enable the Microsoft Copilot Studio integrated app category in the Microsoft administration interface.

Once these requirements are met, you can start developing your plugins in Copilot Studio. Essentially, users can leverage the low-code development features offered by Copilot Studio to create two main types of plugins:

1. Conversation plugins: These plugins enhance Copilot's interaction capabilities, facilitating dialogue and information exchange between users and Microsoft's artificial intelligence.
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2. AI plugins: Plugins that add new artificial intelligence features to analyze, interpret, and use data of interest to the user. They are divided into four main categories:

• Flow plugins, based on Power Automate
• Request plugins, based on AI Builder
• Connector plugins, based on Power Platform connectors
• OpenAI plugins, based on custom OpenAI models

Let's see how to develop each of these plugins for Copilot with Microsoft Copilot Studio.

How to develop conversational plugins for Copilot

Conversational plugins are custom topic files integrated into Microsoft Copilot's chat to enhance information exchange with users.

An example could be a plugin enabling Copilot to respond to customer service inquiries. This plugin would draw from information stored in the company's customer request management system, both internal and external to the company's Microsoft 365 environment.

Here are the steps to create a conversational plugin for Copilot:

1. Access the main page of Microsoft Copilot Studio.
2. Select "Extend Microsoft Copilot (preview)" and then "Conversational Plugins."
3. Write the name and description of the new topic, optionally with AI support.
4. Click on the arrow icon in the "Input" box.
5. Choose the variable for Copilot to use with the plugin.
6. Click on "Generative Responses" under the "Advanced" section of the dropdown menu (optional).
7. Select "Data Sources" and enter the link to the web resource Copilot Studio's AI should use to generate topic content (optional).
8. Save the plugin using the command in the top right corner.
9. Publish the plugin.

Once the conversational plugin is published on Copilot Studio, a plugin is automatically created in the Dataverse registry. At this point, the tenant admin just needs to approve the plugin to make it immediately available in Copilot's catalog.

How to develop AI Builder-based plugins for Copilot

Request plugins fall under the category of AI plugins and are based on the GPT model trained through Microsoft AI Builder to perform specific tasks.

Consequently, they can enhance the relevance of Copilot's responses based on user inquiries and trained AI contexts. For example, Copilot could utilize such a plugin to handle support requests, translating user prompts into queries directed to IT department members.

Here are the steps to create an AI Builder-based plugin for Copilot:

1. Access the main page of Microsoft Copilot Studio.
2. Select "Plugins (preview)."
3. Choose "Add a Power Platform component as an artificial intelligence plugin."
4. Click on "Generate content or extract detailed information."
5. Write the name and description of the new request, utilizing suggested templates.
6. Add a dynamic value, such as "text."
7. Use the "Try request" command to test functionality (optional).
8. Save the request.

The tenant admin can enable the new plugin in chats with Copilot by accessing the Microsoft 365 administration area and deploying the plugin found in "Settings" > "Integrated Apps" > "Available Apps" > "Microsoft Copilot Studio."

How to develop Power Automate-based plugins for Copilot

Flow plugins constitute the category of AI plugins designed to execute specific actions in response to predetermined events. Essentially, they are tailored automations connecting Power Automate flows with Microsoft Copilot functionalities.

To illustrate, consider a plugin dedicated to purchase management.

When a purchase request is submitted, Copilot can assign it to a designated user, generate a purchase order, and provide updates via Teams notifications, all while integrating data from an ERP system or the company's custom application.

Here are the steps to create a Power Automate-based plugin for Copilot:

1. Access the main page of Microsoft Copilot Studio.
2. Select "Plugins (preview)."
3. Choose "Add a Power Platform component as an artificial intelligence plugin."
4. Click on "Custom Automation" to open the preconfigured flow editor.
5. Define parameters for the "Run from Copilot" trigger.
6. Define actions the flow should perform, such as "Post a message in Teams chat."
7. Define parameters for the "Respond to Copilot" action (optional).
8. Save the flow.

Once again, the tenant admin can deploy the new plugin from the Microsoft 365 administration area.

How to develop Power Platform Connector-based plugins for Copilot

Connector plugins primarily focus on integrating Microsoft 365 Copilot with external systems and services. For instance, imagine a company wanting to synchronize Salesforce information with Microsoft Teams. This would allow the Sales department to access Salesforce data directly from Copilot chat in Teams, facilitating the creation of customized content for clients.

Below are the steps to create a Power Platform Connector-based plugin for Microsoft Copilot:

1. Access the main page of Microsoft Copilot Studio.
2. Select "Plugins (preview)."
3. Choose "Add a Power Platform component as an artificial intelligence plugin."
4. Click on "Update or Get Responses on External Data" to open the preconfigured connector editor.
5. Provide a description in the "Manifest Details" section.
6. Define the input parameter in the "Request" section of the action.
7. Select "Create/Update Connector."

As always, it's up to the tenant admin to enable and deploy the new plugin from the Microsoft 365 administration area.

How to develop OpenAI Model-based plugins for Copilot

OpenAI plugins are designed to leverage access to custom OpenAI models to retrieve a wide range of information, including sensitive personal data, line-of-business application history, non-publicly available data, and information accessible only through integration with specific sites, software, or services.

By configuring the plugin appropriately, users can not only request Microsoft 365 Copilot to access such data but also to modify, add new, or delete it.

For example, a company might employ an OpenAI plugin to analyze sentiment around a social media communication campaign. This would enable us to interpret user reactions and comments, generating a report useful for marketing or customer service strategies.

Here are the steps to create an OpenAI model-based plugin for Microsoft Copilot:

1. Access the main page of Microsoft Copilot Studio.
2. Select "Add a plugin in OpenAI."
3. Provide the manifest, either through a link or by uploading the file manually.
4. Choose the authentication type between "None," "API Key," and "OAuth 2.0."
5. Click on "Add Plugin."

This generates a new plugin along with the custom connector to be used in the company.

FAQ on Copilot plugins

What are Copilot plugins?

‍Copilot plugins are extensions that allow Microsoft Copilot to integrate and interact with data from both Microsoft and third-party systems. They enable customized AI experiences within Microsoft 365.

How do plugins differ from Microsoft Graph connectors?

‍Plugins provide real-time access to external data and offer both read-only and read-write capabilities, unlike Graph connectors which focus on internal Microsoft 365 data.

What are the benefits of developing Copilot plugins for businesses?

‍Plugins can automate tasks, ensure uniform coding standards, and allow custom AI interactions, enhancing efficiency and productivity.

What development approaches are available for creating Copilot plugins?

• Pro Code Approach: Requires advanced programming skills using tools like Visual Studio.
• Low Code Approach: Accessible via Microsoft’s Copilot Studio, ideal for non-programmers using intuitive visual interfaces.

What is Copilot Studio?

‍Copilot Studio is a low-code platform from Microsoft that simplifies the creation of custom plugins for Copilot.

What types of plugins can be created in Copilot Studio?

• Conversation Plugins: Enhance AI-user interactions.
• AI Plugins: Include Flow, Request, Connector, and OpenAI-based plugins to perform specialized tasks or integrate external systems.