Role-Based Programme
RB0289

Microsoft 365 Copilot for Procurement & Vendor Management

Practical AI for Sourcing, Supplier Analysis & Procurement Productivity

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Duration
8 Hours
Level
Basic
Delivery
Instructor-Led
Format
Workshop

Programme Objectives

  • Build foundational proficiency in using Microsoft 365 Copilot across practical Procurement and Vendor Management activities.
  • Apply structured prompting techniques for supplier research, sourcing preparation, RFx documentation, quotation comparison, and vendor communication.
  • Use Copilot across Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint to analyse, document, communicate, and report procurement information.
  • Analyse approved supplier quotations, spend data, vendor-performance information, contracts, meeting notes, and sourcing documents to identify risks, exceptions, and decision inputs.
  • Build repeatable Copilot-assisted procurement workflows while maintaining confidentiality, fair supplier evaluation, commercial controls, source validation, and human procurement ownership.

Tools covered

Microsoft 365 CopilotCopilot ChatWordExcelOutlookTeamsPowerPointResearcher Agent where enabledWeb-Grounded ResearchOrganisational Work Data where authorised. Microsoft currently supports Copilot across Wordand Teamswith permission-aware access to authorised organisational information.

Who should attend

  • Procurement Executives
  • Procurement Managers
  • Strategic Sourcing Professionals
  • Category Managers
  • Purchase Professionals
  • Vendor Management Professionals
  • Supplier Relationship Managers
  • Procurement Analysts
  • Commercial Procurement Professionals
  • Contract Management Professionals
  • Supply Chain Professionals Involved in Sourcing
  • Procurement Operations Professionals
  • Vendor Governance Professionals
  • Procurement Team Leaders

Prerequisites & Participant Readiness

  • Basic understanding of Procurement, Sourcing, or Vendor Management activities
  • Familiarity with RFQs, RFPs, quotations, supplier evaluation, purchase requirements, or vendor-performance information
  • Basic familiarity with Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint is helpful
  • Basic spreadsheet and document-handling knowledge
  • Basic computer and internet proficiency
  • No programming knowledge required
  • No previous Microsoft 365 Copilot experience required
  • Participants should use anonymised or organisation-approved supplier, pricing, contract, and commercial information during exercises
  • Supplier selection, negotiation commitments, contract decisions, pricing approvals, and purchase awards must remain under authorised human review

TOC Modules

Concepts
  • Understanding Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Chat, Generative AI, and work-grounded assistance
  • Understanding how Copilot works across Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint
  • Identifying applications across sourcing, supplier analysis, documentation, communication, and reporting
  • Understanding confidentiality, permissions, hallucinations, commercial sensitivity, and procurement-governance requirements
Practical activities
  • Exploring Copilot through common Procurement and Vendor Management activities
  • Comparing simple and structured prompts for the same sourcing requirement
  • Reviewing generated procurement content for assumptions and unsupported claims
  • Identifying procurement activities suitable for Copilot assistance versus professional judgement

Scenarios

Sourcing Requirement to Supplier Evaluation

Business Requirement → Copilot Research → Supplier Shortlist Inputs → RFQ → Supplier Responses → Excel Comparison → Evaluation Criteria → Procurement Review

Participants use Microsoft 365 Copilot to prepare a sourcing exercise, structure supplier information, compare quotation data, and create evidence-based evaluation inputs while keeping supplier selection and commercial approval under Procurement ownership.

Vendor Performance to Improvement Plan

Supplier KPI Data → Copilot in Excel → Performance Trends → Exceptions → Teams Vendor Review → Corrective Actions → Outlook Follow-Up → Management Summary

Participants analyse sample vendor-performance information, identify validated service or delivery gaps, prepare supplier-review discussions, and develop a structured improvement plan with accountable follow-through.

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