Published: 28th May 2025

A graphic illustrates the Copilot adoption journey, mapping the path from curiosity to confidence through five stages: Curious but Unclear, Ready to Explore, Building Confidence, Turning Point, and Confident & Expanding. Each stage features an icon and a brief description that guides users along their transformation.

At The Inform Team, we’ve supported dozens of organisations on their journey with Copilot. No matter the size or sector, the same patterns tend to show up. That’s why we created our Copilot customer journey, a five-stage model to help you pinpoint where you are now and what’s blocking you from moving forward.

Let’s break it down.

A person stands at the centre of three large arrows painted on a cobblestone path, each pointing in a different direction, symbolising decision-making or choosing a path in life—a fitting metaphor for embarking on a Copilot adoption journey.
A person stands at the centre of three large arrows painted on a cobblestone path, each pointing in a different direction, symbolising decision-making or choosing a path in life—a fitting metaphor for embarking on a Copilot adoption journey.
1

Stage 1: Curious but unclear

You’ve heard the buzz. There’s appetite to explore, but it’s all a bit foggy. What exactly does Copilot do? And how do you know if your data or licences are ready?

The blockers?

  • No clear vision or business case.

  • Leadership misalignment.
  • Uncertainty around technical readiness.

To move forward, clarity is key. You need shared goals, defined personas and a sense of where Copilot can make a difference in your world, not just the headlines.

People sit around a table at a conference, watching a virtual speaker on a large screen as they discuss their Copilot adoption journey. Laptops, drinks, and water jugs are on the table, and more attendees face the screen in a meeting room.
People sit around a table at a conference, watching a virtual speaker on a large screen as they discuss their Copilot adoption journey. Laptops, drinks, and water jugs are on the table, and more attendees face the screen in a meeting room.
2

Stage 2: Ready to explore

You’re getting curious. The appetite’s growing. You’re starting to ask: “What could this mean for us?” Now it’s about building belief and bringing people with you.

The blockers?

  • Low workforce awareness.

  • No real sense of “why now?”.

  • Concerns about data, ethics or privacy.

At this stage, you need early storytelling, myth-busting and campaigns that make it real. People need to see Copilot, not just hear about it.

Two hands hold small blackboards—one says Good and the other says Bad—against a gradient blue background, symbolising choices faced along the Copilot adoption journey.
Two hands hold small blackboards—one says Good and the other says Bad—against a gradient blue background, symbolising choices faced along the Copilot adoption journey.
3

Stage 3: Building confidence

You’ve dipped a toe in. A few teams are using Copilot. But progress is patchy and confidence is fragile.

The blockers?

  • Skills gaps and unclear use cases.

  • Inconsistent prompting or uptake.
  • Sentiment like “we’ve got it, but people aren’t using it”.

Now it’s time for practical support. Think hands-on training, role-specific prompts and coaching that shows what good looks like in your context.

Four people stand smiling in front of a purple screen displaying the message: Unless you put your people first, AI is simply power without purpose—a reminder that successful Copilot adoption journey begins by prioritising your team.
Four people stand smiling in front of a purple screen displaying the message: Unless you put your people first, AI is simply power without purpose—a reminder that successful Copilot adoption journey begins by prioritising your team.
4

Stage 4: Building confidence

This is where things start to click. Copilot is part of the workflow, but keeping momentum takes work

The blockers?

  • Engagement is plateauing.
  • No structure for sharing best practice.
  • Progress risks stalling without champions.

To move forward, clarity is key. You need shared goals, defined personas and a sense of where Copilot can make a difference in your world, not just the headlines.

Silhouettes of people helping each other climb and stand on a mountain peak with a bright sunrise and rays in the background, symbolising teamwork and support throughout the Copilot adoption journey.
Silhouettes of people helping each other climb and stand on a mountain peak with a bright sunrise and rays in the background, symbolising teamwork and support throughout the Copilot adoption journey.
5

Stage 5: Confident and expanding

Copilot is working and you’re ready to scale. It’s no longer “the new thing”. It’s just how work gets done.

The blockers?

  • Expanding without overloading teams.
  • Keeping up with new Copilot features.
  • Ensuring impact across every department.

To move forward, clarity is key. You need shared goals, defined personas and a sense of where Copilot can make a difference in your world, not just the headlines.

So what does this mean for you?

If Copilot isn’t landing the way you hoped, you’re not alone. The solution isn’t more tech. It’s smarter support. Start by asking: Where are we on this journey? And what do our people need to take the next step?

Not sure? We’ve got you. Take our thirty-second quiz to find your stage and unlock a free resource to help you move forward.

Or get in touch to start your journey from curiosity to confidence with support tailored to where you are now.

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