Kyle Hill, CTO of leading digital transformation provider ANS discusses the options financial markets having for success using Microsoft Copilot.
In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a driving force behind operational efficiency and innovation across the financial markets. As competition intensifies, AI tools like Microsoft Copilot are emerging as critical resources for institutions aiming to enhance performance, manage risk, and streamline regulatory compliance.
Kyle Hill, Chief Technology Officer at digital transformation company and Microsoft Services Partner of the Year, ANS, explores how Copilot supports financial professionals in areas such as risk management, compliance, and financial operations, offering insights into the complex challenges faced by financial market participants across various divisions.
How can Copilot help financial professionals?
- Seamless integration with financial systems
Microsoft Copilot integrates smoothly with essential tools commonly used in the financial industry, including Excel for financial modelling, Word for report generation, and Outlook for communication. In particular, its integration with Microsoft Teams enhances collaboration across departments such as risk management, compliance, and trading. Whether in the office or remote, Copilot’s cross-device compatibility ensures AI-driven support is always available, increasing productivity across the organisation.
- Enhancing operational efficiency
A key benefit of Copilot is its ability to automate time-consuming tasks, allowing financial professionals to focus on strategic initiatives. For example, during a client onboarding process, multiple Copilots can automate distinct stages. Financial professionals might analyse financial feasibility based on client documents, while another conducts anti-money laundering (AML) checks, and a third handles compliance reviews. This interlinked automation accelerates processes and reduces the need for manual oversight, improving both accuracy and speed.
In client-facing roles, Copilot can prioritise and summarise customer interactions, enabling financial teams to respond more effectively. In back-office operations, routine but critical tasks such as transaction monitoring become more efficient, freeing employees to focus on complex issues. Copilot’s capacity to process vast amounts of unstructured data also aids in identifying trends and anomalies that might indicate fraud or non-compliance.
• Fuelling innovation in financial services
Copilot supports innovation by freeing professionals from administrative burdens, allowing them to focus on developing new financial products and services. In risk management, Copilot aids in drafting reports and presentations by compiling data from various sources and providing insights, ensuring compliance with stringent regulatory standards. By automating routine aspects of report creation, Copilot significantly reduces the time and effort required, empowering financial professionals to engage in higher-level decision-making.
For example, in wealth management or corporate investment banking, Copilot can analyse client data, detect patterns, and assist in developing creative solutions for complex financial challenges, such as forensic analysis, insider trading detection, and offshore tax planning. Its real-time monitoring capabilities allow institutions to proactively manage potential risks and fraud, driving both innovation and security.
Copilot in action
- Streamlining routine processes
Professionals in risk management, compliance, and operations often face repetitive, time-intensive tasks such as verifying client information, logging transactions for audit trails, and entering data into compliance systems. Copilot automates these processes, reducing the risk of human error and freeing up time for more strategic activities. This automation not only ensures accuracy but also helps institutions meet regulatory obligations more efficiently.
- Addressing complex financial challenges
Financial professionals face unique challenges that require both expertise and detailed analysis. In areas like corporate banking or wealth management, tasks such as conducting AML efforts, navigating complex tax structures, or monitoring for insider trading can be labour-intensive. Copilot can automate initial assessments, compile watch lists, and draw from a wide range of data sources to assist in these efforts, reducing the manual workload for teams and enabling them to focus on critical decision-making.
Taking the next steps
- AI adoption across financial services
Adopting AI tools like Copilot is not just about improving current operations—it’s about preparing for a future where AI will play an even more significant role in financial markets. Institutions that integrate AI early will be better positioned to lead in innovation and operational efficiency. By partnering with technology experts, financial firms can accelerate the adoption process, ensuring that teams are trained to maximise the benefits of AI tools like Copilot.
- Building internal capabilities
To sustain AI-driven innovation, it’s crucial for financial institutions to build internal capabilities that support the ongoing development and refinement of AI tools. By co-managing AI services, teams can develop the skills needed to adapt AI to the unique needs of the organisation. This approach ensures that financial institutions are not only ready for the current AI landscape but also prepared for future advancements.
What’s next for Copilot in financial markets?
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into the fabric of financial services, the potential for transformation is immense. From automating complex processes like fraud detection and regulatory compliance to enabling proactive decision-making, AI will reshape the way financial institutions operate. Microsoft Copilot is at the forefront of this evolution, providing financial firms with the tools they need to stay competitive while driving innovation and efficiency.
By adopting Copilot now, financial institutions can ensure they are not only keeping pace with industry advancements but also positioning themselves as leaders in the future of AI-driven finance.