There is a lot of noise around AI at the moment. But beneath the hype, business leaders are starting to ask more practical questions. What can it do for us? Where does it fit? And how do we actually use it to drive real results?
For manufacturers in particular, the potential of AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot lies not in replacing people, but in making better use of the systems and data businesses already have. According to Nick Clarke, Managing Director of Evolution, it is this ability to unlock insight and support strategic decision-making that makes Copilot so powerful.
“AI on its own is not the solution,” Nick explains. “But when it is embedded into a system like Microsoft 365 and connected with the data you already hold in your ERP, it becomes a tool that can actively help you make smarter, faster decisions.”
A practical tool for smarter operations
Rather than seeing AI as something futuristic or abstract, Nick encourages manufacturers to see Copilot as a tool that can be applied across real areas of day-to-day business. The opportunity is not limited to one department. It touches every part of the organisation, from operations and supply chain, through to engineering, quality and workforce planning.
For example, using Copilot alongside Microsoft Power BI allows businesses to interrogate the data sitting in their ERP systems in new ways. By asking the right questions and pulling together relevant metrics, manufacturing leaders can quickly access meaningful insights without trawling through reports.
It is this shift from static reporting to active querying that makes the technology so effective. Instead of reacting to issues after they happen, Copilot allows decision-makers to get ahead of problems and take action based on what the data is telling them now.
Where AI makes an impact in manufacturing
Nick has seen particular benefit in the following areas:
- Operations and production planning: Copilot can analyse data trends to forecast demand, optimise schedules and reduce downtime.
- Supply chain and inventory management: By identifying bottlenecks or potential shortages, it helps improve stock control and procurement efficiency.
- Quality assurance and compliance: AI can highlight deviations or anomalies in production that might indicate a risk to product quality or regulatory compliance.
- Engineering and maintenance: Predictive analytics can help teams anticipate equipment failure and plan preventative maintenance more effectively.
- People and workforce management: Copilot supports strategic resource planning by analysing workloads, shift patterns and productivity data.
- Cyber security: With integrated tools, it can alert teams to potential vulnerabilities and support better security decision-making.
- ERP integration: When connected to existing business systems, Copilot enhances rather than replaces, working with what is already in place.
- Strategic decision-making: At board level, AI can surface trends and patterns that support more informed, long-term planning.
Making the most of your data
Many manufacturers are sitting on valuable data, often locked inside ERP systems or scattered across multiple platforms. The problem is not that the data does not exist. It’s that has not always been easy to extract, analyse or use effectively in daily decision-making.
Nick sees Copilot as a way to bridge that gap. “It is about surfacing the insight that is already there. You do not need to overhaul your whole infrastructure to benefit. You just need to know where to start.”
That is where the consultancy piece comes in. At Evolution, the first step is always understanding what the business is trying to achieve. From there, the team works with clients to identify how tools like Copilot and Power BI can support that direction, whether that is improving operational efficiency, supporting compliance, or enabling growth.
Keeping AI grounded in business reality
For businesses considering AI, the key is to keep it grounded. Copilot is not about replacing teams or overhauling entire systems. It is about supporting people to do their jobs more effectively, and helping leadership teams make better decisions, faster.
Nick believes the businesses that will benefit most are those that take a practical, strategic approach. “It is not about jumping on a trend. It is about using what is available to solve real problems and improve how your business operates. AI tools like Copilot just make that process faster, clearer and more dynamic.”
Ready to explore what AI could do for your business?
If you want to understand how tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and Power BI could support your manufacturing business, Evolution can help. Whether you are just starting to explore AI or want to build on what you already have, our team will guide you through what makes sense for your business and what does not.
