Where should a business start when implementing artificial intelligence?
Efficiency question :
For this first stage of implementing artificial intelligence in a company, it is preferable to focus on AI features that are already integrated into everyday work tools. These can be found in spreadsheets, word-processing software, presentation tools and email management.
Before deploying these features, the priority is to make sure the organization’s data is properly stored, structured and protected. Artificial intelligence features rely on the access rights already granted to users. Proper data management and access control are therefore prerequisites for their use.
Once this environment is secure, the organization can begin deploying artificial intelligence features to users and progressively integrate them into work practices.
Key considerations:
The main issue is data security and confidentiality. Before providing access to artificial intelligence features, the organization must know where its data is located, who can access it and which information each user is authorized to view.
In a cloud environment using SharePoint or OneDrive, for example, a storage strategy can also separate historical data from current data. Historical data can be placed in an environment managed by a designated person, while current data, such as the most recent six months, can be kept in an environment accessible to the users who need it.
The objective is to enable the use of artificial intelligence without unnecessarily broadening access to the organization’s information.
Challenges:
The challenge is to find the right balance between data accessibility and data protection. Each user must have the access required to do their work, but only that access.
The data structure and user access rights must therefore be reviewed before deployment. Poor access management can become particularly significant when artificial intelligence features are added to tools used every day.
The other challenge is human. Users must understand how to use artificial intelligence responsibly and develop the right habits to avoid actions that could compromise data confidentiality or the organization’s reputation.
Technology:
In 2026, SLV Expert favours Microsoft Copilot for integrating artificial intelligence features into the company’s work tools.
Copilot integrates with the Microsoft environment and enables artificial intelligence to be used in several tools that are already present in organizations, including for working with documents, data, presentations and emails.
Its deployment should nevertheless be preceded by work on security, data organization and user access rights.
Developer's advice:
Do not start by deploying artificial intelligence. Start by securing your data and reviewing your users’ access rights. Deployment of artificial intelligence features comes afterward.
It is also important to support the deployment with a code of ethics for employees and a governance guide for management. The code of ethics helps users adopt appropriate behaviours, while the governance guide allows management to frame the use of artificial intelligence and determine how to respond when a problematic situation occurs.
Training completes this approach. At SLV Expert, we recommend training on ethics related to the use of artificial intelligence as well as Microsoft Copilot training so users understand both the possibilities of the tool and the behaviours to adopt. When the organization wants to go further, training on Copilot agents can be an additional step.