Analyzing Data with Microsoft 365 Copilot in Excel
Use Copilot in Excel to generate formulas, create charts, and identify trends from a quarterly sales dataset using natural language prompts.
Lab overview
Microsoft 365 Copilot in Excel transforms the way you work with data. Instead of manually writing formulas, building charts from scratch, or scanning rows of numbers for patterns, you can describe what you need in plain English and let Copilot do the heavy lifting. In this lab, you will work with a quarterly sales dataset to experience three core Copilot capabilities: generating formulas and calculated columns, creating visualizations, and identifying trends - all through natural language prompts. By the end, you will have a practical understanding of how Copilot accelerates everyday data analysis tasks in Excel.
Objectives
Upon completing this Beginner level lab, you will be able to:
- Verify Microsoft 365 Copilot access and prepare an Excel workbook for use with Copilot
- Format a dataset as a table so Copilot can interpret and analyze the data
- Use Copilot to generate formula columns such as profit margins and running totals from natural language prompts
- Create charts and visualizations by describing the desired output to Copilot
- Ask Copilot to identify trends, outliers, and key insights within a quarterly sales dataset
- Review and validate AI-generated formulas and visualizations for accuracy
Who is this lab for?
This lab is designed for:
- Business analysts and data professionals who want to accelerate their data analysis workflow using AI-powered natural language prompts in Excel
- Office workers and managers looking to leverage Microsoft 365 Copilot to quickly generate formulas, charts, and data insights without deep Excel expertise
Prerequisites
To complete this lab, you will need:
- A Microsoft 365 account with Copilot license (Business Standard, E3, or E5 with Copilot add-on)
- Microsoft Excel (desktop or web, Microsoft 365 version) with workbooks saved to OneDrive or SharePoint with AutoSave enabled in .xlsx format
- Basic familiarity with opening workbooks, navigating worksheets, and selecting cells - no prior Copilot experience required
Verified against your live environment
An automated validation engine inspects your actual resources and configurations as you work. Completion means the task was performed — not multiple choice, real-world proficiency.
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Related reading
Environment
Every lab includes
- Real environment, pre-credentialed
- Automated checks on every step
- Isolated sandbox, auto cleanup
- AI-recommended next steps
Lab curriculum
- 01
Getting Started with Copilot in Microsoft Excel
1 automated check
- 02
Loading Data and Generating Formula Columns with Copilot
1 automated check
- 03
Creating Charts and Identifying Data Trends with Copilot
1 automated check
Skills validated
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