What if recurring tasks ran while we focus on something else?
With Copilot Cowork, we can schedule tasks to run automatically, from preparing a daily briefing to following up on collections. We just define what we need and when we want it to happen.
Let’s see how to set up these automations and what we can do with them through practical examples.
Copilot Cowork lets our recurring tasks run on their own. Scheduling them is very simple, and we have two ways to do it.
🌱 Two ways to create a scheduled task
🌿 Describing the requirement in a prompt. We tell Cowork, in our own words, what we need and when we want it to run. Cowork confirms the schedule and asks for our approval before activating it. It’s the most direct option when we already have a clear idea.
🌿 Creating it manually from the Automations section. We go to Automations and select Add > Create with Cowork. It’s ideal when we want to define the schedule step by step.
🌱 Everything in one place
From the Automations section, we can review and manage all our schedules. From there, we can edit, pause, or cancel a scheduled task at any time. This gives us a complete view of what runs automatically, and we can adjust it whenever we need.
💡 A tip: always check that the execution time zone is the one you need:
🌱 One time or recurring
A scheduled task can run at a specific moment or repeat at the frequency we choose, for example a daily briefing or a weekly report.
Example 1:🧘 Collections Under Control, Even When We’re at Yoga
We’re responsible for the Collections department, and we have a customer, Forest Wholesales, who’s going through a difficult financial situation and has accumulated numerous overdue invoices. We need to closely monitor the outstanding debt, contact the person responsible for payments, and, if necessary, consider escalating the matter to the Legal department.
But we also have a yoga class at 9 PM, and we don’t want to spend the entire session checking our phones to see whether the customer has paid or whether it’s time to chase them again.
With Cowork and the Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations connector, we can set up a task to run automatically at a specified time, retrieve the customer’s financial information, identify overdue invoices, and prepare the necessary communications according to the rules we define.
That way, while we take some time to disconnect, Cowork can handle the operational follow-up. There’s just one catch: emails are sent only after our approval, and any potential legal escalation requires prior review.
Prompt:
Perform the following collections process for customer Forest Wholesales in USMF today at 9 PM:
- Check the customer’s balance in Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations and identify any overdue invoices, don’t include general journals.
- If there is no overdue debt, end the task without sending any communication.
- If there is overdue debt, identify the customer’s collections contact and prepare a professional email requesting payment, including the overdue invoices, outstanding amount, and due date.
- Request confirmation of payment or a committed payment date.
- Before sending the email, show me the recipient, subject, and email content for my approval.
- If escalation is appropriate due to non-payment according to the company policy in Sharepoint, do not initiate legal action automatically. Prepare an escalation recommendation and request my approval before sending any communication or taking any action related to potential legal measures involving the Legal Department and the internal team.
- Finish by providing a summary of the information found and the actions taken.
Do not make up any information that is not available in Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations or Microsoft 365. If you have any questions or require clarification, contact me. Everything in English.
See you in the next one!