How to Use Copilot in Excel for Faster Analysis

How to use Copilot in Excel without feeling overwhelmed? That’s the question many professionals are now asking. With over a billion users worldwide, Excel remains the go-to tool for data management and analysis. However, now Microsoft Copilot is changing how we work within it.

How do you use Copilot in Excel to save hours of manual work? Start by thinking of it as your assistant. Ask it questions, give it commands, and tell it what you want from your data. Instead of building formulas from scratch, you describe the task, and Copilot handles the logic behind the scenes.

This doesn’t mean the fundamentals are gone. If you want to do trend analysis in Excel, you still need to know what trends matter. The only difference is that identifying those patterns now takes seconds, not hours.

Want to transform Excel data to graph formats quickly? Copilot can suggest visuals based on the data it sees—no need to search how-to guides or click through a dozen menus.

How to use Copilot in Excel is more than a new feature—it’s a shift. Professionals in finance, marketing, and operations are already reporting a 30% faster turnaround on reports.

The future of data analysis in Excel isn’t coming. It’s already here. Ready to see how?

Let’s get started…

What is Copilot in Excel?

Definition: Copilot in Excel is an AI-powered assistant built into Microsoft Excel that helps users work faster with data. You can ask it to analyze, summarize, or visualize your spreadsheets. It understands plain English commands.

Whether you’re doing financial graphs and charts in Excel or exploring patterns, Copilot responds instantly. It utilizes machine learning to aid in data analysis in Excel, eliminating the need to write complex formulas. Copilot simplifies the process, saving time and effort for professionals at all levels.

Top 10 Charts can be created with Copilot in Excel

Here are some of the charts you can use to visualize data with Copilot in Excel. These charts were created using ChartExpo for Excel, a powerful data visualization tool that makes insights jump off the screen.

Clustered Stacked Bar Chart:

Sankey Chart:

Sentiment Trend Chart:

Stacked Waterfall Chart:

Horizontal Waterfall Chart:

Scatter Plot:

Multi Axis Spider Chart:

Circular Org Chart:

Multi Axis Line Chart:

Comparison Bar Chart

Why is Excel Copilot Important?

Working smarter with data isn’t a dream anymore—it’s a reality with Excel Copilot. Whether you’re creating charts, analyzing trends, or simplifying messy data, Copilot brings instant results. Here’s why it’s quickly becoming a must-have tool for professionals everywhere.

• Enhances productivity: Excel Copilot accelerates tasks ranging from data entry to report generation. Create financial graphs and charts in Excel in minutes with simple instructions—instead of spending hours on spreadsheets.
• Simplifies complex functions: Formulas like INDEX-MATCH or nested IFs are used to slow people down. Copilot translates your goals into accurate formulas using powerful Excel functions for data analysis—without the guesswork.
• Boosts data analysis: Finding insights used to take forever. With Copilot, trend analysis in Excel becomes as easy as typing, “Show me this quarter’s growth pattern”.
• Improves accuracy and consistency: Manual formulas often lead to errors. Copilot eliminates mistakes and ensures clean, consistent data—especially when turning Excel data into a graph format.
• Empowers all users: Whether you’re new to spreadsheets or a seasoned pro, Copilot helps you achieve more. From creating graphs in Excel to uncovering insights, it puts powerful, innovative tools in everyone’s hands.

How to Add Copilot to Excel?

Getting started with Copilot in Excel is easier. You don’t need to install anything extra or dig through settings. If you’ve got Excel, OneDrive, or SharePoint and the correct file type, you’re ready.

Here’s how to get Copilot working for you.

• Open Excel: Launch your Excel app or access the online version. Ensure you’re signed in to your Microsoft account.
• Open a workbook stored on OneDrive or SharePoint: Copilot only works with cloud-based files. Local files won’t suffice here.

Important: Your data must be clean and structured. Copilot reads data more accurately when it’s well-formatted. Check Microsoft’s “Format data for Copilot in Excel” guidelines for help.

• Select Copilot on the ribbon: You’ll see a Copilot button at the top. Click it to open the chat pane. Or, click on any cell and then select the Copilot icon that appears next to it.

• Enter your prompts: Start typing what you want Copilot to do. Or, pick from ready-made prompts if you’re using the icon beside a cell.

What Can Copilot in Excel Do?

Have you ever wished Excel could read your mind? With Copilot, it almost can. This AI assistant takes your instructions and turns them into action. No more digging through menus or Googling formulas. Copilot handles the heavy lifting so you can focus on the results.

Here’s what it can do:

• Generate formulas and functions: Copilot writes the formulas for you. Whether you’re calculating revenue growth or using Excel functions for data analysis, it gets it right the first time.
• Summarize and analyze data: You no longer need pivot tables to make sense of large datasets. Copilot quickly delivers summaries and performs data analysis in Excel based on your goals.
• Create charts and visuals: Want a chart from your data? Say the word. Copilot helps you transform Excel data into graph formats, creating visuals that tell a story.
• Automate repetitive tasks: Are you tired of copy-pasting or sorting data every day? Copilot automates these steps, helping you spend more time reviewing insights than clicking around.
• Provide insights and recommendations: Copilot doesn’t just show data—it interprets it. It offers intelligent suggestions for trend analysis, helping you identify shifts that may have gone unnoticed.
• Assist with what-if analysis: How would a price change affect revenue? Copilot guides you through scenarios and helps create a graph in Excel to visualize different outcomes.

Features of Microsoft 365 Copilot in Excel

Excel has always been a trusted tool—but with Microsoft 365 Copilot, it becomes a thinking partner. Tasks that once took hours now take minutes. Whether you’re crunching numbers or building visuals, Copilot makes it easier. Here’s a closer look at the powerful features that make this tool a game-changer:

• Natural language commands: You don’t need code or advanced skills. Type a question or a request, and Copilot takes action—it’s the most straightforward answer to how to use Copilot in Excel.
• Automated formula generation: Forget trial and error. Copilot creates formulas instantly, especially when you’re working with financial graphs and charts in Excel.
• Smart data analysis: Need to understand your sales, budget, or customer data? Copilot delivers instant insights, making trend analysis in Excel faster and more effective.
• Data visualization assistance: Would you like to view your data instead of reading about it? Copilot shows you how to make a graph in Excel in seconds based on the content of your spreadsheet.
• Data cleaning and formatting: Cleaning data no longer feels like a chore. Copilot can reformat columns, remove duplicates, and prep your sheet for solid data analysis in Excel.
• Contextual suggestions: Copilot understands context. Whether you’re inserting a new table or figuring out the best chart add-in for Excel, it gives smart, relevant tips while you work.

Excel Copilot Examples

Copilot isn’t theory—it’s practical. The true magic of Excel Copilot is how it handles common chores. Whether deep in data or cleaning up a messy spreadsheet, it comes to your aid. Here are  some real-world examples of what Copilot can do:

• Data analysis: Ask yourself, “Which are my 5 top-performing products”? Then pose this question to Copilot – it will find them instantly. You don’t have to dig around using your hands; it will present you with the metrics, trends, and patterns.
• Modeling: Looking to forecast next quarter’s revenue? Copilot can create a basic forecast model, make assumptions, and even take you through “what if” scenarios.
• Visualizations: Need to present insights fast? The Copilot can insert charts and recommend visuals. It can even explain why a bar chart might be a better choice than a pie chart.
• Writing formulas: Instead of typing =IF(AND(A1>100, B1<50), “Yes,” “No”), you can say, “Show Yes if A is over 100 and B is under 50”. Copilot translates it into a working formula.
• Organizing and cleaning data: Does your data have duplicates, blank cells, or weird formats? Copilot can clean, align, and prepare the data so it’s analysis-ready in seconds.
• Suggestions: Copilot doesn’t wait for you to ask everything. It notices patterns and offers helpful tips, like creating a summary or highlighting outliers—before you even think to do it.

How to Use Copilot in Excel for Analysis?

Have you ever wondered how to use Copilot in Excel to make sense of your data without drowning in endless rows? Data visualization is key to good analysis. But Excel’s built-in charts? They often fall short—either too basic or too complex to customize.

That’s where ChartExpo steps in. It’s a powerful chart add-in for Excel that takes your visuals from “meh” to memorable. Say goodbye to boring graphs and hello to clear, impactful insights. Install ChartExpo!

How to Install ChartExpo in Excel?

1. Open your Excel application.
2. Open the worksheet and click the “Insert” menu.
3. You’ll see the “My Apps” option.
4. In the Office Add-ins window, click “Store” and search for ChartExpo on my Apps Store.
5. Click the “Add” button to install ChartExpo in your Excel.

ChartExpo charts are available both in Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. Please use the following CTAs to install the tool of your choice and create beautiful visualizations with a few clicks in your favorite tool.

Example

Let’s visualize this sample data in Excel using ChartExpo and glean valuable insights from it.

Month	Marketing Sales	Marketing Expenses	IT Sales	IT Expenses
January	50000	20000	45000	15000
February	60000	25000	52000	20000
March	55000	22000	50000	18000
April	62000	27000	54000	21000
May	58000	24000	53000	19000
June	61000	26000	55000	20000
July	64000	28000	57000	22000
August	60000	25000	54000	21000
September	65000	30000	58000	23000
October	62000	27000	56000	22000
November	59000	26000	54000	21000
December	68000	32000	60000	25000

• To get started with ChartExpo, install ChartExpo in Excel.
• Now, click on My Apps from the INSERT menu.

• Choose ChartExpo from My Apps, then click Insert.

• Once it loads, scroll through the charts list to locate and choose the “Multi Axis Line Chart”.

• You will see a Multi Axis Line Chart on the screen.

• Click the “Create Chart From Selection” button after selecting the data from the sheet, as shown.

• ChartExpo will generate the visualization below for you.

• Click on Settings and change the “Data Representation” as follows.

• If you want to add anything to the chart, click the Edit Chart button:

• Click the pencil icon next to the Chart Header to change the title.
• It will open the properties dialog. Under the Text section, you can add a heading in Line 1 and enable Show.
• Give the appropriate title of your chart and click the Apply button.

• You can add a dollar sign with all values as follows:

• First, enable the Legend show button and align it to the center as follows:

• Change the Legend shape of Marketing Sales into a Column and click the “Apply” button:

• Change the Legend shape of IT Sales and Marketing Expenses into Line and Circle, and click the “Apply” button:

• Click the “Save Changes” button to persist the changes made to the chart.

• Your final Multi Axis Line Chart will look like the one below.

Insights

• December shows peak activity in both sales and expenses across departments, revealing seasonal trends.
• Marketing consistently outperforms IT in sales.
• The IT department has shown steady and stable growth over time.
• Increased expenses align with higher sales, suggesting performance is driven by resource investment.
• February and September also see notable spikes, hinting at periodic business cycles or campaign efforts.

Limitations of Copilot for Excel

Copilot in Excel is impressive, but let’s not kid ourselves: This is not magic. It can be a time saver, but it’s still a tool. Like any tool, it has limits. What it can’t do is just as important as what it can. Here is where Copilot still needs assistance from a human brain:

• Dependent on data quality: Garbage in is garbage out. Copilot is helpless to act on messy inputs and, therefore, may produce false outputs and poor decisions.
• Limited customization: Copilot watches broad strokes, not fine details. If you are using particular formatting or advanced logic, it may not get it right.
• Requires internet and licensing: No internet, no Copilot. Also, it needs a Microsoft 365 subscription – availability is based on both connection and privilege.
• Privacy and data security concerns: Copilot works with data that is processed in the cloud. That’s an onus that organizations managing sensitive or regulated data should consider.
• Not always context-aware: Copilot isn’t a mind reader. It can get the wrong end of the stick on fuzzy instructions or push an outcome that isn’t in line with your goals.
• Learning curve and trust issues: You still have to check the answers. Although Copilot is smart, it’s not perfect, and trusting it entirely requires time and experience.

FAQs

Can I use Copilot in Excel?

Yes, if you have Microsoft 365 with Copilot access. Your workbook must be saved on OneDrive or SharePoint. You’ll also need an internet connection. Once set up, you can interact with Copilot using simple prompts.

Can Copilot create charts in Excel?

Yes, Copilot can create charts using your data. Ask it to make a bar graph, pie chart, or other visualizations. It simplifies the process of creating a graph in Excel, and you can also use it to edit or explain existing charts.

Wrap Up

Do you want to master how to use Copilot in Excel? Start small; open your workbook, type a prompt, and let Copilot guide you through the process. It’s that simple.

Artificial Intelligence in Excel is transforming the way we work. You no longer need to memorize formulas. AI reads your request and does the work for you.

Need better visuals? Copilot can help. However, if you want advanced, professional visuals, consider using a chart add-in for Excel, such as ChartExpo. It fills in what Excel’s basic charts miss.

Copilot also helps you learn how to add charts in Excel. It can insert, label, and format charts based on your data. You have to ask.

It doesn’t stop there. Copilot cleans your data, explains trends, and highlights what matters. It facilitates faster and easier data analysis.

In conclusion, Excel Copilot is your competent spreadsheet partner. Use it well, and Excel becomes less of a task and more of a tool. Install ChartExpo to unlock powerful, easy-to-use visualizations.