How to Use Copilot in Excel: 25 Prompts for Finance, HR, Sales and Operations (2026)
By Parikshit Khanna, corporate AI trainer, TEDx speaker and founder of Digital Training Jet | Published 22 October 2026
Quick answer
Copilot in Excel creates formula columns, explains formulas, builds charts and PivotTables, highlights outliers, cleans data and runs deeper analysis with Python in Excel. The 25 prompts below are grouped by team. Use your own column names, check every number against the source, and keep a human sign-off for anything that goes to management.
What is new in 2026
Core features: Microsoft lists formula columns with explanations, charts, PivotTables, summaries, trends and outliers, formatting, sorting and filtering, and advanced analysis through Python in Excel without needing Python skills. Microsoft Support
Agentic Copilot in Office apps: on 22 April 2026 Microsoft made Copilot's agentic capabilities generally available and the default in Word, Excel and PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 Copilot customers. Microsoft 365 Blog
June 2026 update: Plan with Copilot shows intended changes before editing, Show Changes marks edits made by Copilot, and skills and financial data connectors were added for Microsoft 365 Copilot customers. Microsoft 365 Blog, 25 June 2026
Retired: Microsoft says the COPILOT worksheet function is no longer available from 14 September 2026, so older workbooks that used it need another approach. Microsoft Support
25 Copilot in Excel prompts
# | Prompt | Team |
|---|---|---|
1 | Add a column that calculates margin percentage from Revenue and Cost, and explain the formula. | All |
2 | Explain what this formula does in plain language. | All |
3 | Fix the formula in column F; it returns errors for blank rows. | All |
4 | Highlight rows where Days Overdue is more than 30. | All |
5 | Clean this data: trim extra spaces, standardise city names and convert dates to DD-MM-YYYY. | All |
6 | Split the Full Name column into First Name and Last Name. | All |
7 | Create a summary sheet with the total, average and maximum of each numeric column. | All |
8 | Build a variance table of actual against budget by cost centre, with variance and variance percentage. | Finance |
9 | Show receivables ageing in 0 to 30, 31 to 60, 61 to 90 and over 90 day buckets. | Finance |
10 | Find duplicate invoice numbers and list them on a new sheet. | Finance |
11 | Add a column that flags expenses above the approval limit of Rs 50,000. | Finance |
12 | Summarise the key trends in this table in five bullets for the CFO. | Finance |
13 | Create a headcount summary by department, location and grade. | HR |
14 | Calculate monthly attrition from the joining and exit date columns. | HR |
15 | Show average training hours by department in a bar chart. | HR |
16 | Show total sales by region and month as a PivotTable. | Sales |
17 | Rank sales reps by quarterly revenue and add their target achievement percentage. | Sales |
18 | Show lead to order conversion rate by lead source. | Sales |
19 | Which five products had the biggest drop in units sold compared with last quarter? | Sales |
20 | Sort inventory by days of stock remaining and flag items below seven days. | Operations |
21 | Are there outliers in delivery times by warehouse? Show them. | Operations |
22 | Analyse using Python: forecast the next six months of sales and chart the forecast. | Analysis |
23 | Analyse using Python: group customers into segments by order value and frequency. | Analysis |
24 | Plan the changes first: I want this sheet turned into a monthly dashboard. Show the plan before you edit. | Review |
25 | List the assumptions behind this analysis and anything I should verify. | Review |
Replace anything in brackets or generic wording with your own details. Prompts are written by Parikshit Khanna for training use.
Tips that make these prompts work
Keep one header row and clear column names; Microsoft suggests adapting sample prompts to your own column names.
Describe the task in plain language, then ask Copilot to explain any formula it creates.
For complex analysis, ask Copilot to analyse using Python.
Use Show Changes and Plan with Copilot where available so you can see what will change.
Verify totals against the source before sharing, and keep payroll and personal data within your company's rules.
From Parikshit Khanna's training sessions
These are real photographs from Parikshit's training work; captions name the session where it is known.
Train your team on Copilot in Excel
Parikshit Khanna runs hands-on workshops where teams practise these prompts on their own work, with review rules and a saved prompt library.
Step | What you share |
|---|---|
1. WhatsApp or email | Organisation, city, team size and AI tools or licences |
2. 20-minute call | Priority tasks and data rules |
3. Written proposal | Agenda, format, dates and one fee; dates are blocked after written confirmation |
About Parikshit Khanna
Achievement | Detail |
|---|---|
TEDx speaker | Talk Redesigning Work with Artificial Intelligence, TEDxEicher School Faridabad Youth, 1 August 2026 |
Copilot and AI work, 2026 | Copilot Chat workshop for GMR Airports' Delhi Duty Free; ChatGPT and Copilot workshop for vivo India; AI training for CP PLUS |
Corporate clients | Emami, Arvind Fashions, Sheela Foam (Sleepwell), Godrej Properties, Gaursons, Hetero, Tinna |
Government and academia | Prasar Bharati NABM programme; workshops at IIT Roorkee and IIT Guwahati; visiting faculty at GL Bajaj |
International | Malabar Group, Dubai: Phase 1 delivered live online, July 2026 |
Reach | Trainer-reported reach of 3,50,000+ professionals since 2020 |
Credentials | Anthropic Claude Academy badges for Claude 101, Claude Cowork, and AI Capabilities and Limitations |
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I still use the =COPILOT function?
No. Microsoft says it is no longer available from 14 September 2026.
Does Copilot in Excel need a licence?
Microsoft's guide says Copilot in Excel needs a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence. Check with your IT team.
Can Parikshit train our team on these prompts?
Yes. Workshops run onsite in Indian cities on agreed dates or live online for teams in India, the UAE, the UK, Singapore and Indonesia, using your own tasks and sample data.
How do we book?
WhatsApp +91 99972 13177 or email pkhanna123@gmail.com. You get a written proposal with one recommended format and fee after a short call.
Note: product details are from official vendor pages as of October 2026 and change often; features depend on your licence and region. Reach is trainer-reported. Training is independent; no partnership with the vendors named is implied.
