Microsoft’s New Applied Skills

Generate Reports with Research Agents & Streamlining Business Processes with AI Chat

Artificial Intelligence is no longer something “coming soon” for business change professionals — it’s already here, embedded into how work gets done.

Microsoft has recently introduced two new Applied Skills that are especially relevant for Business Change Managers, Transformation Leads, and Change Analysts:

• Generate reports with AI research agents

• Streamline business processes with AI chat

These aren’t theoretical concepts. They are hands-on, applied capabilities designed to support real workplace tasks — the kind we deal with daily during complex change initiatives.

Let’s break down what they mean, why they matter, and how they can support better change outcomes.

What Are Microsoft Applied Skills?

Microsoft Applied Skills are practical, scenario-based credentials that validate your ability to use AI tools in real business situations.

Unlike traditional certifications that focus heavily on theory, Applied Skills demonstrate that you can:

• Apply AI to everyday work

• Solve real business problems

• Work more efficiently and intelligently

For change professionals, this shift is significant — because it aligns AI capability with adoption, impact, and value, not just technology.

What is an AI Research Agent?

An AI Research Agent acts like a digital research assistant. You give it a task — such as gathering insight, summarising information, or analysing patterns — and it does the heavy lifting for you.

Instead of spending hours pulling together:

• Stakeholder insight

• Industry research

• Policy or governance summaries

• Programme updates

…the AI agent can research, synthesise, and present findings in a structured way.

Why This Matters for Business Change

As change professionals, we are constantly producing:

• Briefing packs

• Impact assessments

• Read-outs for senior leaders

• Insight to support decision-making

AI research agents can:

• Reduce time spent on manual research

• Improve consistency and quality of outputs

• Free you up to focus on sense-making and engagement

💡 AI doesn’t replace your judgement — it accelerates your thinking.

Start learning here: Microsoft Applied Skills: Generate reports with AI research agents - Applied Skills | Microsoft Learn

Real Change Use Cases

• Creating a programme summary for leadership in minutes

• Pulling together stakeholder sentiment themes

• Drafting change impact narratives from multiple sources

• Supporting early discovery phases of transformation work

What Does “AI Chat” Mean in Practice?

AI chat tools allow you to interact with systems, data, and workflows using natural language — no complex coding required.

You can:

• Ask questions about processes

• Trigger actions

• Automate repetitive tasks

• Guide users through steps

Think of it as embedding intelligence directly into the flow of work.

Why This Is a Game-Changer for Change Adoption

One of the biggest risks in any transformation is process friction:

• People don’t know what to do

• Steps are unclear

• Systems feel complex or disconnected

AI chat can:

• Act as a real-time guide during change

• Reduce reliance on static documentation

• Support people at the moment they need help

From a change perspective, this directly supports:

• Adoption

• Confidence

• Reduced resistance

Practical Change Use Cases

• An AI chat assistant that explains “what’s changing for me?”

• Guided support for new tools or processes

• Automating FAQs during hypercare phases

• Helping managers respond consistently to team questions

This is where change, AI, and people truly intersect.

Start learning here: Microsoft Applied Skills: Streamline business workflows with AI chat - Applied Skills | Microsoft Learn

Why These Applied Skills Matter for Change Professionals

These new skills signal an important shift:

AI is no longer just for technologists — it’s for how work gets done.

For Business Change Managers, these tools support:

• Faster insight

• Better decision-making

• Stronger adoption strategies

• More human-centred change

They also strengthen your professional profile, showing that you:

• Understand AI practically

• Can bridge technology and people

• Are future-ready as a change leader

What This Means for Tech Biz Toolkit

At Tech Biz Toolkit, this is exactly why the AI for Change section exists.

The goal isn’t to turn change professionals into data scientists — it’s to:

• Give practical AI tools

• Provide prompts, templates, and guidance

• Help you apply AI confidently and responsibly

🔹The AI Prompt Library is already live
🔹 Additional AI-ready templates, case studies, and tutorials are coming soon

Final Thought

AI won’t replace Business Change Managers.

But Business Change Managers who understand AI will replace those who don’t.

These new Microsoft Applied Skills are a powerful step towards:

• Smarter change delivery

• Better adoption

• And more meaningful impact