The short version
- Treasury estimated Copilot pays for itself if it saves a mid-level worker 13 minutes a week.
- Most pilot participants used it two or three times a week, or less.
- The lesson: measure time saved on specific tasks before you scale.
Thirteen minutes. That's how much time Microsoft's Copilot needs to save a mid-level public servant each week to justify its price, according to a review of the Australian Treasury's 14-week pilot.[1]
It sounds like a slam dunk. A single meeting summary could do it.
The catch is in the usage. The Register reported that most of Treasury's 218 volunteers used Copilot "two or three times a week, or less", and found it "not appropriate for more complex tasks".[1]
Cheap to justify, easy to waste
The wider whole-of-government trial told a similar story. Staff reported "perceived time savings of around an hour a day" on summaries, drafts and searches, yet "up to 7% of trial participants reported Copilot added time to activities".[2]
In other words, the tool can clear the bar easily, but only if people actually build it into their week.
Do the maths for your team
Microsoft lists Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot from AU$35.20 per user per month, paid yearly and excluding GST.[3] Put that against an hourly wage and most businesses will find the break-even point is minutes, not hours.
The harder question is which minutes. Treasury's best results came from "finding and summarising information, generating meeting minutes, knowledge management and drafting content".[1] Start there, track it for a month, and you'll know.
Sources
- The Register: After Copilot trial, government staff rated Microsoft's AI less useful than expected (12 Feb 2025)
- Digital Transformation Agency: Copilot trial evaluation findings
- Microsoft Australia: Microsoft Copilot for small business
Sources checked 7 November 2026. Product features and prices change often, so check the vendor's site before you buy.