Barnsley Council drives social care efficiency with Copilot | Computer Weekly
Summary
Staff across finance, human resources, legal and other divisions have used the Microsoft generative AI (GenAI) tool to streamline their workloads. Barnsley is also planning to use Copilot to make social care training materials, as well as for filtering through large data sets to ensure records are accurate and up to date. “I’ve told people it’s OK to try things out and make mistakes,” said Wendy Popplewell, executive director for core services at Barnsley Council. If something goes wrong, it’s OK, as long as they’re mindful of our policies and use the system appropriately.” The council said it has taken great care to support and upskill its staff during the trial. At least half the council workforce has now adopted the new technology, while word of mouth is playing an important role in boosting uptake.