If you’re like most small business owners in Southwest Oklahoma, your inbox probably feels like a battlefield. Between customer requests, supplier updates, and internal team messages, finding the emails that truly matter can feel like a full-time job. Every minute spent sorting through clutter is a minute lost that could be spent serving customers or growing your business.

As a result, many business owners feel overwhelmed by the constant flood of messages. And when something important gets lost in the mix, it can lead to missed opportunities, slow responses, or frustrated clients. Fortunately, Microsoft has a smart new solution that’s about to make your inbox much easier to manage.

Introducing Outlook’s new AI-powered feature

To help business owners stay organized, Microsoft is launching a major improvement to its mobile email app. Outlook for iOS and Android will soon include Copilot, Microsoft’s AI assistant, which adds a powerful feature called Priority view. This tool sorts your emails into two simple groups: High Priority and Needs Replies.

When you open Outlook, you’ll instantly see what requires your attention first. Instead of scanning through dozens of irrelevant messages, you can focus on what truly matters. In other words, Copilot helps you take control of your inbox so you can stay focused and productive.

Why it matters for small business owners

Running a small business already means wearing several hats. You might be handling sales, managing your team, ordering supplies, and following up with clients—all in one day. Because of that, email overload can easily derail your productivity.

With Priority view, Outlook helps you manage this chaos. It learns your habits, prioritizes key messages, and reduces distractions. So, instead of wasting time digging for important emails, you’ll immediately see what’s most urgent. This smarter organization allows you to respond faster, serve customers better, and keep your operations running smoothly.

Helping your team stay on top of communication

Not only does this update help business owners, but it also benefits employees. Many workers spend hours each week managing their inboxes, often worrying that they’ve missed something critical. Now, thanks to Copilot, they can rely on Outlook to highlight essential messages automatically.

Over time, the AI continues to improve based on your communication patterns. Consequently, your entire team becomes more efficient, less stressed, and more focused on meaningful work rather than digital clutter. It’s like having a personal assistant who understands what’s important for your business and filters out the noise.

When you can expect this feature

Microsoft plans to roll out the Priority view feature gradually through 2025. However, it will only be available for businesses using Microsoft 365 with a Copilot license, since Copilot is a paid add-on. Therefore, if your company already uses Microsoft 365, now is the perfect time to consider how Copilot can enhance productivity across your team.

Think of this as a step toward smarter communication. By integrating AI into your daily workflow, you’ll simplify email management and make your business run more smoothly.

Take the next step toward smarter email management

AI tools like Copilot are transforming how small businesses handle communication. Instead of letting your inbox control your day, you can let AI organize your messages and help you focus on what truly drives growth.

If you’re curious about improving your email setup or exploring how Microsoft 365 can make your business more efficient, reach out today. We help small businesses across Southwest Oklahoma stay productive, secure, and ahead of the technology curve—so you can spend less time sorting emails and more time growing your business.