MC1163760 – (Updated) New support for HR and employee profile data in Microsoft 365 Copilot connectors

Product:

Copilot, Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 admin center, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft 365 suite, Microsoft Graph

Platform:

Developer, Online, Web, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

New feature, User impact, Admin impact

Links:

480736

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft 365 Copilot now supports enhanced HR and employee profile data connectors, including a BambooHR prebuilt connector and custom connectors via Microsoft Graph. Administrators can configure these to enrich people profiles, improving Copilot’s contextual responses across Microsoft 365 experiences. Public preview runs mid-May to mid-November 2025; general availability begins mid-November 2025.

Details:
Updated November 11, 2025: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction]
We're introducing enhanced Microsoft 365 Copilot connectors for people data to help organizations enrich Microsoft 365 people profiles with authoritative information from external systems. This update improves Copilot's ability to deliver contextually relevant and personalized responses across Microsoft 365 experiences such as profile cards and people search.
Administrators can configure connectors to supported systems like BambooHR directly from the Copilot > Connectors > Gallery, under the Human resources & recruiting category. Additionally, customers and partners can build custom connectors via Microsoft Graph to ingest people-related data from other sources. These capabilities allow Copilot to ground its responses in richer, more accurate people data.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 480736.
[When this will happen:]
Public Preview (Worldwide): Began mid-May 2025 and completes by mid-November 2025.
General Availability (Worldwide): Begins mid-November 2025 and completes by mid-December 2025.
The BambooHR connector is available WW as of Friday the 14th of November.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability, Preview

Created:
2025-10-02

updated:
2025-11-11

Public Preview Start Date

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Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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linked item details

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Data Integration Issues
Without proper preparation, the integration of BambooHR and custom connectors may lead to data inconsistencies or errors in employee profiles, affecting the accuracy of information presented in Microsoft 365.
   - roles: Microsoft 365 Administrators, HR Managers
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/graph/peopleconnectors#compliance-privacy-and-data-usage, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=480736

User Experience Degradation
If the new connectors are implemented without adequate testing, users may experience delays or failures in retrieving enriched profile data, leading to frustration and decreased productivity.
   - roles: End Users, IT Support Staff
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/graph/peopleconnectors#compliance-privacy-and-data-usage, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=480736

Increased Support Requests
The introduction of new connectors may lead to an increase in support requests from users facing issues with the new features, overwhelming IT support teams if not prepared.
   - roles: IT Support Staff, Helpdesk Personnel
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/graph/peopleconnectors#compliance-privacy-and-data-usage, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=480736

Compliance Risks
Failure to properly configure the new connectors may expose the organization to compliance risks related to data privacy and security, especially with external data sources.
   - roles: Compliance Officers, Data Protection Officers
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/graph/peopleconnectors#compliance-privacy-and-data-usage, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=480736

Training Gaps
Without prior training on the new features, users may struggle to utilize the enhanced capabilities of Copilot effectively, leading to underutilization of the tool.
   - roles: End Users, Training Coordinators
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/graph/peopleconnectors#compliance-privacy-and-data-usage, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=480736

Configutation Options**

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Opportunities**

Enhanced Employee Experience
Utilizing the new BambooHR connector and custom connectors can significantly enhance employee profiles within Microsoft 365. This enriched data allows for more personalized and contextually relevant responses from Copilot, improving overall user experience and satisfaction.
   - next-steps: Evaluate existing HR data sources and determine how they can be integrated using the new connectors. Communicate with HR teams to ensure alignment on data requirements and expectations.
   - roles: HR Managers, IT Administrators, User Experience Designers
   - references: https://aka.ms/peopleconnectors/bamboohr, https://learn.microsoft.com/graph/peopleconnectors#compliance-privacy-and-data-usage " target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://learn.microsoft.com/graph/peopleconnectors#compliance-privacy-and-data-usage

Streamlined IT Administration
The ability to configure connectors directly from the Microsoft Admin Center streamlines the administrative process, reducing the time and effort needed to manage employee data and profiles across Microsoft 365 applications.
   - next-steps: Train IT staff on the new configuration processes for the connectors and update internal documentation to reflect these changes. Monitor the usage and effectiveness of the connectors post-implementation.
   - roles: IT Administrators, System Administrators, Compliance Officers
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=480736, https://learn.microsoft.com/graph/peopleconnectors/build

Improved Data Accuracy and Compliance
By integrating authoritative external data sources into Microsoft 365, organizations can ensure that employee profiles are accurate and up-to-date, which is crucial for compliance and reporting purposes.
   - next-steps: Conduct a data audit to identify existing gaps in employee information. Work with compliance teams to ensure that the integration of external data meets all regulatory requirements.
   - roles: Compliance Officers, HR Managers, Data Analysts
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/graph/peopleconnectors#compliance-privacy-and-data-usage, https://aka.ms/peopleconnectors/build

Potentional Risks**

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Data Protection**

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IT Security**

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Hypothetical Work Council Statement**

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DPIA Draft**

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explanation for non-techies**

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