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:

In development

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 features without proper training and documentation may result in a surge of support requests from users facing difficulties in using the new functionalities.
   - roles: IT Helpdesk, End Users
   - 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 lead to unauthorized access to sensitive employee data, raising compliance and privacy concerns.
   - 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

Change Management Challenges
Without a structured change management process, the rollout of new features may disrupt existing workflows and lead to resistance from users unprepared for the changes.
   - roles: Change Managers, Project Managers
   - 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 Data Integration
The integration of BambooHR and the ability to create custom connectors via Microsoft Graph allows organizations to enrich employee profiles with accurate and comprehensive data. This leads to improved personalization in Copilot responses, enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.
   - next-steps: Evaluate existing HR systems for integration with Microsoft 365 Copilot. Train IT staff on configuring connectors and ensure compliance with data usage policies.
   - roles: HR Managers, IT Administrators, Data Analysts
   - references: https://aka.ms/peopleconnectors/bamboohr, https://learn.microsoft.com/graph/peopleconnectors#compliance-privacy-and-data-usage

Improved User Experience in Microsoft 365
With enriched people profiles, users will experience more relevant and contextual responses from Copilot across Microsoft 365 applications, improving collaboration and productivity.
   - next-steps: Communicate the upcoming changes to all users and provide training on how to utilize the new features effectively. Monitor user feedback to make necessary adjustments.
   - roles: End Users, Team Leaders, Project Managers
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=480736

Streamlined IT Operations
The ability to configure and manage connectors through the Microsoft Admin Center simplifies administrative tasks for IT teams, reducing the time spent on manual data entry and updates.
   - next-steps: Review current administrative workflows to identify areas for improvement with the new connectors. Update internal documentation to reflect new processes.
   - roles: IT Administrators, System Administrators, Compliance Officers
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/graph/peopleconnectors#compliance-privacy-and-data-usage

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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