Odense Kommune, a Danish municipality, is embracing AI-powered modernization through Microsoft 365 Copilot, transforming unmanaged AI use into a governed platform. The initiative was driven by concerns over shadow AI, where employees were using various public AI tools to handle user data. Niels Demant Rasmussen, Head of Business IT, emphasized the need for a secure platform that the organization could control and manage properly. Jeanette Irene Andreasen, CFO, highlighted the importance of responsible AI development with a focus on ethics, security, and competence development.
Building on its existing Microsoft 365 platform, Odense upgraded to Microsoft 365 E5 and expanded the use of 365 Copilot across the organization. The rollout began with 30 licenses and eventually scaled to 1,000 seats. Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat was provided to ensure data safety over public AI chats. Lønbæk noted that the strategic direction, business value, and organizational anchoring were key priorities. Rasmussen appreciated the administrative benefits of having a common platform.
For the implementation of Copilot, Odense partnered with Context& as its technology and adoption partner. Context& helped develop a comprehensive business case, governance framework, and sensitivity labeling policies. A structured rollout plan was established to bring Copilot to 1,000 employees. The leadership placed a strong emphasis on employee readiness, ensuring significant training, guidance, and change management. Lønbæk stressed that the success of Copilot depends on behavior, working methods, and skills, not just licenses.