Since last November, 150 executives of the Gard Departmental Council have been testing Copilot, Microsoft's AI assistant. This deployment, led by the Directorate of Innovation and Information Systems (DISI) and supported by Blue Soft Empower, the entity specialized in Microsoft solutions from the Blue Soft group, aims to simplify the daily life of agents and enhance their efficiency.
Founded in 2008 by Thierry Boccara and Ludovic Hayat, based in Charenton-le-Pont in Val-de-Marne,
Blue Soft, with locations in Aix-en-Provence, Lyon, Niort, Rouen, Strasbourg, and Toulouse, is also present in Belgium and Switzerland. It supports 500 communities and public sector actors in their digital projects (
business process modernization, collaborative solutions, security and identity, infrastructures, etc.).
The Group won, in November 2024, the CANUT (Digital and Telecom Purchasing Center) tender to provide its expertise in specialized
Microsoft solutions to communities and public institutions from 2024 to 2028. It is within this context that the deployment of Microsoft Copilot within the Department of Gard takes place.
A Virtual Assistant Becoming a Daily Tool
With 150 active licenses, Copilot is now fully integrated into the operations of departmental teams. Used primarily by senior executives, it boasts an impressive usage rate of 98%, proving its efficiency and rapid adoption.
Among the most appreciated features:
Email sorting and summarization, helping to combat information overload;
Automatic report generation, facilitating note-taking and document creation;
Optimization of exchanges, thanks to chat that synthesizes emails, Teams conversations, and OneDrive data;
Accelerated search, particularly for retrieving essential administrative documents.
Training workshops, co-led by
Blue Soft and the Department's IT team, have allowed for a gradual appropriation of the tool. Designed for internal and individual use, it ensures data protection within the community environment. Each user has strictly limited access to their own files and information specifically shared with them.
Pierre Chambon, Data Developer within the Gard Departmental Council, emphasizes:
"The initial feedback is very positive, especially regarding the improvement of mental workload. Thanks to Blue Soft's advice, the Microsoft Copilot solution quickly became indispensable as it perfectly interfaces with our daily tools.” AI Serving Communities
DISI plays a central role in the digital transformation of Gard. It does not just introduce new tools: it instills a
culture of data and experimentation, gradually permeating other departments, including support functions like
human resources. Through concrete use cases (HR chatbot, payroll data quality control), a more structural approach to AI is emerging: less spectacular, but perhaps more sustainable.
Pierre Chambon specifies:
“AI is a major issue: it must improve the services we provide to citizens. These experiments allow us to support an inevitable evolution and take charge to accelerate our transformation. Ultimately, we aim to use these successful ‘internal’ tests and integrate this technology into the daily lives of agents. Simplifying processes and administrative complexity will allow us to dedicate maximum resources to executing our public policies.”
To better understand
What are the implications of integrating AI tools like Copilot into the daily operations of a public administration?
Integrating AI tools like Copilot into public administrations aims to enhance operational efficiency. It reduces employee cognitive load through automation of repetitive tasks, improves decision-making by optimizing data management, and frees up time for higher-value activities. This requires internal process adaptation and change management to ensure AI complements rather than replaces human work.
What is the role of the digital and telecommunications procurement center in the context of deploying digital solutions for communities?
The Digital and Telecommunications Procurement Center (CANUT) plays a vital role by centralizing the acquisition of technology solutions for communities, ensuring tool uniformity and enabling economies of scale. By standardizing purchases, it facilitates access to advanced technologies at optimized costs and ensures compliance with regulatory standards, which is essential for the effectiveness and security of digital deployments.
