Using Copilot 365 as an AI Test Assistant for QC

Writing test cases is an essential part of software development, but it often comes with common challenges:

• Time-consuming manual work
• Inconsistent formats between testers
• Missing edge cases
• Repetitive effort for similar user stories

With Microsoft Copilot 365 and Copilot Studio, we can build a custom AI Agent that automatically generates test cases, presents them in a structured table, and exports them directly to Excel — all without writing any code.

This article walks you through a step-by-step guide to building such an agent.

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1. Getting Started with Copilot 365

Before creating your agent, make sure you remind yourself of the prerequisites.

Requirements

• Microsoft 365 Business or Enterprise account
• Microsoft Copilot license enabled
• Access to Copilot Studio

Personal Microsoft accounts (Outlook, Hotmail) do not support agent creation.

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2. What Is a Copilot Agent?

A Copilot Agent is a purpose-built AI assistant configured with:

• A clear role
• Instructions that define how it behaves
• Structured responses based on user prompts

Typical workflow:

User inputs requirements
        ↓
Copilot Agent analyzes input
        ↓
Test cases are generated
        ↓
Results exported to Excel

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3. Step-by-Step: Creating a Test Case Agent in Copilot Studio

Step 1: Create a New Agent

1. Open Copilot Studio
2. Select Create → New agent
3. Name your agent, for example:

Write Testcases

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Step 2: Define the Agent Description

Use a clear description such as:

This agent assists users in generating test cases based on their descriptions, displaying them in a table format, and exporting the table to a CSV Excel file.

A well-written description helps Copilot understand the agent’s purpose.

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Step 3: Configure Instructions (Most Important Step)

Instructions define how the agent thinks and responds.

Example instructions:

- Generate test cases based on the user’s description
- Display test cases in a table with columns:
  Test Case ID, Description, Action, Expected Result, Test Data
- Mark smoke test cases with prefix [SM]
- Sort all [SM] test cases on the top
- Generate edge test cases
- Group test cases under Acceptance Criteria
- Allow exporting the table to a CSV Excel file

This ensures consistent and structured output every time.

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Step 4: Knowledge Configuration (Optional)

You may optionally connect:

• Jira
• Confluence
• Internal documentation sites

For basic test case generation, this step can be skipped.

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Step 5: Enable Capabilities for Excel Export

Enable:

• Create documents, charts, and code

This allows the agent to generate:

• CSV files
• Excel spreadsheets
• Structured tables

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4. Sample Prompts for Writing Test Cases

Simple Prompt

Generate test cases for login functionality using email and password

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Detailed Business Prompt

Generate test cases for:
- User logs in with email and password
- Email must be in a valid format
- Password must be at least 8 characters
- Lock account after 5 failed login attempts

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Acceptance Criteria-Based Prompt

Generate test cases based on the following acceptance criteria:
1. User can login with valid credentials
2. Error message appears for invalid password
3. Account is locked after 5 failed attempts

The agent automatically generates:

• Positive cases
• Negative cases
• Edge cases
• Smoke tests marked with [SM]

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5. Real-World Usage: Exporting Test Cases to Excel

Typical Workflow

1. Tester or BA pastes requirements into Copilot chat
2. Agent generates structured test cases
3. Output is displayed in a table
4. User selects Export → CSV / Excel
5. File is downloaded and ready to use

Excel Structure

| Test Case ID | Description | Action | Expected Result | Test Data |

Time saved:

• Before: 1–2 hours per feature
• After: 3–5 minutes

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6. Advanced Extension: Integrating Copilot with Azure

Advanced Scenario

Grant the agent permission to:

• Access Azure DevOps or Jira
• Automatically fetch:
  • User Stories
  • Descriptions
  • Acceptance Criteria

Architecture Overview

Copilot Agent
   ↓
Azure Active Directory
   ↓
Azure Function / API
   ↓
Azure DevOps / Jira

Ideal for Agile teams needing synchronized test cases.

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7. Data Security & Customer Information Considerations

When using Copilot 365 Agents in real projects, data security and confidentiality are critical.

Customer Data Protection and Consent

• Never input sensitive or personally identifiable information (PII)
• Usage must be approved by the customer and Project Manager (PM)
• Always anonymize or mask real customer data

Use Licensed Copilot 365 Only

• Always use Copilot 365 (paid enterprise license)
• Avoid public or consumer AI tools
• Licensed Copilot ensures enterprise-grade security and data isolation

Compliance and Internal Policies

• Follow internal security policies and customer NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreement)
• Ensure alignment with GDPR, and company compliance standards

Restrict Access and Permissions

• Apply least-privilege access
• Limit agent usage to non-production data where possible
• Carefully scope permissions when integrating with Azure DevOps or Jira

Human Review Is Mandatory

• AI-generated test cases must be reviewed by QC engineers
• Final responsibility remains with the QC team

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8. Strengths and Limitations

Strengths

• No coding required
• Easy adoption for QC and BA teams
• Consistent test case formatting
• Fast Excel export
• Scalable with Azure integration

Limitations

• Cannot replace human testing expertise
• Complex business logic still requires manual validation
• Output quality depends on prompt clarity
• Requires Copilot 365 licensing

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9. Conclusion

Microsoft Copilot 365 can be more than a productivity assistant — when configured correctly, it becomes a powerful AI Test Assistant.

With a single agent, teams can:

Automate up to 80% of test case writing

• Reduce repetitive manual work
• Improve consistency and quality
• Scale securely in enterprise environments

With proper licensing, governance, and security controls, Copilot 365 Agents can be safely adopted even in highly regulated projects.