Using Copilot to advance and unify document storage and retrieval at Korea Telecom

Korea Telecom (KT), a leading telecom provider in South Korea, wanted to modernize its document management approach. Years of daily file creation had produced a fragmented digital environment that employees struggled to navigate. As user demands grew for a more efficient way to store and retrieve vital company information, KT recognized the need for a solution that offered both technological innovation and a familiar interface. Having relied on the Microsoft ecosystem for decades, they turned to Microsoft 365 Copilot to bridge the gap between legacy processes and new possibilities, aiming to increase productivity, reduce confusion, and drive adoption across the entire organization.

Their main challenge stemmed from entrenched workflows that relied on employees storing documents in disparate locations. “We pushed for document centralization based on OneDrive and SharePoint, but employee adoption was slower than we wanted,” says Junwon Kim, the AX CoE Team Lead at KT. Unfortunately, this meant an ongoing and significant duplication of efforts and files. Without a centralized, fully utilized knowledge base, employees often spent considerable time searching for relevant materials, leading to inefficiency and frustration. KT wanted a robust tool that empowers teams to unify files and share insights more seamlessly, yet they also knew it had to mesh with established habits to facilitate widespread adoption.

Trusting their Copilot

Microsoft 365 Copilot emerged as the ideal choice because it enables advanced AI-driven features within a familiar environment. “The referencing and summarizing functions in Microsoft 365 Copilot made it easier for employees to use our documents as assets, and enabled quick, clear insights as needed," explains Kim. By integrating directly into tools like Word, Excel, and Teams, Copilot offers capabilities that encourage employees to centralize their work without dramatically altering their day-to-day routines. This alignment with existing assets allowed KT to avoid the steep learning curve associated with alternative solutions. It also prepared the organization for a broader AI journey, ensuring that each step was built upon the last.

The implementation process required a careful blend of technical deployment and change management. “Initially, there were challenges due to the gap between the promotion period and the actual product delivery," recalls Kim. KT worked with a Microsoft global team for guidance on integrating Azure Information Protection and improving PDF compatibility. KT’s own culture of citizen developers also played a key role, enabling small teams to prototype new workflows and share positive results with colleagues. Early adopters quickly championed benefits of using Microsoft 365 Copilot, which in turn inspired more conservative departments to follow. This gradual transition aligned with KT’s strategic objectives of long-term adoption rather than a hurried, superficial launch.

Better outcomes with an AI foundation

Once Microsoft 365 Copilot was fully integrated, the result has been a remarkable shift toward genuine knowledge sharing. Kim highlights the benefits, noting, “This synergy helped us overcome the chasm, bridging the adoption gap.” Employees who once hesitated to store files in OneDrive or SharePoint are now more confident that any document, once uploaded, can be indexed, summarized, and easily referenced. Productivity metrics improved as workers spent less time hunting for elusive files. Team leaders also reported higher engagement, thanks to the ability of Microsoft 365 Copilot to quickly distill key insights from large volumes of text. KT’s broader AI initiatives began to flourish, as the organization builds confidence in the power of automated assistance.

Microsoft 365 Copilot empowers KT to unify its documents and transform scattered knowledge into a living, company-wide resource. By integrating advanced AI features directly into the tools employees already use, Copilot enables accelerated decision-making and fosters a forward-looking environment where innovation thrives. KT’s journey exemplifies how a well-orchestrated implementation of Microsoft technology can spark tangible progress. With Copilot firmly in place, KT stands poised to explore even deeper AI integrations, confident that the foundation laid by this solution will continue to offer long-term strategic value for its evolving business landscape.