Investec bets on Copilot for enterprise AI roll-out

Investec has rolled out Microsoft Copilot to all of its worldwide employees, in the latest major bet on AI by an asset manager.

The deployment will see the technology made available for the firm’s 8000 employees across markets such as the UK and Investec’s home country of South Africa.

As well as enabling the use of Copilot in personal workflows, the asset manager said it was also embedding agentic AI systems that can execute end-to-end tasks.

Investec said that more than 800 AI agents are already in use across the organisation automating repetitive tasks and accelerating knowledge work. This is equating to a saving of over 350,000 hours of colleague time each year, with this capacity being reinvested into client service, advisory work and innovation.

The roll-out of the tools is being supported by an AI governance framework and investment in training programmes for staff.

Lyndon Subroyen, Global Head of Digital and Technology at Investec, said: “Our AI strategy is built on a simple thesis: higher tech leads to higher touch. At Investec, we’ve long been known for our high tech, high touch approach to client service. AI is an amplifier of our people and their judgement – not a substitute for either.

“By taking on routine analysis, drafting, reconciliation and administrative tasks, AI enables our teams to spend more time with clients, sharpen decision-making and focus on the nuance that creates value. AI is the amplifier; the relationship stays human.

“We are investing in AI to help our people be even more effective. The opportunity is not simply to do things faster; it is to create more capacity for the work only people can do – building trust, exercising judgement, solving complex problems and delivering exceptional client experiences. Investec will remain human-led.”