Exploring Microsoft Syntex: A Content Processing Solution

It seems there’s always something to share about Microsoft and its exciting range of new and upgraded products and services – and this is especially true when it comes to the powerful AI features added to its technology stack in recent years. 

On that note, now, I’d like to take a closer look at Microsoft Syntex – an intelligent content processing solution within Microsoft 365 – and explore some of the features and benefits of using this tool to organise and manage large quantities of company data.  

Initially released in October 2020, Microsoft Syntex is an AI-powered content understanding, processing, and compliance solution. The tool can manage content throughout its entire lifecycle and aims to improve productivity and efficiency by making it far easier for organisations to work with, and get value from, large amounts of unstructured data within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. 

Microsoft Syntex key features

Syntex leverages advanced AI and machine learning models to integrate seamlessly into the flow of work; in doing so, it has the power to transform how content is created, processed, discovered, and utilised. From automatically generating routine documents to collecting information to enhance content-heavy activities like inventory management, SEO, and compliance, Syntex is indeed a useful tool across diverse industries.

For example, Syntex can be used for:  

Automated content understanding

Syntex utilises AI and machine learning to automatically classify and extract information from documents and content, reducing the need for manual tagging and classification. By identifying key information and applying metadata tags, Syntex helps users find relevant content more easily (more easily than, say, simply searching for keywords).

Document understanding models

Syntex allows users to create custom document understanding models tailored to their specific business needs. These models can be trained to recognise specific types of documents automatically so that key information is extracted, and the document is tagged and filed accordingly.

Integration with SharePoint

Microsoft Syntex is tightly integrated with SharePoint and other Microsoft 365 services, enabling seamless content management and collaboration within the familiar Microsoft ecosystem. Users can leverage Syntex capabilities directly within SharePoint libraries and lists to automate document processing and streamline content workflows.

Compliance and governance

Syntex helps organisations enforce compliance and governance policies by automatically identifying sensitive information, detecting policy violations, and applying retention and disposal policies to content. This ensures regulatory compliance is maintained and helps protect sensitive data.

Workflow automation

With Syntex, organisations can automate content-related processes and workflows, such as document routing, approvals, and content enrichment. This improves efficiency, reduces manual tasks, and ensures consistency in content management practices.

Insights and analytics

Syntex provides insights and analytical capabilities that allow organisations to garner valuable insights from the content they store. By analysing patterns and trends in content usage and metadata, Syntex makes it easier to identify opportunities for optimisation and make data-driven decisions. 

What’s the difference between Microsoft Copilot and Syntex?

It is worth noting (since this is a question often asked) what the difference is between Microsoft Syntex and Microsoft Copilot, since both solutions leverage AI technologies to increase productivity. However, the two do serve distinct purposes and target different user groups (although it has been hinted that Copilot may one day encompass Syntex’s functionalities, this hasn’t happened yet).

Copilot is a useful tool for employees to actively seek or request information from; it empowers users to code, write, generate images, and find answers to questions. Syntex, on the other hand, does not require active attention and can execute tasks passively. It works in the background, so to speak, putting your content to work rather than empowering your users to work.

Confusingly, you may also come across the term ‘Copilot for Syntex’ which refers to the integration of Microsoft Copilot with Syntex (i.e., Syntex plugins for Copilot). This integration allows users working with Syntex to leverage Copilot’s capabilities. For example, a user utilising Copilot to write code could ask Copilot to provide intelligent code suggestions tailored to the specific context of Syntex-related development tasks, thereby streamlining the development process and reducing manual effort.

The benefits of using Microsoft Syntex

Although Syntex hasn’t been quite as popular as perhaps it deserves to be (and is at risk of being overshadowed by Copilot it seems), the tool can hugely help companies manage their content, ensure compliance, streamline workflows, and gain valuable insights from their data.

Indeed, in utilising it effectually, organisations may benefit from:

• Improved content organisation – as we’ve mentioned, by applying metadata tags and classifications to documents and their content, Syntex helps to organise and structure previously unstructured data, making it easier to find and manage within SharePoint and other Microsoft 365 platforms.
• Enhanced search and discovery – with metadata tags applied by Syntex, users can perform more accurate and targeted searches, enabling them to quickly find relevant and more precise content as well as information not previously searchable by keyword.
• Streamlined processes – Syntex can automate processes such as document routing, approvals, and alerts to users based on predefined rules and conditions, improving efficiency and reducing manual intervention. It can also automatically generate repetitive documents such as contracts, invoices, and process/compliance sheets to ensure accuracy and save time.
• Insights and analytics – by analysing patterns and trends in content usage and metadata, Syntex can provide insights into how information is being utilised within the organisation, helping to identify areas for improvement and optimisation.
• Flexibility and convenience – Syntex includes many useful automated features such as annotation, translation and summation and can also be used to request and send electronic signatures to review and sign.

Final word

Microsoft Syntex offers a range of benefits that contribute to improved productivity, efficiency, and knowledge management – particularly inside organisations that make use of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. By leveraging Syntex, organisations have the ability to improve their content management processes which, giving users the edge and contributing to business success.

To find out more about Syntex, or any of the Microsoft technology stack, please get in touch with our experts using the green button on this page.