From March until May of 2025, Microsoft rolls out two (2) new licensing features for Microsoft 365 Copilot: a) End user license request and b) self-service purchase. We recommend deactivating these features. These features become automatically available for users with Microsoft Office 365 Plan E1, Microsoft Office 365 Plan E3, Enterprise Mobility + Security E3, Enterprise Mobility + Security E5, Microsoft 365 Apps for Business, and standalone products. Both license request and self-service purchase will be shown within Microsoft 365 apps such as Copilot Chat, the unpaid version of work chat included in your Microsoft 365 subscription. This rollout will happen automatically with no admin action required before the rollout.
Attention:
Licenses acquired through self-service purchase
- are not part of your Enterprise Agreement (EA) or invoiced by your Cloud Solution Provider (CSP)
- must be paid separately i.e. by credit card
- are ordered at list price
- are not managed by SCHNEIDER IT MANAGEMENT
To avoid this, we recommend deactivating this with policies as explained below.
License Request explained
The License Request feature enables users to request a Microsoft 365 Copilot license directly from their admin. This streamlines the process of efficiently assigning unused licenses or purchasing additional ones based on user requests. Global admins, license admins, and user admins can seamlessly manage these requests within the Microsoft 365 admin center. They also have the option to choose between standard or custom messaging, including directing users to a third-party URL.
Self-Service Purchase explained
The Self-Service Purchase feature allows users to purchase Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses directly with their own credit card and use them within their tenant, all while maintaining visibility and control for the Microsoft admin. If your organization has previously disabled self-service purchase for Microsoft 365 Copilot, your existing settings will be honored.
How will this affect my organization?
License Request:
After this rollout, global admins, license admins, and user admins will have the ability to manage license requests directly within the Microsoft 365 admin center. This allows you to approve or deny requests efficiently. Notifications of pending license requests from users will be displayed in the Microsoft 365 admin center, ensuring you stay informed:
Admins can manage user requests on the Licenses page within the Microsoft 365 admin center:
This change will be available by default to users, but admins have the option to set up their own custom license request process outside of the Microsoft Admin Center if preferred.
Self-Service Purchase:
As an admin, you will maintain control over licenses within your tenant. You can view licenses purchased by users in the Microsoft 365 admin center by navigating to the Billing > Your Products page or by filtering to Self-Service licenses on the Licensing page. On the Products tab, select the Self-service filter to view these licenses. Additionally, you can monitor product usage in your tenant on the Usage page in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
You can take over control of licenses purchased by users at any time and manage them as you would any other license within your tenant. Please note that the cancellation policy for Microsoft 365 Copilot allows users a seven (7)-day window to receive a full refund. Action notifications will appear in the Microsoft 365 admin center when a self-service purchase occurs, allowing you to see the new license on the licensing page.
What should I do now?
To adapt to these changes, you can:
- Decide if you want to allow end users to make license requests or make self-service purchases.
- Review your current configuration to determine the impact on your organization (follow the instructions above). We recommend deactivating both new licensing features as they will cause chaos to your license management and licenses cost more per license.
- Notify your admins and users about this change and update any relevant documentation.
- Set up custom messaging for license requests if needed.
- Monitor the Microsoft 365 admin center for notifications of pending license requests and self-service purchases.
FAQ:
Which end users are affected?
These two new self-service features become available for users with Microsoft Office 365 Plan E1, Microsoft Office 365 Plan E3, Enterprise Mobility + Security E3, Enterprise Mobility + Security E5, Microsoft 365 Apps for Business, and standalone products.
What is the Microsoft 365 Copilot license request feature?
The license request feature allows users to request a Microsoft 365 Copilot license directly from their admin, streamlining the process of assigning unused licenses or purchasing additional ones.
How does the self-service purchase work?
Self-service purchase allows users to purchase Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses directly with their credit card, with the admin maintaining visibility and control over these licenses.
Can admins customize the license request process?
Yes, admins can set up their own custom license request process outside of the Microsoft Admin Center, including directing users to a third-party URL.
What happens if my organization has disabled self-service purchase?
If your organization has previously disabled self-service purchase for Microsoft 365 Copilot, your existing settings will be honored.
When will these changes be rolled out?
The rollout will begin in late March 2025 and is expected to be completed by late May 2025.
More Information
Manage self-service license requests: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/commerce/licenses/manage-license-requests?view=o365-worldwide.
Manage self-service purchases: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/commerce/subscriptions/manage-self-service-purchases-admins?view=o365-worldwide#enable-or-disable-self-service-purchases-and-trials.
Contact us for help on licensing Microsoft 365 Copilot and to purchase licenses for your organization.