Let's assume you have already connected a Cognigy virtual agent to Microsoft Azure and want it make it available within your organization. You could send a link to the agent to the users they can open directly, however this is not very convenient.
You can also create an app within Microsoft teams which can be added to your company's internal Microsoft App Store, allowing any employee with the proper rights to directly download and access the agent.
Creating an app for your Cognigy virtual agent will also allow you to add functionality to the agent, for example uploading files or adding the agent to a group chat.
Table of Contents
Creating the App in Developer Portal
Install the Developer Portal in Microsoft Teams
Inside of Microsoft Teams, the so-called Developer Portal is used for this purpose. With this tool, it's possible to install or create apps for an organization. In this case, we will be using it to create a custom app.
You might need to consult with your IT Administration to find our how to install the Developer Portal.
Create a new Teams App
After installing the Developer Portal, open it and navigate to the Apps. Inside of the editor, click the + New app:
Set up the Bot
After providing the general App details, in Step 2, the actual Bot can be set up. In order to configure the Cognigy.AI virtual agent as Microsoft Teams Bot, please click the App Features and then Bot:
Configure an existing Azure Bot Service for group chats
If you have already created an Azure Bot Service Endpoint in Cognigy.AI, the related Azure App can be used in this configuration window. However, if not, please follow the instructions in this documentation and create a new Bot Service in Azure:
How to find the Azure App ID? Click here
This window contains multiple configuration options.
Put your Azure App ID in the Enter a bot ID field.
If you want to use your bot to upload and process images click on the Upload and download files option.
In the Scope section you can determine in what context the bot can be accessed. For a group chat, for example, select Personal and Group Chat.
How to find the Azure App ID
The ID of an Azure App Registration can be found in the Configuration page of the related app:
Publish the new Teams App
Last but not least, the new Microsoft Teams App (Bot) has to be published to the Teams organization:
Admin: Approve and allow the published App
URL: https://admin.teams.microsoft.com/
The Microsoft Teams Administrator has to approve and approve the new bot. Therefore, please navigate to the Manage apps screen:
Adding Bot to a Group Chat
Within a Microsoft Teams conversation, sometimes a third person would be helpful for answering questions -- for example a virtual agent. In addition to direct chats with this assistant, Cognigy.AI provides group chats as well. After creating your app you can easily add it to a group chat as described below.
Add the new Bot to a conversation
the new Microsoft Teams App (Virtual Agent) can be added to any conversation. Such as with other people in the organization, the @ key has to be used in order to tag the virtual agent. If it is the first time, one has to click the Get bots and search for the newly created bot, click it, and install it to the chat:
Example conversation
In an internal use case, a personal chat with a colleague could involve the virtual agent for providing company-related information:
Uploading Images via Teams
In some situations it might be necessary to upload an image via Teams for further processing. If you have activated image uploading your bot should have a "paper clip" below the text box which the user can click to upload files from their computer.
The image will be uploaded to the user's Sharepoint cloud and a download link will be automatically created in order to use the image in third party programs (such as RPA, ticketing systems etc.).
The image download URL can be found in the Cognigy input object under:
input.data.request.attachments[0].content.downloadUrl
Comments
0 comments