The Future of Work Is Agent-Driven: How to Build Your Own Copilot

Introduction

Microsoft 365 Copilot has revolutionized productivity by embedding AI into everyday tools like Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook. But what if you could go beyond the built-in capabilities and create your own custom AI assistant—an agent tailored to your business needs?

That’s exactly what Copilot Agents offer. Whether you’re in HR, sales, IT, or operations, you can build intelligent agents that automate tasks, answer questions, and streamline workflows without writing a single line of code.

In this DIY blog, we’ll explore:

• What Copilot Agents are
• Prerequisites for creating and consuming agents
• Types of agents
• How to create agents (with a step-by-step HR Buddy demo)

What are Microsoft 365 Copilot Agents?

Copilot Agents are custom AI assistants that extend the capabilities of Microsoft 365 Copilot. They can:

• Retrieve and summarize information
• Automate workflows
• Interact with enterprise systems
• Provide domain-specific support (e.g., HR, IT, Finance, Customer Service – Refer https://www.cloudthat.com/resources/blog/revolutionize-your-customer-service-a-diy-guide-to-custom-copilot-agents)

These agents live inside Microsoft 365 apps like Teams, Outlook, and Word, and can be accessed via Copilot Chat or embedded in workflows.

Prerequisites for Creating and Using Copilot Agents

Before you dive into building your own agent, make sure you have the following:

For Creators:

1. Microsoft 365 Copilot License (with agent-building capabilities)
2. Access to the Microsoft 365 Copilot App
3. Permissions to use Microsoft Graph and connected data sources
4. Basic understanding of your business process or domain

For Consumers (End Users):

1. Microsoft 365 Copilot Access
2. Permissions to interact with the agent
3. Teams, Outlook, or other supported apps installed

Types of Copilot Agents

Microsoft classifies agents into two main categories ¹:

1. Declarative Agents (Low-Code/No-Code)

• Built using prompts, templates, and configuration
• Ideal for business users and citizen developers
• Use Microsoft’s built-in orchestrator and models

2. Custom Engine Agents (Pro-Code)

• Built using your own orchestrator and AI models
• Ideal for developers and enterprise architects
• Offers full control over logic, data, and integrations

How to Create a Copilot Agent

You can create agents in two main ways:

Option 1: Using a Prompt

1. Open the Microsoft 365 Copilot App
2. Go to Agents > Create Agent
3. Type a prompt like:

“Create an agent that helps employees with HR-related queries like leave balance, policies, and onboarding.”

1. Follow the guided steps to configure and publish.

Option 2: Using a Template

1. Open the Copilot App
2. Navigate to Agents > Create Agent
3. Choose a template (e.g., HR Assistant, IT Helpdesk)
4. Customize the agent’s knowledge base, actions, and responses
5. Click Create

Step-by-Step Demo: Build an “HR Buddy” Agent

Let’s walk through creating a simple HR assistant agent that helps employees with common HR queries. You can create an agent that answers questions about:

• Leave policies
• Onboarding process
• Benefits and holidays
• Travel Expense Policy

Step 1: Open Microsoft 365 Copilot App

• Go to office.com or open the Copilot app from Teams

Step 2: Navigate to Agents

• Click on Agents in the left panel.
• Select Create Agent.

Step 3: Choose “Prompt” or “Template”

• For this demo, choose Prompt & Enter:

“Create an HR assistant that can answer questions about leave policies, onboarding, holidays, and employee benefits.”

Step 4: Configure Knowledge

• Upload or link to HR documents (PDFs, SharePoint links, etc.)
• Add FAQs or internal wiki pages
• Example: Upload “Travel Expense Policy.docx”

Step 5: Add Actions (Optional)

• Add actions like:
  • “Submit leave request”
  • “Schedule onboarding session”
• These can be connected to Power Automate or other APIs

Step 6: Test and Publish

• Use the built-in chat to test your agent
• Ask: “What’s the leave policy for new employees?”
• If satisfied, click Publish.

Step 7: Share with Team

• Share the agent in Teams or Outlook
• Add it to a channel or pin it in a chat

Tips & Best Practices

• Start small: Focus on one domain (e.g., HR or IT)
• Use real data: Upload accurate and up-to-date documents
• Test thoroughly: Try different phrasings and edge cases
• Iterate: Update knowledge and actions based on feedback

Conclusion

Microsoft 365 Copilot Agents are a game-changer for organizations looking to scale productivity and automation. With just a few clicks, you can build intelligent assistants that work across your favorite Microsoft apps. Whether you’re an HR manager, IT admin, or business analyst, now is the perfect time.

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