Build an HR Copilot Agent

HR departments maintain extensive policy documents, yet employees waste time hunting through SharePoint files for answers. Standard Microsoft 365 search often surfaces outdated links or irrelevant results, especially during onboarding or policy updates. Manual time-off requests add further inefficiency, relying on emails or forms that require follow-up.

In this hands-on workshop, Kelly Edinger (VP at Steep Meadow Solutions, Microsoft Certified Trainer) builds a Copilot agent in Copilot Studio. The agent queries HR policies from uploaded or linked documents, transitions to interactive requests like time-off submissions, and routes data to a SharePoint list for Power Automate approvals. Real-world insights come from her team's Copilot Jumpstart program experience with 50 companies.

What You Will Learn

• Creating a Power Platform solution with Dataverse for application lifecycle management and production deployment
• Comparing knowledge attachment options: uploading files to Dataverse versus linking directly to SharePoint libraries, including pros and cons
• Designing conversational topics that shift from answering policy questions to gathering details for actions like time-off requests
• Customizing out-of-the-box topics, adding new ones, and refining instructions to control agent behavior precisely
• Implementing tools (previously called actions) to submit structured data from conversations to SharePoint lists
• Setting up generative AI features, knowledge sources, and SharePoint integration for seamless Q&A to action flows
• Handling common pitfalls like dynamic content issues and ensuring reliable responses based on Jumpstart program learnings

Key Takeaways

1. Start with SharePoint-linked knowledge for simplicity. Kelly shows linking avoids Dataverse licensing needs initially and keeps policies updated automatically, reducing maintenance.
2. Prioritize detailed instructions in every topic. Specific guidance prevents AI from hallucinating or veering off-topic, a lesson from multiple failed prototypes.
3. Build in tools for action-oriented conversations. Use tools to capture user inputs and post to lists, enabling Power Automate approvals without code.
4. Use solutions and environments for safe development. Separate dev from production to edit agents without downtime, essential for enterprise rollout.

About the Speaker

Kelly Edinger serves as VP of Delivery and Operations at Steep Meadow Solutions, a boutique Microsoft partner with six years of experience. A Microsoft Certified Trainer focused on adoption and change management, she draws from the Copilot Jumpstart program, where her team has deployed agents for over 50 companies. Her session reflects hands-on trials, including recent updates to Copilot Studio.

Who Should Watch This

This video suits Microsoft 365 admins, HR IT coordinators, or power users who handle policy access and requests in SharePoint. You will benefit if you have basic Power Automate knowledge and the $30 per user per month Power Platform license for Dataverse features. It provides step-by-step Copilot Studio guidance absent from standard docs.

Skip if you build advanced agents already or lack licensing. Developers deep in custom plugins may find the focus on conversational basics and SharePoint integration familiar. However, Kelly's real-world pitfalls from rapid Microsoft updates offer practical governance tips for any team.