AI has come a long way from forecasting trends to automating routine tasks. Another breakthrough in this AI revolution has been brought by Salesforce through autonomous AI agents (or Agentic AI). Building these AI agents might seem tricky, but with Agentforce, it’s easier than you think.
Agentforce is an easy-to-use platform that allows you to create autonomous AI agents without any coding. Whether you want to visualize data trends, engage with prospects, or maintain inventory levels without human intervention, this low-code platform helps you reach your goals faster. This informative piece will walk you through a simple, step-by-step process to build and deploy your first AI agent using Salesforce Agentforce.
First things first, let’s take a quick look at the different types of AI agents that Salesforce Agentforce allows you to build.
Types of Agentforce Agents
Here’s an overview of the different types of AI agents that can be built with Agentforce, along with their key roles and functions across industries.
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Agent Type
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Main Role
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Functions/Use cases
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Healthcare Agent
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Assists patients and healthcare providers
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Schedules appointments, manages patient inquiries, and recovers medical records.
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Banking Agent
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Supports financial institutions
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Handles account inquiries, transactions, and loan applications.
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Retail Agent
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Enhances shopping experiences
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Assists with order processing, checks inventory levels, and answers customer queries.
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Sales Agent
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Supports sales processes
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Engages with prospects, answers questions, and manages scheduling for meetings.
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HR Agent
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Facilitates human resource tasks
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Assists with onboarding processes, employee inquiries, and policy information.
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Finance Agent
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Helps in financial management
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Assists with budgeting, expense tracking, and financial planning tasks.
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IT Agent
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Assists in technical issues
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Guides users through troubleshooting, software installations, and access requests.
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Analytics Agent
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Supports data analysis and reporting
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Generates specific reports, visualizes data trends, and provides insights based on performance metrics.
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Customer Experience Agent
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Improves customer satisfaction
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Manages customer enquiries, resolves issues, and handles feedback or complaints.
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The Building Blocks of Your First AI Agent
Agentforce is a low-code AI agent development tool powered by Salesforce. Given that it’s a low-code platform, you don’t need a highly-skilled developer to launch your first AI agent—just enough that they understand your specific use case and the reason behind using an AI agent.
Here’s the step-by-step process to create your first autonomous AI agent in Salesforce using Agentforce.
Step 1: Set up Your Salesforce Environment
Before you begin with Agentforce, ensure that you have the right Salesforce edition (Enterprise, Performance, or Unlimited). This setup is crucial as Agentforce operates within the Salesforce ecosystem. If you are using the Salesforce Playground, make sure it is properly configured. This environment will be where you build and manage your AI agent, so double-check that all necessary permissions and configurations are in place before proceeding.
Step 2: Enable Salesforce Einstein
Navigate to the Setup menu in Salesforce. Search for "Einstein" and enable the Einstein Generative AI feature by toggling it on.
This step activates the AI capabilities needed for your AI agent to function effectively. Once done, enable Einstein Bots by finding the relevant option in the Einstein Platform section and turning it on as well. These features are essential for creating your first AI agent.
Step 3: Create a New Agent
To start building your AI agent, go to the Setup menu and find "Agent Studio" under Einstein Generative AI. Click on "New Agent" to start creating your intelligent AI agent. You will need to provide a name for your agent (based on the type of agent you want to create), such as “Customer Support Agent,” and a brief description of its purpose. Choose whether the agent will be a Basic or Custom User, depending on your requirements. Once done, click "Create" to finalize the setup of your new agent.
Step 4: Configure Your Agent Using Agent Builder
Now the main part—configuring your agent using the Agent Builder tool. This visual interface allows you to set up your AI agent based on its use case. You can define various topics that the agent will handle and specify actions it will perform. Additionally, you will be able to set language preferences for communication. This will set the foundation for how well your agent will respond to user queries and perform tasks effectively.
Step 5: Define Agent Topics
In this step, you need to create specific topics for your AI agent to address during interactions. Click on the option to add a new topic in Agent Builder. Provide a name for the topic and a description that outlines when the topic should be used in conversations. You should also define the scope of each topic, which specifies what tasks or questions it covers. Clear instructions help guide the agent’s responses based on user input, ensuring relevant and accurate interactions.
Step 6: Add Actions to Topics
After defining topics, you need to add actions that your agent takes within those topics. Navigate to the Action subtab. Here, you add custom actions that you want your AI agent to take based on user requests or tasks. For example, if a user wants to book an appointment, you will ideally add an action related to scheduling. Make sure to provide clear instructions on how these actions should be executed within each topic for optimal performance.
Step 7: Test Your Agent
One of the most underrated yet important steps to consider—testing. Open Agent Builder and refresh the conversation preview area to simulate interactions with your newly developed AI agent. Enter different prompts to see how well it responds based on the defined topics and actions. Testing is vital for identifying issues or areas that need improvement before deploying your AI agent into a live environment.
Step 8: Activate Your Agent
After thorough testing and adjustments based on feedback, it's time to activate your AI agent. In Agent Builder, look for the activation option and click it to enable your agent for use in real-world scenarios. Activating your agent makes it ready to interact with users across various channels like websites or apps. Ensure that all configurations are correct before activation so that your agent performs optimally from day one.
Step 9: Deploy Your Agent
Now that your agent is activated, you may deploy it across desired channels such as customer service platforms or mobile applications. Use the deployment options available in Agentforce to align your AI agent with these channels in a few clicks. This step allows users to start interacting with your AI agent instantly, providing them with assistance or information as needed.
Step 10: Monitor Performance and Optimize
After deployment, continuously monitor your AI agent’s performance using built-in analytics tools provided by Agentforce. Track metrics such as response accuracy and user satisfaction rates over time. Go further and make necessary adjustments or optimizations to enhance its effectiveness based on usage data. Regular tracking your agent's performance ensures it caters to the changing user needs and remains a valuable asset for your business operations.
Summing Up
Building your first agent using Agentforce is a simple and rewarding experience. By following the steps discussed above, you may create an agent that meets your needs. The key is to start small and add more features as you get used to the platform. Once your agent is ready, make sure to test it well. This will help ensure it works flawlessly and offers a smooth experience for users. If you also want to build your first autonomous AI agent and need expert help, you may reach out to a certified Salesforce partner.
Read the original Blog: https://www.damcogroup.com/blogs/guide-to-building-first-ai-agent-using-agentforce
