Adding PAD Flows to Copilot Agents
Overview
Copilot Agents are valuable because they can do work. The way you equip them to perform that work is by adding “Actions” to the agent. Power Automate Desktop flows are well-suited to be Actions since they are automations that have a real business purpose, have been well tested, reviewed, approved, and are in production doing business work every day.
This feature makes Power Automate Desktop flows available to Copilot Agents to perform work.
Feature Outcome
By initiating the feature in Blueprint all of the following happens automatically:
- An “Action” is added to the selected Copilot Agent complete with all the requisite fields filled in with information needed by the agent.
- A proxy Cloud Flow is created. The Action (above) will call this Cloud Flow which will in turn invoke the Desktop Flow to perform the work. All input and output parameters will be conveyed through the Cloud Flow.
- A “Topic” is added to the selected Copilot Agent which calls the Action (above). This Topic is designed to work with agents that use Generative Orchestration. The trigger phrase will be automatically populated by Blueprint.
After Blueprint makes the above additions the Copilot Agent will be able to use the Desktop Flow.
Using the Feature
Step 1: Find the Desktop Flow to Use
If you don’t already know the flow you’d like to use there are several ways to find it:
- Use filters in the main flow list
- Navigate from the various areas of the main graphics dashboard
- Search using the “Find with AI” search bar at top-right of the main flow list
- Use the AI Navigator Chat Agent which is always available at right-bottom
Step 2: Generate Copilot Information
Once you’ve found the Desktop Flow you’d like to add, go to that flow and choose the “Agent Description” tab.
At bottom-right of the “Copilot” area click the “Generate with AI” button. This will fill out all of the required Copilot information automatically using GenAI.
Step 3: Add Desktop Flow to Copilot Agent
Once the Copilot information has been generated you’re ready to add the Desktop Flow to your chosen Copilot Agent. There are two options for doing this:
- Option 1: choose “Add to Agent” in the Actions drop-down (top-right of the flow page).
- Option 2: choose “Add to Agent” in the Blueprint Chat agent after selecting a flow.
In either case a popup appears where you choose the Copilot Agent to which the PAD flow will be added, as well as the PAD connection reference to use. With this done, hit Continue and the Copilot Agent is configured to use the Desktop Flow.