Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize the world of work, and Microsoft has taken a significant step by introducing its new “autonomous agents.” These agents, designed to perform tasks in customer service, sales and finance, promise to transform the way companies operatebut they also raise questions about the future of employment in these areas.
The arrival of AI agents
Microsoft announced this Monday, October 21, that the ability to create autonomous agents with Microsoft Copilot Studio will be available in public preview in November 2024. This release marks a breakthrough in business process automation, allowing organizations to easily integrate these agents into its daily operations. With the introduction of ten new autonomous agents in Microsoft Dynamics 365the company seeks to increase the efficiency of teams in various functions, from sales to financial management and customer service.
“Copilot is your AI assistant, it works for you, and Copilot Studio allows you to easily create, manage and connect agents with Copilot. Think of agents as the new applications for an AI-driven world,” said Jared Spataro, CMO, AI at Work.
Microsoft has taken a step forward in the digital age by introducing “autonomous agents,” a tool that promises to transform the workplace by performing functions that traditionally require human intervention. | Photo: Screenshot taken from Youtube @MicrosoftDynamics365
These AI agents not only perform routine tasks, but are also being set up to help businesses accelerate their time to value and improve customer experience. Microsoft notes that “AI is today’s return on investment (ROI) and tomorrow’s competitive advantage” emphasizing that AI is the competitive advantage of the future, and these new agents represent a fundamental part of that strategy.
Capabilities and benefits of new agents
The new “AI agents” are designed to take on multiple tasks, thus easing the workload of employees and allowing them to focus on more strategic activities. In the field of sales, the Sales Qualification Agent for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales It is presented as a solution to free up sellers’ time, allowing them to focus on building customer relationships and closing deals faster. This optimization is essential, especially for small and medium-sized businesses, where efficiency can make the difference between success and failure.
In order to improve operational efficiency, Microsoft has developed “autonomous agents” that have the ability to perform tasks in customer service, sales and finance, driving the adoption of artificial intelligence in the enterprise sector. | Photo: Screenshot taken from Youtube @Microsoft365
In the finance sector, the Financial Reconciliation Agent and Account Reconciliation Agent They promise to automate critical processes, making financial reporting easier and improving cash flow visibility. These features are key for accountants and financial managers to make faster and more informed decisions.
On the other hand, in the operations area, autonomous agents will help manage the supply chain, optimizing collaboration with suppliers and confirming deliveries. For example, the Supplier Communications Agent It will allow procurement specialists to focus on relationship management, while the agent takes care of operational tasks. This approach not only improves efficiency, but can also contribute to greater resilience in the supply chain, a critical aspect in today’s world.
The Agent Customer Knowledge Management helps ensure that knowledge articles are always kept up to date by analyzing case notes, transcripts, summaries, and other human-assisted case artifacts to uncover insights.
