Microsoft continues to revolutionize workplace collaboration with the introduction of AI-powered agents in SharePoint. These intelligent tools empower users to unlock the full potential of their content, enabling faster access to insights and more informed decision-making. Let’s dive into how these agents are reshaping the digital workplace.

What Are SharePoint Agents?

SharePoint agents are AI-driven assistants designed to make your work smarter, not harder. These agents leverage the content stored within SharePoint to provide precise answers and actionable insights. Every SharePoint site comes with a default agent that knows the site’s content inside and out. But that’s just the beginning. You can also create custom agents tailored to your unique needs, pulling information from multiple sites, folders, or files.

How to Create Your Custom SharePoint Agent

Building a custom SharePoint agent is straightforward and user-friendly. Here’s how:

1. Access SharePoint: Start by logging into your Microsoft 365 account and navigating to the relevant SharePoint site.
2. Select Content: Identify the files, folders, or sites your agent needs to reference.
3. Create the Agent: Use the “Create an Agent” option from the menu.
4. Customize Your Agent: Give your agent a name, image, and description. Define its tone and behavior with sample prompts to ensure it aligns with your needs.

This simple process empowers teams to design agents that deliver accurate, relevant insights when and where they’re needed most.

Seamless Integration with Microsoft Teams

Collaboration thrives when the right information is at your fingertips. SharePoint agents integrate effortlessly with Microsoft Teams, enabling team members to:

• Share Agents: Easily share agents via email or Teams chats with just a link.
• Interact in Teams: Use @mentions in Teams chats to engage the agent, which then pulls the information you need from its configured sources.

This integration keeps your team connected to critical data without disrupting their workflow.

Security at Its Core

Microsoft ensures that SharePoint agents are as secure as they are smart. Here’s how:

• Permission-Driven Access: Agents respect SharePoint’s existing permissions, so users only see the information they’re authorized to access.
• Data Protection: Built within Microsoft 365’s secure framework, these agents uphold the highest standards of privacy and security.

This ensures sensitive information stays protected while still empowering users to collaborate efficiently.

Real-World Impact

Organizations are already seeing the transformative power of SharePoint agents:

• Streamlining Support: Companies like Eaton leverage agents for process documentation and knowledge sharing, enhancing IT and engineering efficiency.
• Onboarding Simplified: Custom agents guide new employees, offering quick access to essential information and accelerating their ramp-up time.
• 24/7 Product Support: Agents configured with product documentation provide around-the-clock assistance, from triaging issues to delivering root cause analysis.

These use cases highlight how SharePoint agents can drive productivity and innovation across industries.

Getting Started with SharePoint Agents

Ready to take advantage of SharePoint agents? Follow these steps:

1. Log in to Microsoft 365 and open your SharePoint site.
2. Engage with the Default Agent: Interact using the Copilot icon to explore its capabilities.
3. Create Your Own: Use the “Create an Agent” feature to build a custom agent tailored to your team’s needs.

By integrating AI-driven agents into SharePoint and Teams, Microsoft is transforming how organizations harness their collective knowledge. The result? Enhanced productivity, smarter collaboration, and faster access to the insights that matter most.