Step-by-Step: Creating Customized Applications with Power Virtual Agent to Empower Your Business

Introduction

Today's world is driven by data, which demands comprehensive solutions that can access and integrate data across multiple platforms. The Power Platform meets this demand by enabling users to bring their own data into the system with Power Virtual Agent. This feature allows enterprise users to connect their data to Power Apps and Power Pages, improving business productivity and functionality. 

This solution not only makes data access and integration easier but also empowers the use of data, taking a huge step towards the future of data management and application.

1. Go to the Power Virtual Agents home page.
2. Select Create a bot on the Home page.
   
   
   
   
3. Enter a name for your bot, select your language and add the website you'd like your bot to fall back to if it Create.
   
   
   
   

 The creation process of the bot is finished.

Step 2: Use uploaded documents for generative answers

 You can upload your own documents that your chatbot can use to generate answers with generative AI. When you upload documents, they'll be used across your bot.

1. On the left side of the panel, choose generative AI.
   
   
   
   
2. Select click to browse to open a file window where you can select the files you want.
   
   
   
   
3. The next step is to upload your file.
   
   
   

   
   Note: Supported document types

   The following file types are supported:

   • Word documents (doc, docx)
   • Excel spreadsheets (xls, xlsx)
   • PowerPoint documents (ppt, pptx)
   • PDF documents (pdf)
   • Text documents (.txt, .md, .log)
   • HTML files (html, htm)
   • CSV files (csv)
   • XML files (xml)
   • OpenDocument files (odt, ods, odp)
   • EPUB documents (epub)
   • Rich Text Format documents (rtf)
   • Apple iWork documents (pages, key, numbers)
   • JSON files (json)
   • YAML files (yml, yaml)
   • LaTeX files (tex)

After the file is uploaded, you can see it below.

4. After you upload the documents, choose the option to use generative answers. This will allow your bot to use Conversational boosting, which is a feature that uses your connected data sources to manage unknown intents.

5. Evaluate your bot by asking questions.

6. To use your chat bot on your Web page or Power Apps, you need to publish it.

Step 3: Integrated your chat bot into Power Apps

1. Go to the Power Apps portal
2. Select Insert chat bot
   
   
   
   
3. Select the data source that is in the same environment.
   
   
   
   4.Try the bot in your app.
   
   

Step 4: Integrate your chat bot into Power Pages

1. Go to the Power Pages portal
2. Got your website, select insert Iframe
   
   
3. To get the link for iframe, go to the Power virtual agent portal and then to the publish section and the channel. The link is in your publish chat bot.
   
   
   
   
4. Select the channel custom website.
   
   
   
   
5. Select the Embed code, that you put into your custom website

6. Paste the url into your website after copying it. For our case, we will use it in our website.

Now you can access the chat bot through your website.

You have successfully brought your own data into Power Platform, using Power Virtual Agent and integrating it with Power Apps and Power Pages.
This way, you have created a powerful and customized solution that can meet your business needs and reach a wider audience. You have taken a big step towards the future of data-driven solutions, using your own data as the key ingredient.

Congratulations on your achievement!

Resources
Generative answers - Power Virtual Agents | Microsoft Learn
Use uploaded documents as a generative answers data source (preview) - Power Virtual Agents | Microsoft Learn
Create a canvas app in Power Apps - Training | Microsoft Learn

Create a site with Power Pages | Microsoft Learn