Intro to Agents

In DoubleO, Agents are the core “intelligent nodes” that can reason through the instructions you provide, operate tools and integrations, and produce useful outcomes. An Agent’s workflow can be as simple or as detailed as you need, and it can use almost any tool or source you configure. Below is an overview of Agents, how to build them, and best practices for getting the most out of them.

What Are AI Agents?

Agents in DoubleO:

• Follow a set of step-by-step instructions (an SOP) to achieve a task, such as drafting an email or analyzing data.
• Can use built-in or custom “Skills” to access integrations (e.g., Google Docs, CRM systems, spreadsheets, email).
• Are best used to automate a multi-step process where intelligence and context are essential (like researching a prospect, writing a personalized summary, then creating a document or spreadsheet with that info).

Agent Templates & Types

When you create a new Agent, you’ll choose a template that includes specialized skills and default settings. Current templates include:

• General “Options” Agent: Miscellaneous tasks or broad objectives.
• Marketing Agent: Research and create marketing content.
• Sales Agent: Prospect research, lead follow-up, and CRM updates.
• Product Management Agent: Draft feature specs, analyze feedback.
• Support Agent: Respond to customer inquiries or create support documentation.
• Custom Agent: Build from scratch with no preset instructions or skills.

While each template has a starting point, you can still customize the Agent’s instructions, skills, and model settings to fit your exact needs.

Agent Building Blocks

Every Agent has three core building blocks:

1. Step-by-Step Instructions (SOP):
   • A numbered list of steps that tell the Agent what to do.
   • Keep these steps specific and action-oriented (e.g., “Research the user’s LinkedIn profile; then write a two-paragraph summary”).
   • Avoid writing extremely long lists; four to five steps per Agent is a good rule of thumb.
2. Additional Instructions:
   • Guidance about how the Agent should think or format its output.
   • Include style guides, best practices, or specific templates inside these instructions.
   • Describe any special frameworks (for example, “Use the SPICED sales framework”).
3. Skills (Tools):
   • Each skill grants the Agent access to a particular integration or capability, such as:
     • Documents (create or read .docx, PDF, etc.)
     • Spreadsheets (query, create, or update data)
     • CRMs (pull or push lead and deal info)
     • Email delivery (send notifications, wait for replies)
     • Web/API (perform custom API calls)
   • Add or remove skills depending on what your Agent needs to accomplish. For example, if your Agent must send an email, enable the Email skill.

How to Build an Individual Agent

Follow these steps to build (or edit) an Agent from scratch:

1. Create or Open an Existing Workflow
   • In DoubleO, go to the “Workflows” page and select an existing workflow or create a new one.
   • Click on “Document” or “Canvas” view to see your workflow structure.
2. Add an Agent Node
   • Look for the button or plus icon that says “Add Agent” or “+ Agent.”
   • Give your Agent a meaningful name (e.g., “Marketing Research Agent”).
3. Select an Agent Template
   • Choose from the prebuilt templates (General, Marketing, Sales, Product Management, Support, or Custom) that best aligns with your goal.
   • You can always switch your template later if needed.
4. Enter the Agent’s Primary Instructions
   • In the Step-by-Step area, write short, numbered tasks describing exactly what the Agent should do (e.g., “1. Search LinkedIn for [Prospect Name]. 2. Write a brief summary…”).
   • If you have multiple tasks that build on one another (research, then generate output), place them all here in logical order.
5. Set Additional Instructions
   • Click on “Additional Instructions.”
   • Add any style or formatting guidance, references to brand guidelines, or special frameworks.
   • You can also include placeholders in square brackets for variables (e.g., “[Prospect Name]”) and describe how to handle or format them.
6. Add or Remove Skills
   • Go to the “Skills” section (often listed under “Settings” or “Skills/Tools”).
   • Turn on integrations or APIs you need. Examples: Email, CRM, Documents, Web Search, etc.
   • If you don’t see the exact integration you need, consider using the “API endpoint” skill to connect a custom service.
7. Review & Publish
   • Double-check your instructions. Make sure the steps are clear and not overly long.
   • Confirm the activated skills match what your Agent actually needs.
   • Click “Publish” or “Save” to finalize the Agent.

Best Practices for Configuring Agents

1. Be Process-Focused
   • Write clear, actionable steps in the Agent’s instructions.
   • Avoid vague objectives (e.g., “Increase sales”). Instead, list concise tasks (e.g., “Research competitor pricing; create a summary document; email summary to me.”).
2. Limit Step Count
   • Aim to have 4–5 steps per Agent so it can reliably recall and execute each instruction.
   • If you have more than 5–6 tasks, consider either combining tasks or using multiple Agent nodes.
3. Specify Source Material
   • If you want the Agent to consult a particular file, link, or piece of context, mention it by name in your instructions (e.g., “Use the file ‘Acme_Research.pdf’ for data”).
4. Use Additional Instructions Wisely
   • Include style guidelines, required frameworks, or brand voice preferences.
   • If you need consistent formatting (like a bullet-point summary in an email), detail that here.
5. Enable the Right Skills
   • Add only the skills that match the tasks at hand. Unused integrations can cause confusion or unneeded open-ended searching.
   • Make sure to enable CRMs, calendars, or email skills if your instructions mention them.
6. Iterate & Test
   • After publishing your Agent, run a quick test to confirm it performs as intended.
   • If something goes off track, revise the steps or additional instructions.

Example Scenario

Imagine you want an Agent to write a follow-up after a product demo call:

1. Create a new Agent in your “Follow-Up Workflow.”
2. Choose “Sales Agent” template.
3. In the step-by-step instructions, write:
   1. “Pull deal details from [CRM Name] for [Prospect].”
   2. “Draft a follow-up email summarizing next steps.”
   3. “Format the email using the ‘Post-Call Follow-Up Template.docx’ in our context library.”
4. In additional instructions, note: “Be concise. Include how DoubleO helps them reduce manual outreach. Keep the tone friendly, but professional.”
5. Enable CRM and Email skills so the Agent can read deal info and send emails.
6. Publish and test-run with a sample prospect.

That’s it! Once configured, your Agent will handle the details for you—researching, drafting, organizing its output, and interacting with your tools—all based on the clear instructions you’ve provided. By following these guidelines and best practices, you’ll build Agents that deliver reliable, valuable results for you and your team.

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