How to Configure a Microsoft Copilot Agent for HR to Streamline the Travel Process

In today’s fast-paced, hybrid work environments, HR departments are always on the lookout for smarter ways to manage administrative processes like employee travel. With the advent of Microsoft Copilot Studio and Copilot Agents, it’s now possible to build intelligent, conversational agents tailored for internal processes—no code required.

In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how to configure a Copilot Agent specifically for HR teams to help employees manage and streamline the travel request process.

---

🚀 Why Use a Copilot Agent for Travel?

An HR Copilot Agent for travel can:

• Help employees initiate and track travel requests
• Provide policy guidance and approval status
• Integrate with backend systems like Microsoft Forms, SharePoint, or even external APIs
• Automate repetitive HR tasks, freeing up valuable time

---

🛠️ Prerequisites

Before we dive into configuration, ensure you have:

• A Microsoft 365 tenant with Copilot Studio enabled
• Dataverse access for storing structured data (optional but recommended)
• Travel policies and workflows mapped out
• Access to HR tools or forms (e.g., Power Automate, SharePoint, Outlook, etc.)

---

🧭 Step-by-Step: Configuring Your Copilot Agent for Travel

1. Go to Copilot Studio

Navigate to Microsoft Copilot Studio and sign in with your Microsoft 365 credentials.

2. Create a New Copilot

• Click on “Create a copilot”
• Name it something like “HR Travel Assistant”
• Choose the appropriate environment and click Create

3. Define the Agent’s Purpose

In the welcome message, define what the agent can do. For example:

“Hi! I’m your HR Travel Assistant. I can help you with submitting travel requests, checking policy guidelines, and tracking approvals.”

4. Add Topics (Skills)

Create key topics like:

• Submit Travel Request
• Check Travel Policy
• Track Request Status
• Travel Reimbursement Process

Each topic can have multiple trigger phrases and dialogues.

Example: Submit Travel Request

• Trigger phrases:
  • “I want to request a business trip”
  • “Submit travel request”
  • “Need to travel for work”
• Author a conversation flow that:
  • Asks for required details (destination, purpose, dates, estimated cost)
  • Calls a Power Automate flow or writes to a SharePoint list
  • Sends a confirmation or initiates approval

Pro Tip: Use Power Automate to handle logic such as approvals, email notifications, and updates to a backend system.

5. Integrate With SharePoint or Outlook

You can connect the Copilot Agent to:

• SharePoint Online: Store travel requests and statuses
• Outlook Calendar: Suggest available travel dates
• Teams: Allow chat within Teams for easy access

6. Enable Generative Answers (Optional)

If your travel policies are stored in documents or pages, enable Generative Answers and point to a SharePoint document library or website. This allows the agent to answer policy-related questions using Microsoft Search + AI.

7. Test Your Agent

Use the built-in test chat panel to simulate interactions. Adjust the logic and questions based on feedback.

8. Publish and Share

Once you’re satisfied:

• Publish your Copilot
• Embed it in Teams, on your intranet, or provide a link via email

---

✅ Bonus: Automate Approvals With Power Automate

A sample flow:

1. Triggered when a travel request is submitted via Copilot
2. Sends an approval request to the manager
3. Updates SharePoint list with status
4. Notifies employee via email or Teams

---

📊 Metrics and Monitoring

Use Copilot Studio’s analytics dashboard to see:

• Number of sessions
• Most used topics
• Drop-off rates
• Feedback and satisfaction scores

---

🔐 Security and Compliance

Remember, you can restrict who can access your agent, log conversations, and control data policies using Microsoft Purview and Azure policies.