Configure Alloy Self-Service Assistant bot

Updated in 2021.1

This article shows how to configure the Alloy Self-Service Assistant bot for your organization and connect it to Alloy Navigator Express, so your customers and internal users can interact with the Self Service Portal in Teams.

Prerequisites

Before configuring the bot, make sure that all the required Alloy Navigator Express services are in place:

• Alloy API

  The bot app integrates with your Alloy Navigator Express via the API. Therefore you need to make sure you have the Alloy Navigator Express API module installed and it meets these requirements:

  • The API is publicly accessible from the internet.

  • The API is configured for the Access Token Authentication method.

  Have the API URL ready; you will need that URL when configuring the Alloy Self-Service Assistant bot in Teams.

  INFO: For instructions, see Installation Guide: Installing and Configuring the API Module.

• Access token

  To be able to configure the bot in Teams and connect it to Alloy Navigator Express, you will need to provide an access token. An access token is obtained during the initialization step, which is typically performed by a Microsoft 365 administrator in your organization. Have the access token ready. You will need it when configuring the bot in Microsoft Teams.

  INFO: For initialization instructions, see Initialize Alloy Self-Service Assistant bot in Teams.

• Self Service Portal

  Typically, the bot app is an additional communication channel for end-users to access the Self Service Portal. They can quickly jump to the web-based portal from Teams. Therefore, make sure that the Self Service Portal is installed and configured, and your end-users can access it. Have the Self Service Portal URL ready; you will need it when configuring the bot in Alloy Navigator Express.

  INFO: For instructions, see Installation Guide: Installing and Configuring the Self Service Portal.

  TIP: You may want to "unlink" the bot app from the Self Service Portal. In that case, you will need to disable Self Service Portal links. For details, see Configure the bot settings

• Person records for users

  Users must have Person records in the Alloy Navigator Express database, and the primary email address in their Person records must match the primary email address in their Microsoft Teams accounts. Typically, all Self Service Portal customers have immediate access to the Alloy Self-Service Assistant bot, because each customer has a Person record in Alloy Navigator Express. However, make sure that customers' primary email addresses in Alloy Navigator Express match the email addresses in their Microsoft Teams or Microsoft 365 accounts.

  INFO: For instructions, see Administration Guide: Creating and Maintaining SSP Customer Accounts.

Configuration steps

Here are the steps you should take to configure the bot, first in Alloy Navigator Express and then in Microsoft Teams:

1. In Alloy Navigator Express Settings: Configure the Alloy Self-Service Assistant bot in Alloy Navigator Express.

2. In Alloy Navigator Express Settings: Obtain credentials from Alloy Navigator Express.

3. In Microsoft Teams: Configure the Alloy Self-Service Assistant bot in Teams.