Building a Multi-Functional Bot with Botpress

Creating a versatile bot in Botpress allows businesses to handle customer queries efficiently, integrate structured data, automate lead generation, and provide seamless escalation to human agents. Here’s a breakdown of key features and steps to build such a bot.

Overview of the Bot

The bot, designed for a fictional company called BP Tractors, demonstrates Botpress’s ability to manage customer interactions using tabular data, automate workflows, and deploy across multiple channels.

Key Functionalities

1. Natural Language Instructions
   Bot instructions function similarly to a prompt in ChatGPT, allowing users to guide the bot’s behavior using natural language. This intuitive approach makes configuring the bot accessible to users without technical expertise.
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2. Integration with Tabular Data
   The bot can query information from tables or spreadsheets. For example, a table named “Tractor’s Table” may include fields like tractor name, description, horsepower, and price. Botpress supports easy data import, export, and API-based modifications. Adding this table to the bot requires two steps:
   • Include it in the knowledge base.
   • Use the “Query Knowledge Base” card in the autonomous node, with no additional configuration needed.
3. Automating Lead Creation
   The bot can create leads in Salesforce by adding the “Create Lead” card to the autonomous node. When users express interest (e.g., “I want to buy”), the bot triggers the necessary logic, collects required inputs, and generates a Salesforce lead.
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4. Controlled Workflows with Human Escalation
   Botpress allows users to override AI-driven interactions with controlled workflows. For example:
   • Define instructions to guide the bot to a specific workflow, such as escalating to a human agent.
   • Add a workflow like “Human in the Loop,” which redirects users to a human for direct assistance. This ensures 100% controlled outputs for critical interactions.
5. Multi-Channel Deployment
   The bot can be deployed to various platforms, including Telegram, webchat, WhatsApp, Line, Messenger, and Instagram. For unsupported channels, Botpress provides API support, ensuring adaptability.