Microsoft Teams Enables Agent & Bot Integration Within Ongoing Conversations

Microsoft Teams is deploying an experimental feature (MC1093236) to improve agent engagement within Chats and Channels.

Instead of a disruptive pop-up window, users will now access a dedicated Agents and bots panel via a side panel.

This UI overhaul addresses critical user feedback about workflow obstruction.

When users select the People roster icon (top-right corner) and choose Add agents and bots, the panel launches without minimizing the conversation window.

Key technical upgrades include:

• Persistent Conversation View: Maintains unobstructed chat visibility during agent/bot integration.
• Dynamic App Discovery: Shows pre-enabled apps (e.g., Power Virtual Agents) alongside new options.
• Single-Click Addition: Agents/bots deploy directly into chats via the panel’s unified interface (C# backend optimizations).

Technical Rollout & Experimentation Framework

This feature uses a randomized A/B testing model for controlled feedback collection before General Availability (GA).

The rollout targets:

• Platforms: Teams for Windows/Mac desktop (Win32, Cocoa) and Web (ReactJS framework).
• Phased Deployment:
  • Targeted Release: Enabled for 10% of global tenants in early June (Feature ID Teams_AgentPanel_Exp1).
  • Post-Experiment Analysis: Telemetry data (Kusto queries via Azure Monitor) will validate UX metrics before GA.
    Admin impact is minimal—no configuration changes or PowerShell cmdlets (Set-CsTeamsPolicy) are needed.
  • However, Microsoft recommends monitoring Message Center for GA announcements (future MC-ID).

Admin Guidance & User Adoption Strategy

While no administrative action is mandatory, Microsoft advises:

• User Communication: Notify teams about the new Add agents and bots workflow via Teams Admin Center announcements.
• Documentation Updates: Revise internal guides referencing legacy pop-up workflows (deprecated UI path).
• Fallback Option: Users retain access to app integration via the + Tab button during the experiment.
  Post-feedback, Microsoft may adjust the panel’s Azure Active Directory (Entra ID) permission scopes or Graph API integrations.
• Admins should audit third-party bots for compatibility with the new panel interface (OAuth 2.0 flows).

This update (driven by UserVoice feedback) tackles core UX friction—previously, adding agents interrupted chat context and imposed time limits.

The side panel aligns with Microsoft’s Fluid Framework integration goals for seamless collaboration. Post-GA, expect documentation updates in the Microsoft 365 Admin portal.

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