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AgentsGetting Started

Getting Started with Agents

Get your first AI agent running in under two minutes with pre-built templates, or build from scratch in five minutes.

The Fastest Way: Start with a Template

The Agent Marketplace is the easiest way to get started. Choose from pre-built templates designed for common use cases. They come with everything pre-configured: instructions, tools and integrations.

Step 1: Browse the Marketplace

Navigate to studio.scoutos.com/agents/marketplace  to see available templates.

You’ll find templates for:

  • Meeting Prep — Prepare for calls with company research, recent news and key insights
  • Competitor Intel — Monitor competitors, track changes and deliver intelligence reports
  • Deal Monitor — Watch your pipeline for at-risk deals and recommend next actions
  • Seller Guidance — Get real-time coaching and deal strategy recommendations
  • CRM Hygiene — Keep your CRM clean with automated data validation and updates

Step 2: Use a Template

Click on any template to see details, then click Use Template. Scout will:

  1. Create the agent with pre-written instructions
  2. Connect required tools (you’ll authorize integrations)
  3. Set up suggested schedules if applicable

A guided setup walks you through connecting your accounts (Salesforce, HubSpot, email, etc.) so your agent can start working immediately.

Step 3: Start Chatting

Once installed, click Chat to start working with your new agent. Try one of the suggested prompts to see it in action.

That’s it! Your agent is ready to help.

Building from Scratch

Want full control? Build a custom agent from the ground up.

Navigate to studio.scoutos.com/agents/new  to start building.

Step 1: Name Your Agent

Choose a clear, descriptive name:

  • ✅ “Research Assistant”
  • ✅ “Customer Support Agent”
  • ❌ “Agent 1” or “Test”

Step 2: Add a Description

Write a brief description of what your agent does:

Helps research topics, find information across the web and answer questions 
using our internal knowledge base.

Step 3: Write Instructions (System Prompt)

Define your agent’s behavior and personality. Be specific about:

  • Its role and expertise
  • How it should communicate
  • What it should and shouldn’t do

Example Instructions:

You are a helpful research assistant for our team. Your role is to:
- Find accurate, up-to-date information from web searches
- Check our internal knowledge base first for company-specific information
- Provide clear, concise summaries with sources
- Ask clarifying questions when requests are ambiguous
- Maintain a professional but friendly tone

Always cite your sources and indicate whether information comes from 
web search or our knowledge base.

Step 4: Add Tools

Click on the Tools tab to give your agent capabilities.

Native Tools (Available Immediately)

  • Web Search: Search the internet for current information
  • Scout Knowledge Base Search: Search your internal documents
  • Code Execution: Run JavaScript and TypeScript for deterministic compute and API operations

Toggle these on to start with basic capabilities.

For setup guidance and safety patterns, see Code Execution.

Connect More Tools

  1. Go to studio.scoutos.com/integrations 
  2. Connect your accounts: Google Workspace, Slack, GitHub, Salesforce, HubSpot and more
  3. Return to your agent’s Tools tab. Connected integrations appear as available tools.
  4. Toggle on the ones this agent should use

For an integration-first setup guide, see Integrations.

Create Custom Tools

Need something specific? Build custom tools using Scout workflows:

  • Create any logic in the visual workflow builder
  • Enable as a tool by toggling the option in the workflow builder
  • Your agent can now use it like any other tool

Pro tip: Start with two or three tools and add more as you learn what your agent needs.

Step 5: Configure Settings

Click the Settings tab to fine-tune behavior.

Select LLM Model

Choose the model that powers your agent. Each has different strengths for speed, accuracy or task complexity.

Set Response Style

  • Precise: Focused, reliable answers (best for data/research tasks)
  • Balanced: Structure and creativity for everyday tasks (recommended)
  • Creative: Expressive, open-ended responses for writing and ideation
  • Experimental: Unexpected, freeform outputs

Configure Max Steps

Set the maximum actions your agent takes per request. Each tool use counts as one step.

  • 5-10 steps: Simple tasks, quick responses
  • 15-20 steps: Research tasks with multiple searches
  • 25+ steps: Complex workflows with multiple tools

Note: Higher limits allow more thorough work but increase response time and costs.

Add Conversation Starters

Help users understand your agent’s capabilities:

- "What's the latest news about AI agents?"
- "Search our knowledge base for onboarding procedures"
- "Find competitor pricing information"

Set Visibility

  • Private: Only you can use it
  • Team: Anyone in your workspace

Step 6: Test Your Agent

Click Save to create your agent, then click New Chat to test it.

Try these prompts:

"What is Scout?" (Should use knowledge base)
"What's the weather in San Francisco?" (Should use web search)
"Find information about AI agents in our docs and on the web" (Should use both)

What to check:

  • Is the agent using the right tools?
  • Are responses in your configured style?
  • Does it follow instructions properly?

Refine instructions or settings if needed.

Schedule Your Agent

Agents can run automatically on a schedule. No workflow required.

  1. Go to your agent’s Triggers tab
  2. Click Add Schedule
  3. Set frequency (daily, weekly or custom cron)
  4. Define what the agent should do

Example: Your Deal Monitor can check your pipeline every morning at 8 a.m. and send you a summary of at-risk deals.

For complete scheduling documentation, see Agent Scheduling.

Planning Tools for Complex Tasks

If your agent handles complex, multi-step tasks, enable planning tools in the Tools tab:

  • CreatePlan — Map out the approach before starting
  • GetNextStep — Track progress step by step
  • UpdatePlan — Adjust when new information emerges

Planning tools help agents work systematically through complex workflows, reducing errors and staying focused on the goal. They’re especially valuable for research tasks, data gathering from multiple sources and any task with dependencies between steps.

For the complete guide, see Planning Tools.

Access Your Agent

Scout Dashboard

Chat directly in the Scout Studio dashboard, the primary way to interact with your agent.

Scout Copilot (Beta)

Embed an agent chat widget in your app or website. Email info@scoutos.com for access

Slack Integration (Beta)

Add your agent to Slack channels. Email info@scoutos.com for access

API Access (Beta)

Use your agent programmatically. Email info@scoutos.com for access

Common Questions

My agent isn’t using the right tool

Adjust instructions to be more specific: “Always check the knowledge base first before searching the web.”

Responses are too long/short

Add length preferences: “Provide concise summaries of two or three sentences unless asked for more detail.”

Can I edit my agent after creating it?

Yes! All settings can be changed anytime. Remember to save changes.

How do I see what my agent is doing?

Check the Logs tab for tool usage, decision-making and execution traces.

What’s the difference between templates and custom agents?

Templates are pre-configured for specific use cases. Install and go. Custom agents give you full control but require more setup. Both approaches can be modified after creation.

Built with ❤️ by Scout OS

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