Deep Dive: Workflow-Driven Chat Applications With Adaptive Cards
Introduction to Workflow-Driven Chat Applications
One way to achieve the balance between AI innovation and business goals is through Adaptive Cards and workflow-driven processes. Adaptive Cards are versatile UI components that enable developers to craft visually appealing, interactive content optimized for chat applications.
By integrating workflows with Adaptive Cards, developers can create structured, goal-oriented chat applications that maintain the flexibility and innovation of AI-driven interactions while ensuring alignment with business objectives. Workflows provide the structure necessary for chat-driven interactions to be coherent, allowing developers to guide users through a series of pre-defined steps that lead to a desired outcome.
Key Insight
An established, deterministic tool is critical in contexts like healthcare where variability can be dangerous. Applications must respond correctly without delay and be accurate in their responses.
The chat applications of the future will be built around the workflows that drive them. We have an opportunity to build something that is fundamentally more interactive and functional, and therefore more useful, than what we currently have; something that is fundamentally more "intelligent," in the colloquial sense, because it incorporates modern chat experiences as just one part of a "smarter" user experience.
The Role of Structure in AI-Driven Chat
AI excels in processing and generating language, but without a clear structure, conversations can lose focus and frustrate users.
Benefits of Workflow-Driven Design
Goal-Oriented Interactions
Ensure conversations lead to specific outcomes
Prevent Inefficiency
Avoid meandering, unproductive conversations
Business Alignment
Align interactions with predefined objectives
Coffee Brewing Workflow Example
Overview of the Coffee Workflow
Imagine a chat application designed to guide users through the process of brewing the perfect cup of coffee. The workflow begins with a welcome message and progresses based on user preferences for coffee strength and brewing method. The workflow adapts to inputs, offering tailored guidance for drip coffee, pour-over, or French press methods.
At each stage, users can:
- Receive actionable tips for enhancing their coffee experience
- Choose to start over or end the interaction
- Follow guided steps based on their preferences
How the Workflow Enhances the Experience
This coffee brewing workflow demonstrates the power of workflow-driven chat applications by:
- Presenting questions and options in a clear, interactive format using Adaptive Cards
- Dynamically navigating the conversation based on user inputs, ensuring logical progression
- Adapting the chat flow to meet user preferences, such as their desired coffee strength and brewing method
- Offering actionable tips and instructions while maintaining engagement
- Following a structured JSON-based workflow that is easily configurable for updates or enhancements
JSON Workflow Example
Below is an example snippet from the JSON workflow file used to guide the conversation:
{
"id": "chooseStrength",
"question": "How strong would you like your coffee?",
"answers": [
{ "response": "Mild", "nextNode": "chooseBrewMethod" },
{ "response": "Medium", "nextNode": "chooseBrewMethod" },
{ "response": "Strong", "nextNode": "chooseBrewMethod" }
]
}
Each node in the workflow includes:
- A question that frames the interaction
- Answers that direct the user to the next step in the workflow
This structure ensures logical progression and a seamless user experience.
Adaptive Cards: Enhancing Structure and Usability
Adaptive Cards are flexible UI components that add structure and interactivity to chat systems. They serve as a foundation for presenting information and enabling user actions in a clear and engaging format.
Benefits of Adaptive Cards
Consistent User Experience
Ensure a visually appealing and uniform interface across platforms
Interactive Elements
Include buttons, forms, and dropdown menus for direct user engagement
Dynamic Content Updates
Automatically adjust content based on conversation flow
Enhanced Data Visualization
Display complex data in an easily understandable format
Workflow-Driven Design: A Guide for AI Interactions
Workflow-driven design ensures that AI chat systems follow logical paths and adhere to system requirements. By structuring interactions into nodes and transitions, developers can define clear objectives and maintain consistency.
Every workflow should have a specific goal or outcome. Whether it's gathering user information, providing support, or guiding through a process, the conversation should be designed with the end goal in mind.
Workflows must balance business requirements with user experience. This means understanding both what the organization needs to achieve and what users expect from the interaction.
Consistent behavior across different user scenarios builds trust and reduces confusion. Users should know what to expect from the system regardless of their entry point or path.
Workflow Components
Nodes and Edges
Represent steps in the workflow and define transitions
Dynamic Adaptation
Modify workflows in response to user actions
JSON-Based Configuration
Simplify updates without requiring developer intervention
Intelligent and Goal-Oriented AI Applications
AI-powered tools like Co-Pilot shine when they combine intelligence with purpose. Workflows and Adaptive Cards allow these systems to maximize their potential while maintaining user focus.
Key Capabilities of AI-Powered Workflow Systems
Step-by-Step Guidance
Guide users through complex tasks with clear, actionable instructions
Relevant Information
Present actionable information without overwhelming the user
Dynamic Adjustment
Adapt to user input while staying aligned with objectives
Goal Alignment
Maintain focus on the overall objective throughout the interaction
Meeting System Requirements with Adaptive Workflows
One of the challenges of integrating AI into chat applications is ensuring compliance with system requirements. Workflow-driven design provides the control and flexibility needed to address these concerns.
Workflows can embed business rules directly into the conversation flow, ensuring that all interactions comply with organizational policies and regulatory requirements. This is particularly important in industries like healthcare, finance, and legal services.
Built-in validation ensures that user inputs meet required criteria before proceeding to the next step. Error handling can guide users back to correct inputs without breaking the conversation flow.
JSON-based workflow configurations allow teams to update conversation flows without requiring code changes. This enables rapid iteration and continuous improvement based on user feedback and changing requirements.