What Are Integrations?

Overview

Integrations are extensions that enhance the capabilities of Connect agents by providing them with tools to interact with external systems, access specialized data sources, or perform specific actions. By connecting your agents to the resources and services they need, integrations transform them from simple conversational interfaces into powerful, functional assistants.

Why Integrations Matter

Without integrations, AI agents are limited to:

1. General knowledge from their training data
2. Information from their knowledge base
3. Basic text processing and logic

Integrations expand an agent's abilities to include:

1. Real-time data access (weather, stocks, news, etc.)
2. Interaction with external systems (databases, CRMs, ticketing systems)
3. Performing actions on behalf of users (booking appointments, creating tickets)
4. Processing and analyzing specialized data

How Integrations Work

In the Connect platform, integrations consist of two key components:

1. Tool Definitions

Tool definitions tell the agent about the capabilities available to it. These definitions include:

• Name: A unique identifier for the tool
• Description: Explanation of what the tool does and when to use it
• Parameters: What information the tool needs to function
• Expected Results: What the tool will return

Example tool definition (simplified):

{
  "name": "getWeatherForecast",
  "description": "Gets the weather forecast for a specific location and date",
  "parameters": {
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "location": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "City name or coordinates"
      },
      "date": {
        "type": "string",
        "description": "Date for the forecast (YYYY-MM-DD)"
      }
    },
    "required": ["location"]
  }
}

2. Tool Implementations

Tool implementations are the JavaScript code that executes when the agent calls a tool. They:

1. Receive parameters from the agent
2. Perform the necessary operations (API calls, data processing, etc.)
3. Return results to the agent

Example implementation (simplified):

async function getWeatherForecast(params) {
  // Extract parameters
  const { location, date } = params;
  
  // Make API call to weather service
  const forecast = await weatherAPI.getForecast(location, date);
  
  // Format and return results
  return {
    temperature: forecast.temp,
    conditions: forecast.conditions,
    precipitation: forecast.precipitation
  };
}

// Register the tool
connect.tools.register('getWeatherForecast', getWeatherForecast);

Integration Flow

When a user interacts with an agent that has integrations:

1. The user sends a message to the agent
2. The agent determines it needs to use a tool to respond appropriately
3. The agent calls the tool with the necessary parameters
4. The tool executes and returns results to the agent
5. The agent incorporates the results into its response
6. The user receives a response that includes information from the integration

Security and Permissions

Integrations can be configured with different permission levels:

1. Public: Available to all agents in the Connect platform
2. Private: Limited to specific agents you designate

Creating vs. Using Integrations

Connect offers two ways to work with integrations:

1. Using existing integrations: Choose from pre-built integrations in the marketplace
2. Creating custom integrations: Develop your own to meet specific needs

For information on creating custom integrations, see our JavaScript Integrations guide.

Benefits of Using Integrations

Integrations provide numerous advantages:

1. Enhanced Functionality: Expand what your agents can do beyond conversation
2. Real-Time Data: Access up-to-date information from authoritative sources
3. System Connectivity: Bridge the gap between AI and your existing systems
4. Specialized Capabilities: Add domain-specific functions without complex development
5. Improved User Experience: Enable users to accomplish tasks without leaving the conversation

Best Practices

When working with integrations:

1. Select Purposefully: Choose integrations that directly support your agent's purpose
2. Limit Scope: Too many integrations can make an agent unfocused
3. Test Thoroughly: Verify your integrations work as expected in various scenarios
4. Document Clearly: Ensure users know what capabilities are available
5. Monitor Usage: Track how often integrations are used to refine your agent

By understanding and effectively using integrations, you can transform your Connect agents from simple chatbots into powerful tools that provide real value to your users.