Azure Service Hosts Bots

The Azure Bot Service, now in preview, speeds bot deployment on Azure, assists with publishing and managing bots, and could reduce costs associated with running bots. Bots are digital agents that can respond to user requests submitted with natural language commands, potentially simplifying the user interfaces of applications and services. The Bot Service works with bots created using the Microsoft Bot Framework, which is a set of tools, APIs, and a portal for bot development. The service could make it feasible for organizations to implement bots, but the various technologies and stakeholders required could complicate the process.

Bots Could Help or Hinder Processes

Bots can serve as front ends to application and service functionality and, in some cases, can replace human agents that are currently required for such purposes. For example, bots could accept orders, make reservations, and look up product prices or sales figures. Bots from different publishers and organizations can work together to complete workflows such as planning trips, arranging event logistics, and fulfilling orders. Higher-level bots, such as Microsoft’s Cortana, Amazon’s Alexa, and Apple’s Siri, can hand off tasks to and orchestrate the services of lower-level bots.