Outlook Agent

This page provides detailed configuration instructions for the Outlook AI Agent, which enables comprehensive integration with Microsoft Outlook for email, calendar, and task management

Overview

The Outlook Agent allows users to:

• Send and read emails through Blockbrain

• Manage calendar events and appointments

• Create and update tasks

• Access contact information

• Automate email workflows

Prerequisites

Before configuring the Outlook Agent:

• Complete the general setup steps from the main AI Agents page

• Ensure users have Microsoft 365 or Exchange Online mailboxes

• Verify appropriate Exchange Online licensing

Azure App Registration Configuration

Required API Permissions

Add the following Microsoft Graph permissions to your app registration:

Permission	Type	Description
offline_access	Delegated	Maintain access to data you have given it access to
User.Read	Delegated	Sign in and read user profile
Mail.Send	Delegated	Send mail as the user
Mail.ReadWrite	Delegated	Read and write access to user mail
Calendars.ReadWrite	Delegated	Read and write user calendars
Tasks.ReadWrite	Delegated	Read and write user tasks
People.Read	Delegated	Read user's relevant people list

Permission Configuration Steps

1. In your Azure app registration, go to API permissions

2. Click "Add a permission" > Microsoft Graph > Delegated permissions

3. Search for and select each required permission

4. Click "Add permissions"

5. Click "Grant admin consent" (recommended for organization-wide deployment)

Outlook Agent Configuration in Blockbrain

Configuration Steps

1. Access Agent Settings:

   • Navigate to your Blockbrain admin panel

   • Go to Agents > Outlook Agent

   • Click "Configure"

2. Enter Azure Credentials:

   • Client ID: Enter the Application ID from your Azure app registration

   • Client Secret: Paste the client secret you generated (use the eye icon to toggle visibility)

   • Tenant: Enter your Azure tenant ID

3. Configure OAuth Scopes:

   • Add each required scope individually:

     • offline_access

     • User.Read

     • Mail.Send

     • Mail.ReadWrite

     • Calendars.ReadWrite

     • Tasks.ReadWrite

     • People.Read

   • Each scope appears as a removable tag with visual indicators

   • Use the "X" button to remove any incorrect scopes

4. Additional Configuration (Optional):

   • Configure custom key-value pairs for specific organizational requirements

   • Set up any specialized email handling rules

5. Save Configuration:

   • Click "Save" to apply all settings

   • Wait for the confirmation message

Alternative: Admin Consent Configuration

For streamlined deployment with pre-approved permissions:

1. In Azure, grant admin consent for all required Microsoft Graph permissions

2. In Blockbrain configuration, use .default scope instead of individual scopes

3. This approach simplifies user onboarding by eliminating individual consent prompts

Testing the Outlook Agent

Verification Steps

1. Authentication Test:

   • Use Blockbrain's built-in connection testing tool

   • Verify successful OAuth flow with Microsoft Graph

2. Email Functionality:

   • Test sending an email through the agent

   • Verify email reading and search capabilities

   • Check mail folder access

3. Calendar Integration:

   • Create a test calendar event

   • Verify calendar reading permissions

   • Test event modification capabilities

4. Task Management:

   • Create and modify a test task

   • Verify task list access

   • Check task completion workflows

Common Outlook Integration Use Cases

Email Management

• Automated Responses: AI-powered email replies and drafting

• Email Analysis: Content analysis and sentiment detection

• Search & Retrieval: Find specific emails based on content or metadata

Calendar Integration

• Meeting Scheduling: AI-assisted meeting coordination

• Event Creation: Automated calendar event generation

• Schedule Analysis: Meeting pattern analysis and optimization

Task Automation

• Task Creation: Convert emails or conversations into actionable tasks

• Progress Tracking: Monitor task completion and deadlines

• Workflow Integration: Connect tasks with other business processes

Troubleshooting

Authentication Issues

Problem: OAuth authentication failures

• Solution: Verify the redirect URL is exactly https://nango.theblockbrain.ai/oauth/callback

• Check: Ensure admin consent is granted for all required permissions

• Verify: Client secret hasn't expired and is correctly entered

Email Permission Errors

Problem: Cannot send or read emails

• Solution: Confirm Mail.Send and Mail.ReadWrite permissions are granted

• Check: Verify the user has an active Exchange Online mailbox

• Validate: Test with a different user account to isolate permission issues

Calendar Access Issues

Problem: Calendar events not accessible

• Solution: Ensure Calendars.ReadWrite permission is properly configured

• Check: Verify the user has calendar access in their Microsoft 365 account

• Test: Try accessing a shared calendar to confirm delegation permissions

Scope Configuration Problems

Problem: Scopes not being saved or recognized

• Solution: Add each scope individually using the interface

• Check: Remove any duplicate or malformed scopes

• Verify: Ensure all required scopes are present in the configuration

Security and Compliance

Data Protection

• Email Security: All email data is handled according to Blockbrain's security policies

• Calendar Privacy: Calendar access respects user privacy settings and sharing permissions

• Task Confidentiality: Task data is processed with appropriate confidentiality measures

Compliance Considerations

• GDPR Compliance: Email and calendar data processing follows GDPR requirements

• Data Retention: Configure appropriate data retention policies for email and calendar data

• Audit Logging: All Outlook agent activities are logged for compliance reporting

Access Control

• User Permissions: Agent inherits the authenticated user's Outlook permissions

• Delegation: Supports Exchange delegation and shared mailbox access

• Security Groups: Can be configured to work with Azure AD security groups

Performance Optimization

Email Processing

• Batch Operations: Configure batch processing for large email operations

• Rate Limiting: Respect Microsoft Graph API rate limits

• Caching: Implement appropriate caching for frequently accessed data

Calendar Efficiency

• Sync Frequency: Configure optimal calendar synchronization intervals

• Event Filtering: Set up filters to process only relevant calendar events

• Time Zone Handling: Ensure proper time zone configuration for global organizations

Next Steps

After successful Outlook Agent configuration:

• User Training: Provide training on email and calendar AI features

• Integration Setup: Configure integration with existing business workflows

• Monitoring: Set up monitoring for agent performance and usage

• SharePoint Integration: Consider adding SharePoint Agent for comprehensive Microsoft 365 integration

Support and Resources

For assistance with Outlook Agent configuration:

• Blockbrain Support: Contact your Customer Success Manager for feature-specific help

• Microsoft Documentation: Reference Microsoft Graph API documentation for detailed permission information

• Azure AD Troubleshooting: Use Azure AD sign-in logs for authentication diagnostics