Create agent from template

Written By Stanislas

Last updated 9 days ago

Start building custom AI agents faster with pre-configured templates. Agent templates provide ready-to-use configurations that you can customize in minutes, saving time while maintaining best practices for agent design.

Templates are ideal when you need a specific type of agent quickly or want to learn how to configure agents effectively by studying working examples.

Overview

Creating an agent from a template lets you skip the initial setup and jump straight to customization. Each template comes pre-configured with:

  • Objectives and instructions – A defined role, tasks, and behavioral rules

  • Recommended AI model – The optimal model for the template's purpose

  • Suggested knowledge base structure – Guidance on what documents to add

  • Pre-configured settings – Department, description, and other profile details

Swiftask offers multiple templates, including a blank template for starting fresh and specialized templates like the knowledge assistant for RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) use cases.

Prerequisites

To create an agent from a template, you need:

  • A Swiftask account (sign up at swiftask.ai)

  • Access to the Agents section

  • Permission to create agents in your workspace

Agents are available to all Swiftask users.

Step-by-step guide

1. Navigate to the agents section

Click Agents in the left sidebar to open the agents workspace.

2. Click the create agent button

Locate the Create agent button in the top section of the agents page and click it.

A dropdown menu appears with two options:

  • From Scratch – Build an agent from the ground up

  • From Template – Start with a pre-built template and customize it

3. Select from template

Click From Template in the dropdown menu.

The agent templates page opens, displaying all available templates in your workspace.

You'll see:

  • Search bar – Find templates by name or keyword

  • Category filter – Filter templates by category (shows "All categories" by default)

  • Template cards – Each card displays the template name, description, and a View button

4. Preview a template

Before creating an agent from a template, you can preview its configuration to understand what it includes.

Click the View button on any template card.

A preview modal opens showing:

  • Template name and description – What the template does and its intended use case

  • Full template details – The complete objectives, instructions, and configuration

  • Get started with this agent section – Two options for using the template:

    • Clone and personalize – Customize this agent's settings, skills, and knowledge before using it

    • Clone and test – Start testing this agent immediately with its default configuration

  • Data sources – Lists connected knowledge base sources (if any)

  • User memory – Shows if user memory is enabled

  • Agent memory – Shows if agent memory is enabled

  • Default AI model – The AI model powering this template

5. Choose how to use the template

You have two options:

Clone and personalize

  • Redirects you to the agent configuration page

  • Customize the agent's name, description, objectives, instructions, knowledge base, and skills

  • Ideal when you want to adapt the template to your specific needs before testing

Clone and test

  • Redirects you directly to the chat interface

  • Start using the agent immediately with its default configuration

  • Ideal when you want to test the template quickly before making changes

Select the option that matches your workflow.

6. Customize your agent (if you chose clone and personalize)

If you selected Clone and personalize, you're taken to the agent configuration page.

From here, you can:

  • Update the agent profile – Change the name, description, department, and AI model

  • Refine objectives and instructions – Adjust the system prompt to match your use case

  • Add knowledge sources – Connect documents, files, or data sources your agent should access

  • Configure skills – Add tools and integrations your agent can use (export files, send emails, etc.)

  • Test your agent – Use the test panel on the right side to verify your changes

Once you're satisfied with your configuration, click Use this agent to start using it in chat.

Practical use cases

Knowledge base assistant for customer support

Use the knowledge assistant - RAG template and connect your product documentation, FAQ documents, and troubleshooting guides. The agent answers customer questions using only verified information from your knowledge base, reducing errors and ensuring consistency.

Blank template for custom workflows

Start with the blank template when you need a highly customized agent. Use it as a foundation and build your agent's objectives, knowledge base, and skills from scratch while maintaining a clean starting point.

Department-specific agents

Clone a template and customize it for different departments. For example, create an HR agent from the blank template by adding recruitment guidelines, or create a legal compliance agent by connecting regulatory documents and internal policies.

Testing and learning

Use the clone and test option to explore how pre-configured agents work. Study the template's objectives, instructions, and configuration to learn best practices for building your own agents.

Tips & best practices

Customize the system prompt

Templates provide a solid foundation, but you should always review and adjust the objectives and instructions to match your specific use case. Add rules, constraints, and tasks that reflect your organization's needs.

Add your knowledge base

Most templates work best when connected to your organization's specific documents and data sources. After creating an agent from a template, navigate to the knowledge base section and add relevant documents.

Troubleshooting

The template doesn't match my needs exactly

Templates are starting points, not final solutions. Use the configuration page to adjust objectives, instructions, knowledge sources, and skills until the agent matches your requirements.

I can't find the right template

If no template matches your use case, use the Blank template to start from scratch or select the closest template and heavily customize it.

The agent isn't performing as expected after cloning

Test your agent thoroughly after cloning. Templates provide a foundation, but you may need to refine the system prompt, add specific knowledge sources, or configure skills to achieve optimal results.

What happens next

Once you've created your agent from a template, you're ready to:

  • Test and refine – Use the test panel or chat interface to verify your agent works as expected

  • Add knowledge sources – Connect documents and data sources your agent should access

  • Configure skills – Add tools and integrations your agent can use to perform actions

  • Share with your team – Make your agent available to teammates or deploy it for external use

Your agent is now ready to use. Continue refining it based on real-world testing results.

Additional resources

  • Setting objectives & instructions – Learn how to refine your agent's system prompt

  • Sources (knowledge base) – Connect documents and data to your agent

  • Skills (AI tools) – Add capabilities like file export, email, and database queries

  • Testing & iterations – Test your agent and refine based on results

  • Introduction to agents – Learn what agents are and how they differ from chat

Ready to create your first agent from a template? Navigate to the Agents section, click "Create agent," select "From Template," and explore the available options. Your agent will be ready in minutes.