Evidence-grounded customer journey

Payments Operations Agent

Build this agent step by step, then show it to a customer. Easy mode lets AI do the clicks; Manual mode shows every step yourself.

Get the one-pager and demo video Office hours All solutions

About this workshop

Workshop mission: Turn motivated, open-minded, non-technical sales professionals into AI superheroes who can match the practical output and problem-solving pace of technical peers who are not using AI, while staying evidence-grounded, governed, and honest about what the tools proved.

Boundary: synthetic qualitative evidence only—not a customer KPI, measured production result, live connection, or publication approval.

Found something inaccurate? Use Report an issue at that point. It opens a prefilled GitHub issue for review and does not submit anything automatically.

Self-paced local achievements

Workshop achievements

0 total points 0 in this workshop

0 of 0 Easy checkpoints complete

No badges yet

View achievements and local profile

Optional public verification

These points and badges are local, self-reported workshop progress—not externally verified proof or a capability claim.

This opens one prefilled progress issue containing every badge currently earned here. Nothing syncs until you submit it. Resubmitting later merges newly earned badge IDs without duplicate score, and one public issue submission opts your GitHub account into a public verified profile.

Workshop setup

Open GitHub Copilot Chat

Start in GitHub Copilot Chat. No Frontier desktop app is required; the Easy Mode skill handles any additional setup.

Get ready

Open VS Code with the GitHub Copilot Chat extension installed.
Sign in to GitHub with an account that has Copilot access.
Open the Copilot Chat panel and select Agent mode.

Expected result

GitHub Copilot Chat is open in VS Code, signed in, and set to Agent mode.

I opened GitHub Copilot Chat in Agent mode.

What you will learn

Use the single Easy Mode skill.
Build and prove the portable agent.
Deploy the reviewed solution as an unpublished Draft.
Confirm the behavior yourself in Copilot Studio Preview.
Recognize the evidence that means the module is complete.

Before you begin

Use VS Code with GitHub Copilot Chat in Agent mode.
Sign in to GitHub with Copilot access.
Have access to a Copilot Studio environment.
The skill handles setup for you.
Do not publish. This module ends with a validated Draft.

Easy mode

Prepare your Copilot

Brief your Copilot with one line

One skill owns discovery, testing, Draft deployment, and Preview validation.

Do this

Open GitHub Copilot Chat in VS Code and select Agent mode.
Paste this one line and send it. Copilot reads the skill itself; nothing to download.

Send this message

Go and read https://raw.githubusercontent.com/microsoft/aibast-agents-library/main/skills/aibast-easy-mode/SKILL.md and run the Payments Operations workshop for me.

Expected result

Copilot says it has read the skill and is running the workshop. The skill owns the remaining setup and validation.

I sent the one line and Copilot started the workshop.

Prove the solution locally

Ask Easy Mode to build and test Payments Operations

This step proves the portable business logic before any Copilot Studio work begins. The harness retrieves the immutable package, verifies the source, loads the agent, and runs every locked case.

Send this message

Give me Payments Operations using Easy Mode and test it for me.

Expected result

Copilot reports a verified source and 10/10 locked local cases passed.

Copilot should end by suggesting the next message: Deploy it into Copilot Studio for me.

I saw every locked local case pass.

Create the reviewed Draft

Deploy the already-tested solution to Copilot Studio

The harness now uses the verified Microsoft Copilot Studio plugin to reuse or create the source-controlled Draft, synchronize the reviewed instructions and assets, validate the PAC project, and leave publication off.

Send this message

Deploy it into Copilot Studio for me.

Expected result

Draft: Payments Operations Manual
Model: Model Claude Opus 5.5
Knowledge files: 2
Skills: 10
Status: Draft; published: false

The harness then validates the real Preview front door before returning its final verdict.

I saw the Draft identity and unpublished state.

Verify the real experience

Confirm the Draft in Copilot Studio Preview

The harness already runs these checks automatically. Repeat them here so you understand what was proven and can recognize a correct result yourself.

Open the validated Draft.
Select Preview.
Choose New chat before each case.
Paste the exact prompt.
Compare the answer with the required and forbidden markers.

Open the Copilot Studio Draft ↗

Expected result

Every case passes in a fresh Preview conversation, and the agent still appears as Draft.

PO-01 · Payments Operations Lead

Confirm the expected evidence

What's in this morning's payment release queue, and which payments need attention?

Must include

Release QueuePAY-3105Needs attention

Must not claim

I do not have accessI cannot help

Visible positive anchors: Release Queue; PAY-3105; Needs attention. The screenshot supports the learner checkpoint; the full case pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Source: 1424×863 JPEG. Download original.

The Preview response matched this contract.

PO-02 · Payments Analyst

Confirm the expected evidence

Why did payment PAY-3105 fail validation?

Must include

AMOUNT_OVER_RAIL_LIMITBENEFICIARY_ACCOUNT_MISSINGScheme Rule

Must not claim

I do not have accessI cannot help

Visible positive anchors: BENEFICIARY_ACCOUNT_MISSING; Scheme Rule; AMOUNT_OVER_RAIL_LIMIT. The screenshot supports the learner checkpoint; the full case pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Source: 1424×863 JPEG. Download original.

The Preview response matched this contract.

PO-03 · Payments Repair Analyst

Confirm the expected evidence

What's the repair plan for PAY-3105? Don't change anything yet.

Must include

Not ExecutedDomestic High-ValueDraft for analyst review

Must not claim

I do not have accessI cannot help

Visible positive anchors: Not Executed; Domestic High-Value; Draft for analyst review. The screenshot supports the learner checkpoint; the full case pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Source: 1424×863 JPEG. Download original.

The Preview response matched this contract.

PO-04 · Payments Analyst

Confirm the expected evidence

Is the 2.75 million dollar payment PAY-3104 to Wingtip Toys safe to release?

Must include

Risk band8.9 timesWatchlist screening

Must not claim

I do not have accessI cannot help

Visible positive anchors: Watchlist screening; Risk band; 8.9 times. The screenshot supports the learner checkpoint; the full case pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Source: 1424×863 JPEG. Download original.

The Preview response matched this contract.

PO-05 · Reconciliation Analyst

Confirm the expected evidence

Reconcile yesterday's USD settlement account. Which breaks are still open?

Must include

WGB-SETTLE-USD-01BRK-029,846.90

Must not claim

I do not have accessI cannot help

Visible positive anchors: WGB-SETTLE-USD-01; 9,846.90; BRK-02. The screenshot supports the learner checkpoint; the full case pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Source: 1424×863 JPEG. Download original.

The Preview response matched this contract.

PO-06 · Payments Operations Lead

Confirm the expected evidence

A relationship manager is asking where PAY-3103 is. What should I tell them?

Must include

Scheme acknowledged15:00not sent

Must not claim

I do not have accessI cannot help

Visible positive anchors: Scheme acknowledged; 15:00; not sent. The screenshot supports the learner checkpoint; the full case pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Source: 1424×863 JPEG. Download original.

The Preview response matched this contract.

PO-07 · Head of Payments Operations

Confirm the expected evidence

Give me yesterday's payments KPI brief by rail.

Must include

99.07%Cross-Border Wirenothing was distributed

Must not claim

I do not have accessI cannot help

Visible positive anchors: Cross-Border Wire; 99.07%; nothing was distributed. The screenshot supports the learner checkpoint; the full case pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Source: 1424×863 JPEG. Download original.

The Preview response matched this contract.

PO-08 · Compliance Analyst

Confirm the expected evidence

Which sanctions alerts should I review first, and what do I compare?

Must include

SAN-77120.8 hThe compliance analyst decides

Must not claim

I do not have accessI cannot help

Visible positive anchors: SAN-7712; 0.8 h; The compliance analyst decides. The screenshot supports the learner checkpoint; the full case pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Source: 1424×863 JPEG. Download original.

The Preview response matched this contract.

PO-09 · Treasury Analyst

Confirm the expected evidence

Are we close to any correspondent limits today, and do any nostro accounts need funding?

Must include

Northwind Bank (Tokyo)BreachEUR 200,000.00

Must not claim

I do not have accessI cannot help

Visible positive anchors: Northwind Bank (Tokyo); EUR 200,000.00; Breach. The screenshot supports the learner checkpoint; the full case pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Source: 1424×863 JPEG. Download original.

The Preview response matched this contract.

PO-10 · Payments Analyst

Confirm the expected evidence

PAY-3130 to Coho Winery was flagged. How should we verify it with the customer?

Must include

Fourth Coffeeending 4417the payments analyst decides

Must not claim

I do not have accessI cannot help

Visible positive anchors: Fourth Coffee; ending 4417; the payments analyst decides. The screenshot supports the learner checkpoint; the full case pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Source: 1424×863 JPEG. Download original.

The Preview response matched this contract.

Recognize completion

Know what “done” looks like

The workshop is complete only when both the portable agent and the Copilot Studio front door prove the same behavior.

Local proof10/10 locked cases passed

Preview proof10/10 locked cases passed

Draft identityPayments Operations Manual

ModelModel Claude Opus 5.5

Inventory2 knowledge · 10 skills

Publication gateDraft · published false

Positive visual checkpoint. Source: 1424×863 JPEG. Download original.

Final expected verdict

The harness reports status: complete, exact case totals, the Draft identity, and published: false. The module ends here; it does not offer publication.

I confirmed the final Draft verdict.

Troubleshooting

What you see	What it means	What to do
Copilot ignores the workshop	The wrong skill was read, or the chat began before the one line was sent.	Start a new Agent-mode chat and send the one line first.
Local validation is not 10/10	The portable source, package, or locked behavior does not match.	Stop. Do not deploy. Let the harness report the exact failed case and marker.
No active Copilot Studio environment	PAC has no selected environment.	Sign in or select the intended environment, then resend the deploy message.
The Draft already exists	The recorded schema is already in the environment.	The harness should clone and reconnect automatically. Treat an attendee choice prompt as a harness defect.
A Preview case misses a marker	The real front door does not match the reviewed contract.	Keep the case failed. Inspect instructions and assets; do not retry until it happens to pass.
The agent is Published	The workshop crossed its safety boundary.	Stop immediately. The module must end at Draft with `published: false`.

Facilitator evidence and portable download

These links support audit, troubleshooting, and offline delivery. They are not learner steps.

Field guide Locked evidence Evidence report Download audit manifest Download portable bundle Download Copilot Studio solution Deployment settings Export details Download generic workshop agent Download SKILL.md

Manual mode · see how it was built

See how Payments Operations Agent is built, one capability at a time.

Optional. Easy mode already did all of this for you from one skill file. This path replays every action the AI took, one real browser frame per step, so you can understand the agent before you adapt it. No PAC CLI, YAML import, or plugin architect; stop at Draft.

Synthetic disclosure: this is qualitative workflow evidence using packaged synthetic inputs. It is not a customer KPI or a live-system result.

Found something inaccurate? Use Report an issue on that step. It opens a prefilled GitHub issue for review and does not submit automatically.

Open standalone Manual-mode guide ↗ Download source bundle Download Copilot Studio solution Deployment settings Export details

0 of 32 complete

Manual-mode progress is saved on this device and contributes to the same achievement profile.

Build and verify

Create a blank Copilot Studio agent

Step 1 of 32

Action

Create a blank Copilot Studio agent

Expected resultA blank Copilot Studio agent is visible in the captured Draft workspace.

Positive visual checkpoint: Untitled Agent. Source capture: 1424×863 JPEG. The full pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Download original.

Name Payments Operations Manual

Step 2 of 32

Action

Payments Operations Manual

Name Payments Operations Manual

Expected resultThe page header shows the recorded manual build name: Payments Operations Manual.

Positive visual checkpoint: Payments Operations Manual. Source capture: 1424×863 JPEG. The full pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Download original.

Enter the reviewed global instructions

Step 3 of 32

Action

# Payments Operations Agent — Manual Global Instructions

You are a synthetic payments-operations pilot for a bank's release desk. Explain the fixed payments snapshot and prepare reviewable drafts without releasing, holding, repairing, or posting anything.

## Fixed synthetic snapshot

- Use only the uploaded Payments Operations synthetic records, rules, and ten
packaged skills.
- Woodgrove Bank and every payment, originator, beneficiary, rail limit, reference, risk signal, settlement break, and KPI value are invented. The fixed value date is Mar 12, 2026; the prior business day is Mar 11, 2026.
- Do not browse, consult external sources, or add current-date, market, legal,
or customer facts. Never invent a record, value, deadline, decision, or
transaction.
- Never match a fictional organization, person, or record to a real one or
claim access to a live system.

## Natural-language routing

- Use **release queue overview** for: the payments lead asks what is in today's release queue, how payments are staged, or which payments need attention.
- Use **scheme-rule validation** for: an analyst asks why a payment failed or passed validation against rail limits, currencies, account presence, and reference uniqueness.
- Use **exception repair plan** for: an analyst asks how to fix a failed payment; returns a priority, repair steps, and a draft originator note that is never executed.
- Use **pre-release risk review** for: an analyst asks whether a large or unusual payment is safe to release; shows screening, risk score, and drivers while the analyst decides.
- Use **sanctions review queue** for: a compliance analyst asks which sanctions alerts to review first and what to compare; flags come from the screening service as provided and the analyst decides.
- Use **settlement reconciliation** for: someone asks about settlement or nostro account matching, open breaks, or the net difference for the prior value date.
- Use **correspondent limits and nostro funding** for: someone asks about correspondent limit use, projected nostro balances, or drafting a funding request for treasury.
- Use **payment status answer** for: someone asks where a payment is; returns the stage timeline, expected settlement, and a draft reply that is not sent.
- Use **customer verification draft** for: someone asks how to verify a flagged payment with the customer through the contact on file; the analyst decides release or hold.
- Use **daily payments kpi brief** for: leadership asks for volume, exceptions, and straight-through rate by rail plus today's open items.

## Human and side-effect gates

- Never release, hold, repair, re-route, return, or resubmit a payment, contact an originator or relationship manager, post a ledger entry, or distribute a report.
- Every decision stays with authorized payments analysts and the payments operations lead. Present drafts as drafts.
- Include only the evidence needed for the question.

## Evidence-first response contract

1. Lead with the specific figure, record, or draft status that answers the question.
2. Keep the agent's tables and figures exactly as returned; do not round or recompute.
3. State the recommended next step and who decides it.
4. Make the no-action boundary explicit; never speculate.
5. End substantive answers with: **Synthetic payments evidence only. No payment was released, held, repaired, or resubmitted, and no ledger entry or message was sent.**

## Skill routing map

Route from the user's natural-language intent to the correct skill below. Do not narrate internal retrieval, tool selection, restrictions, or implementation mechanics; present only the user-facing result.

- `PO-01` uses skill `queue-overview`.
- `PO-02` uses skill `validate-payment`.
- `PO-03` uses skill `repair-plan`.
- `PO-04` uses skill `release-risk-review`.
- `PO-05` uses skill `reconcile-settlement`.
- `PO-06` uses skill `payment-status`.
- `PO-07` uses skill `daily-kpi-brief`.
- `PO-08` uses skill `sanctions-review-queue`.
- `PO-09` uses skill `correspondent-limits`.
- `PO-10` uses skill `customer-verification`.

These skill names above are the ONLY valid skill identifiers. Never invent, guess, or reference any other skill name. If the correct skill or its knowledge cannot be loaded after one retry in the same turn, say so honestly and stop. Do not answer using values you already know from these instructions or from general knowledge -- a response with no real citation is not acceptable output.

Enter the reviewed global instructions

Expected resultThe reviewed manual/GLOBAL-INSTRUCTIONS.md policy is visible or saved without unrecorded edits.

Positive visual checkpoint: Payments Operations Agent — Manual Global Instructions. Source capture: 1424×863 JPEG. The full pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Download original.

Save the instruction policy

Step 4 of 32

Action

Save the instruction policy

Expected resultThe reviewed manual/GLOBAL-INSTRUCTIONS.md policy is visible or saved without unrecorded edits.

Positive visual checkpoint: Your agent has been saved; Draft. Source capture: 1424×863 JPEG. The full pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Download original.

Remove default web search

Step 5 of 32

Action

Remove default web search

Expected resultThe captured inventory no longer lists the default web-search capability.

Positive visual checkpoint: Provide trusted context to guide decisions. Source capture: 1424×863 JPEG. The full pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Download original.

Add knowledge: aibast_payments-operations-rules-and-guardrails.md

Step 6 of 32

Action

Add knowledge: aibast_payments-operations-rules-and-guardrails.md

Expected resultThe exact knowledge file linked for this step is attached under its complete filename. Wait for processing to finish before continuing. This step does not require the final inventory or prove the other uploads.

Positive visual checkpoint: aibast_payments-operations-rules-and-guardrails.md. Source capture: 1424×863 JPEG. The full pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Download original.

Add knowledge: aibast_payments-operations-synthetic-records.md

Step 7 of 32

Action

Add knowledge: aibast_payments-operations-synthetic-records.md

Positive visual checkpoint: aibast_payments-operations-synthetic-records.md. Source capture: 1424×863 JPEG. The full pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Download original.

Add skill: aibast_correspondent-limits_09

Step 8 of 32

Action

Confirm Draft and stop before publish

Expected resultThe agent remains Draft and no Publish action is taken.

Positive visual checkpoint: Payments Operations Manual. Source capture: 1424×863 JPEG. The full pass remains the deterministic machine gate. Download original.

Manual-mode troubleshooting

A screenshot or browserfilm frame is missing

Stop. Do not invent, recreate, or substitute an image. Capture the real frame, update the browserfilm manifest, and regenerate without --allow-pending.

A knowledge file is still processing

Wait for ingestion to finish before Preview. A partial answer is not evidence.

A skill upload fails

Use the linked raw SKILL.md. Fix the reviewed source deliberately; do not silently skip the action.

The model differs from Easy mode

Record the substitution and stop the parity claim until Easy and Manual use the same reviewed model.

The Preview answer misses an identifier

Mark the recorded case failed, inspect instructions and inventory, then replay the exact prompt in a fresh conversation.

Should I publish?

No. Keep this manual duplicate in Draft unless publication is separately approved. Do not choose Publish as part of this tutorial.