Configure the system fallback topic in Power Virtual Agents
Note
There is additional information available for people using Power Virtual Agents (preview).
Select the version of Power Virtual Agents you're using here:
During a conversation, a Power Virtual Agents bot triggers the appropriate topic based on the user's input. If the bot can't determine the user's intent, it prompts the user again. After two prompts, the bot escalates to a live agent through the system Escalate topic.
In some scenarios, you might want to customize how the bot behaves when user input doesn't trigger any topic. For example, you can build a catchall topic to capture unrecognized user intent, or use a topic to call back-end systems or route to existing services.
Customize these fallback behaviors by adding the system Fallback topic. You can also customize the Fallback topic itself, similar to most other system topics.
This topic also includes the unique variable UnrecognizedTriggerPhrase
to capture the unrecognized input.
Prerequisites
Add a system fallback topic
On the top pane, select Settings
, and then go to the System fallback tab.
Select "+Add".
A system fallback topic is added. The bot will go to this topic when it can't find an appropriate topic or doesn't understand the user's input.
A new option will appear on the Settings pane under the System fallback section: Go to fallback topic, which lets you customize the topic.
Customize the system fallback topic
After you add the system fallback topic, you can open it by selecting Go to fallback topic on the Settings pane.
You'll also see the Fallback topic listed in the topic list.
When you open this topic in the authoring canvas, you'll see that the default fallback topic contains two nodes: a Message node that rephrases the user input and an Escalate node that redirects to a live agent.
You can customize this topic as with any other system topic. You can also use the *UnrecognizedTriggerPhrase variable that stores the user input the bot couldn't understand. For example, you can use the variable as an input and pass it to a Power Automate flow or Bot Framework skill.
Note
The system fallback topic doesn't have a trigger phrase.
Reset system fallback behavior by deleting the fallback topic
To reset the system fallback behavior and return it to its default behavior, go to Settings and then System Fallback. In the System fallback section, select Delete to remove the fallback topic.
Warning
This will remove the fallback topic and any changes you made to it.
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