Not only can these skills help your employees and coworkers but they’ll also save you time from fielding all of the questions yourself. The good news about creating a custom Alexa skill is that you don’t have to start from scratch. With Alexa Blueprints, you begin with a template. Then, just add the details for your own business or company. Additionally, you can create a new Alexa skill on the web or in the mobile app. The Blueprints and steps are the same, so get ready to follow along on your computer or mobile device. Head to the Business section in your browser or the mobile app, and you’ll see the two skills here.
Create an Onboard Guide for New Employees
By creating an onboard guide, new employees can find all the details they need in one handy spot. From how to connect remotely via VPN to where the office supplies are stored, include as much information as possible to help those newbies. Select the Onboard Guide Blueprint to get started. You can listen to a sample, review the steps to create the skill, and see how to use it. If you’re ready to begin, select Make Your Own and follow along below. The Blueprint includes sections to help you add the details you need. These include where to find things, how to do things, and who to contact for what.
Where to Find Important Resources
Beginning with the Where to find important resources section, these are things Alexa will respond with when you ask, “Alexa, where is…?”.
How To Do Things
The next section is How to do things and includes responses from Alexa when you ask, “How do I…?”.
Contact Info
The final section is for Contact info. This section works differently in that Alexa responds with the list you set up with the voice command, “What’s the contact info?”. When you finish the sections, select Next: Experience at the top.
Customize the User Experience
You can make Alexa sound more personal by entering Intro and Exit messages. Enter a welcome message for those using the skill for the first time. Then, include messages that Alexa uses randomly each time your employee opens the skill. Enter an exit message for when your employee closes the skill. When you finish, select Next: Name at the top.
Name the Skill
The final step is to give your onboard guide skill a name. Again, try to use simple words that Alexa recognizes. Select Next: Create Skill to complete the creation process. Be patient, the process may take a few moments. You’ll see a confirmation when complete.
Create a Business Q&A Skill to Answer Common Questions
Maybe a guide isn’t as effective as a simple Q&A skill. You might find people asking the same questions over and over. With this skill, you can enter those common questions with their answers. Select the Business Q&A Blueprint to get started. Like the previous skill, you can hear a sample, review the steps, and see how to use it. Select Make Your Own when you’re ready to begin. Because not everyone may word the question precisely the same, this Blueprint lets you add variations of questions. And like the previous Blueprint, you’ll see a couple of samples to help you.
Add the Questions and Answers
Begin with the first question by using the sample or replacing it with your own. Then, include a few variations of the question. For instance, if someone asks Alexa, “What are the hours for IT,” “When is IT open,” or “Tell me the hours for IT,” they will each receive the same answer. You can select Add Question Variation if you want to add more or the minus sign to the right of one to remove it. Next, add the answer Alexa will respond with to the question and its variations. After you enter a question, its variations, and the answer, select Add Q&A to set up the next question. Continue the same process until you’ve entered all of the questions and answers you want. Then, select Next: Experience at the top.
Customize the User Experience
Like the Onboard Guide skill, you can personalize Alexa’s Intro and Exit messages for this skill too. Enter a welcome message each time someone opens the skill and an exit message when someone closes it. When you finish, select Next: Name at the top.
Name the Skill
Finally, give your Business Q&A skill a name. Remember to use simple words that Alexa will recognize easily. Select Next: Create Skill to complete the process and you’ll see a confirmation when the new skill is ready to use.
Edit the Alexa Skills
As we all know, things change. You may move to a different location, hire a new contact, or change the steps for a task. You can edit your custom skill anytime, both on the web and in the Alexa app. On your computer, return to the Alexa Blueprints website, log in, and choose Skills You’ve Made at the top. Pick the skill name and select Edit to make your changes. In the Alexa mobile app, return to the Blueprints section. Go to the Your Skills tab, select the skill name, and tap Edit to make your adjustments.
Create Your Own Alexa Skill
Now that you know how to create Alexa skills for your business, will you? For more, look at cool tricks to try with Alexa, some fun skills for kids and teens, or visit our Smart Home section for related tutorials.
