Agent Set-Up

Knowledge Base

Equip your agent with custom documents and knowledge.

Knowledge Base

The knowledge base is the document store that your agent accesses during conversations. When a caller asks a question, the agent searches the uploaded documents and uses the relevant information in its response.

Knowledge Base Tab

Core Principle

What isn't in the knowledge base, the agent cannot know. What is incorrect in it, the agent will say incorrectly. The quality of your knowledge base determines the quality of the responses.

How It Works Technically

When you upload a document, ScaleTalk processes it in several steps:

StepWhat Happens
UploadThe file is uploaded to secure storage
ExtractionText content is extracted (OCR for images/scans)
ChunkingContent is split into searchable sections
EmbeddingSections are converted into vectors for semantic search
ReadyThe document is indexed and available for agents

After that, any agent with access to the knowledge base can search these documents during calls.

Supported File Formats

CategoryFormats
DocumentsPDF, DOCX, PPTX
Images (OCR)PNG, JPG
SpreadsheetsXLSX, CSV
Text FilesTXT, MD, JSON

Maximum file size: 50 MB per file.

Managing Documents in the Agent Tab

In the Knowledge Base tab of your agent, you can add documents. Click + Add Document — a menu opens with two options:

  • Upload New Document — Upload a file via drag-and-drop or the file dialog
  • Select from Library — Link an already uploaded document from your workspace to this agent

After uploading, the document is automatically processed:

  1. The document is uploaded
  2. Text is extracted and split into searchable sections
  3. The status changes from "Pending" through "Processing" to "Ready"

Website Crawling and Advanced Management

Features like website crawling, detailed document search, and advanced filtering can be found in the separate Knowledge Base menu item in the sidebar — not here in the agent tab. There you can, for example, import website content and manage your entire document library.

Learn more: Knowledge Base · Uploading Documents · Managing Documents

Document Status

StatusMeaning
PendingThe document is queued for processing
ProcessingText is being extracted and embeddings are being generated
ReadyFully indexed, available to the agent
FailedAn error occurred during processing

Best Practices: Structuring Content

What Belongs in the Knowledge Base?

The knowledge base is suited for established factual knowledge that doesn't change with every call:

Company Information

  • Company name, address, contact details
  • Business hours and availability
  • Directions and parking situation
  • Team overview: Who is responsible for which area

Services and Products

  • Service overview with brief descriptions
  • Price lists (where fixed prices exist)
  • Package offerings and their scope
  • Typical process of a service

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • The 10-20 most common questions received by phone
  • Clear, concise answers to each question
  • Questions about returns, warranties, delivery times, etc.

Policies and Processes

  • Cancellation terms and deadlines
  • Warranty conditions
  • Complaint process
  • Privacy notices (what the agent is allowed to say about them)

What Does NOT Belong in the Knowledge Base

Dynamic data (e.g., current stock levels, delivery status) — use API Requests for that. Instructions for the agent (e.g., conversation flow, behavior rules) — those belong in the system prompt. Confidential internal documents that callers should not hear.

How to Structure Content

ScaleTalk splits documents into sections (chunks) and searches them semantically. Therefore, structuring is crucial.

One Topic per Section

Do ThisNot This
One section per topic with a clear headingMixing multiple topics in one paragraph
All relevant info about a question in one placeSpreading info about a question across multiple documents
Short and concise: 3-5 sentences per sectionPages of continuous text without structure

Clear Headings

Use headings that reflect the question a caller would ask:

# Business Hours

Monday to Friday: 08:00 AM – 06:00 PM
Saturday: 09:00 AM – 01:00 PM
Sundays and public holidays: Closed

# Parking

There are 5 free customer parking spots directly in front
of the building. Alternatively, there is the underground
parking garage at the market square (2-minute walk, paid).

# Returns and Exchanges

Products can be returned within 14 days of purchase.
Requirement: Original packaging and receipt.

No Duplicates

Each piece of information should appear exactly once in the knowledge base. If the same information is worded slightly differently in two documents, it can lead to contradictory answers.

FAQ Format

For frequently asked questions, a simple question-and-answer format works best:

# Frequently Asked Questions

## Do you have parking?
Yes, directly in front of the building. 5 free spots.

## How long does an initial consultation take?
About 30 minutes. The initial consultation is free.

## Can I reschedule my appointment?
Yes, free of charge up to 24 hours before. Later
cancellations cost 30 euros.

## Do you also offer home visits?
Yes, within a 20 km radius. Surcharge: 25 euros.

Tip

Think of the 15 most common questions received by phone. Write a clear, short answer for each. In practice, this covers 80% of all knowledge-related questions.

Formatting Price Lists Correctly

Prices are one of the most common reasons for calls. Structure them so the agent can reliably find them:

# Price List

## Women's Haircuts
- Wash, Cut, Blow-dry: 52 euros
- Wash, Cut, Blow-dry (long hair): 62 euros
- Trim ends: 25 euros

## Men's Haircuts
- Classic men's haircut: 28 euros
- Clipper cut: 18 euros

## Coloring
- Highlights from: 65 euros
- Full coloring from: 55 euros

Note: All prices include VAT.
For elaborate coloring, we provide a
customized quote on site.

The "from" for variable prices and the note at the end prevent the agent from quoting fixed prices where only guide prices exist.

Team and Responsibility Information

If your agent should route calls to the right person, it needs clear responsibility information:

# Team and Responsibilities

## Mr. Mueller – Managing Director
Responsible for: Quotes, contracts, complaints
Available: Mon–Fri, 09:00–16:00

## Ms. Schmidt – Accounting
Responsible for: Invoices, reminders, payments
Available: Mon–Thu, 08:00–14:00

## Mr. Weber – Technical
Responsible for: Outages, technical support, maintenance
Available: Mon–Fri, 07:00–17:00

Common Mistakes

MistakeProblemSolution
Too much at onceAgent finds wrong sectionsOnly upload relevant knowledge
DuplicatesContradictory answersEach piece of info only once, always up to date
No structureIncoherent answersHeadings + 1 topic per section
Outdated dataWrong prices or business hoursReview and update regularly
Dynamic data in KBStock levels, status outdatedUse API Requests
Pages-long PDFsPoor chunk qualitySplit into sections or use Markdown

Checklist

  • Business hours and availability documented
  • Address, directions, and parking situation described
  • Service overview with prices available
  • 10-20 most common questions prepared as FAQ
  • Team and responsibilities documented
  • Cancellation terms and deadlines documented
  • Each piece of information appears only once (no duplicates)
  • Each section has a clear heading
  • Documents are up to date — no outdated prices or hours
  • Test call made and FAQ questions asked

Update Regularly

Plan a quick check of your knowledge base every 4-8 weeks. Have prices changed? Business hours? Team composition? Outdated information is worse than missing information.

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