# How to Hand Off AI Conversations to Human Agents in ZazzyAgent

AI should handle the conversations it can resolve well.

When a customer needs a person, the transition should be simple.

[ZazzyAgent](http://zazzyagent.com) AI Agents can be configured to assign conversations to a specific human team member or to a team role.

## Assign to a specific team member

Use:

```text
##assign_human_member## : 335
```

The number represents the selected team member.

Use `##` autocomplete in the System Prompt editor and choose the appropriate member.

Example:

```text
When the customer asks specifically to speak with Alex,
assign the conversation to Alex.

##assign_human_member## : 335
```

## Assign by team role

You can also route a conversation to a team role:

```text
##assign_human_role## : 3
```

This is useful when any available member of a relevant role can handle the conversation.

Example:

```text
When the customer requests human sales assistance,
assign the conversation to an available Sales team member.

##assign_human_role## : 3
```

## When should an AI Agent hand off?

Good reasons include:

*   Customer explicitly asks for a human.
    
*   Complaint requires manual investigation.
    
*   Customer requests an exception.
    
*   AI lacks the required information.
    
*   The issue is sensitive.
    
*   A manual approval is needed.
    
*   A transaction needs human review.
    

## Don't hand off every question

A good AI Agent should still handle simple questions it can answer correctly.

Customer:

> What time do you open?

If the answer is in the agent's knowledge, there's no reason to send the customer to a human.

Customer:

> I want to speak to someone about a problem with my order.

That's a much stronger handoff case.

## Example: Explicit human request

```text
If the customer explicitly asks to speak with a human,
assign the conversation to the Support team.

##assign_human_role## : 3
```

## Example: Complaint

```text
If the customer has a complaint that requires manual investigation,
assign the conversation to the Support team.

##assign_human_role## : 3
```

## Example: Specific specialist

```text
If the customer asks specifically for the enterprise sales manager,
assign the conversation to the configured enterprise sales member.

##assign_human_member## : 335
```

## Add an internal note before handoff

You can give the human agent useful context.

For example:

```text
When transferring a customer who requests a callback,
add this internal note:

##add_note## : Customer requested a callback.
```

Now the agent doesn't have to ask:

> Why are you contacting us?

before understanding the basic reason.

## Add a follow-up reminder

For cases that need later staff action, use:

```text
##follow_up## : 24
```

This creates an internal follow-up reminder for the configured number of hours from now.

Example:

```text
When the customer requests a callback tomorrow,
set an internal follow-up reminder.

##follow_up## : 24
```

Use the appropriate number of hours for the actual business workflow.

## Human handoff should have a clear boundary

A useful System Prompt might say:

```text
You can handle questions about our products,
shipping policy and frequently asked questions.

Transfer to human support when:

- The customer explicitly asks for a human.
- The customer has a complaint requiring investigation.
- The customer requests an exception to company policy.
- You cannot answer the request using your knowledge or available actions.
```

This gives the agent a clear decision boundary.

## Tell the AI what happens after the handoff

The agent shouldn't continue acting like it is responsible for a conversation that has been transferred.

Define the intended behavior.

For example:

```text
After assigning the conversation to a human,
do not continue attempting to resolve the issue yourself.
```

## Human assignment vs AI transfer

Keep the distinction clear.

**AI Agent → AI Agent**

```text
##transfer_agent## : 18
```

**AI Agent → Human member**

```text
##assign_human_member## : 335
```

**AI Agent → Human role**

```text
##assign_human_role## : 3
```

Choose based on who should handle the next step.

## A complete support handoff

```text
Customer
   ↓
AI Support Agent
   ↓
Can AI resolve the issue?
   ↓
Yes → Answer
   ↓
No
   ↓
Add internal context
   ↓
Assign human support
   ↓
Human takes over
```

## Common problems

### Customer is assigned to the wrong person

Check the selected member ID and use autocomplete to choose the correct team member.

### Customer is not reaching a human

Check:

*   The handoff condition.
    
*   Action configuration.
    
*   Team-role/member setup.
    
*   Whether the conversation actually meets the condition.
    

### AI keeps replying after handoff

Review the handoff configuration and the agent's instructions around post-transfer behavior.

## The goal of human handoff

Human handoff isn't a failure of AI.

It's part of good automation.

The AI handles the repetitive conversations.

The human handles the situations where judgment, empathy, approval or manual intervention adds value.

A good system knows the difference.