What Are Agent Workflows? (And How Esy Makes Them Easy)
Agent workflows automate multi-step research tasks. Upload your documents, chain prompts together, and let Esy do the heavy lifting—while you stay in control. No coding required.
2025 Guide
What Are Agent Workflows?
Traditional AI chat is one question, one answer. Agent workflows are different: they're sequences of AI actions that work together to complete complex tasks. Think of it like having a research assistant who can:
- Read and remember your documents
- Break big tasks into smaller steps
- Pass information between steps automatically
- Generate structured, citation-backed output
The “agentic” part means the AI takes initiative—it doesn't just respond to prompts, it plans and executes research strategies based on your goals.
How Esy's Agent Works
Esy's workflow system is built for students and researchers who want powerful AI without the complexity. Here's what makes it different:
Document Reference
Upload PDFs, notes, or research papers. The agent reads and cites your actual sources.
Prompt Chaining
Connect multiple prompts in sequence. Output from one becomes input for the next.
Automated Execution
Set up once, run anytime. Perfect for recurring research tasks.
Structured Output
Get organized results: outlines, annotated bibliographies, draft sections.
Step-by-Step: Build a Literature Review Workflow
Let's walk through building a workflow that automatically creates a literature review from your sources. This would take hours manually—Esy does it in minutes.
Upload Your Sources
Drag and drop your PDFs, articles, or notes into Esy. The agent indexes everything for instant retrieval.
- Supports PDF, DOCX, TXT, and web links
- Auto-extracts key metadata
- Organizes by theme automatically
Set Your Research Question
Tell Esy what you're investigating. For example: "What do scholars say about the effectiveness of remote learning on student outcomes?"
- Can be a thesis or open question
- AI suggests refinements
- Saves for reuse
Configure the Workflow
Choose what you want: source summaries, theme identification, quote extraction, or full literature review draft.
- Pre-built templates available
- Customize output format
- Add follow-up prompts
Run and Review
Hit play. Esy reads your sources, synthesizes findings, and generates your literature review with proper citations.
- Real-time progress tracking
- Edit and regenerate sections
- Export to Word/Google Docs
The Esy Interface
Esy's workflow builder is visual and intuitive. No command lines, no code—just drag, drop, and configure.
Sources
12 documents
Prompts
4 chained
Output
Lit review
Real Examples: Workflows You Can Build
Here are workflows our users have built. Each takes 5-10 minutes to set up and saves hours per assignment.
Literature Review Agent
Reads 10+ sources, identifies themes, synthesizes arguments, generates a structured lit review with citations.
Best for: Research papers, thesis chapters
Citation Agent
Scans your documents for claims that need support, finds relevant quotes from your sources, formats citations.
Best for: Any assignment requiring evidence
Counterargument Agent
Takes your thesis, finds opposing viewpoints in your sources, helps you address them in your essay.
Best for: Argumentative essays
Research Gap Finder
Analyzes your sources to identify what questions haven't been answered—perfect for original research.
Best for: Thesis proposals, original research
Ready to Automate Your Research?
Build your first workflow in minutes. Upload your sources, chain your prompts, and let Esy do the tedious work while you focus on thinking.