Agent Chat

The Agent Chat interface is where you communicate with customers in real-time. This is your primary workspace for handling customer conversations, viewing user information, and managing your active chats.

Interface Layout
  • Chat List (Left Panel) - Shows all your active conversations, sorted by preference.
  • Conversation Area (Center) - Displays the chat messages with the selected customer.
  • User Details Panel (Right) - Shows customer information, notes, and quick actions. Available based on permissions.
Note on Permissions

Some features described in this guide may not be visible or accessible to you depending on your role and permissions. Features marked with Permission Required are only available if enabled by your administrator.

Interface Overview

The Agent Chat interface is divided into three main panels that work together to help you manage customer conversations efficiently.

Main Interface

The primary Agent Chat workspace showing all three panels.

Screenshot of the Agent Chat interface showing the Chat List, Conversation Area, and User Details panels

Chat List

The Chat List (Left Panel) shows all your active conversations. Starred chats and chats with unread messages always appear at the top, followed by the remaining chats in your chosen sort order.

Click on any chat to select it. The conversation history will load in the Conversation Area (Center), and the customer's profile and notes will appear in the User Details Panel (Right).

Create New Outbound Chat

Start a new outbound conversation via SMS or WhatsApp.

Note
This feature is only available if your organization has SMS or WhatsApp outbound channels configured. If no outbound channels are available, the panel will display "SMS disabled" or "WhatsApp disabled".

Steps:

  1. Click the + (plus) button at the top of the chat list.
  2. If you have multiple SMS or WhatsApp channels configured, select the channel from the dropdown.
  3. Enter the customer's international phone number.
  4. Optionally enter the customer's email address, first name, and last name.
  5. Click New Chat to start the conversation.
Tips
  • Phone numbers must be in international format (e.g., +1234567890).
  • On the mobile app, you can use the contacts button to select a contact from your device.
  • Some organizations require email and name fields to be completed before starting a chat.

Search Open Chats

Search for messages or users across all your open chats.

Steps:

  1. Click the Search icon next to the menu button.
  2. Type your search term in the search box.
  3. Results will show matching users and messages.
  4. Click a result to open that chat and jump to the relevant message.

Filter by User Tag

Filter your chat list to show only customers with specific tags.

Steps:

  1. Click the Filter icon (funnel) in the chat list header.
  2. Select one or more tags from the dropdown.
  3. Only chats with customers matching those tags will be shown.
  4. Clear the selection to show all chats again.
Tips
  • This feature is only available if User Tags are enabled for your organization.

Sort Chats

Change the order in which chats appear in your list.

Steps:

  1. Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat list header.
  2. Select your preferred sort option.
Sort Option Description
Newest First Most recently active chats appear first (default)
Oldest First Oldest active chats appear first
By User Name (A-Z) Alphabetically by customer name, ascending
By User Name (Z-A) Alphabetically by customer name, descending
By Bot Name (A-Z) Grouped by the bot/channel name, ascending
By Bot Name (Z-A) Grouped by the bot/channel name, descending
By Unread Messages Chats with most unread messages appear first
Tips
  • Starred chats and chats with unread messages always appear at the top regardless of sort order.

Star/Pin a Chat

Pin important chats to the top of your list for quick access.

Steps:

  1. Select the chat you want to star.
  2. Click the Star icon (outline star) in the chat header.
  3. The star turns gold and the chat moves to the top of your list.
  4. Click again to unstar and return to normal sorting.

Conversation Area

The conversation area displays all messages exchanged with the customer. Messages from the customer appear on the left, and your messages appear on the right.

The Message Toolbar at the bottom of the conversation area is where you compose and send messages. It includes a text input field, buttons for attaching images and documents, an emoji picker, AI writing assistance tools, and the send button.

The message toolbar showing the text input field with icons for attachments, AI assistance, and send button

Send a Message

Send a text message to the customer.

Steps:

  1. Type your message in the text box at the bottom of the chat.
  2. Press Enter or click the Send button.
Tips
  • Press Shift + Enter to add a new line without sending.
  • The message box will automatically expand as you type longer messages.
  • You can manually resize the message box by dragging its corner.

Add an Emoji

Insert emojis into your message to add expression.

Steps:

  1. Click the Emoji button (smiley face icon) in the message toolbar.
  2. The emoji picker appears above the message box.
  3. Browse emoji categories or use the search box to find a specific emoji.
  4. Click an emoji to insert it at your cursor position in the message.
  5. Click the Hide button (down arrow) to close the picker.
Tips
  • You can add multiple emojis without closing the picker.
  • The picker remembers your frequently used emojis for quick access.

Use Canned Replies (Hashtags)

Quickly insert pre-written responses using hashtag shortcuts.

Note
The dropdown searches both the hashtag shortcut name (e.g., typing #greet finds replies tagged with "greeting") and the reply content itself.

Steps:

  1. In the message box, type # (hashtag) to activate the canned replies dropdown.
  2. Continue typing after the # to filter replies by hashtag name or content.
  3. Use and arrow keys to navigate the list.
  4. Press Enter to select and insert the reply into your message.
  5. Press Esc to close the dropdown without selecting.
Tips
  • Each reply shows the message text, a delay indicator, and the hashtag shortcut (if assigned).
  • Organization-wide replies are created by administrators in the Replies section.
  • If you have the Own Replies permission, your personal quick replies also appear in the list.
  • Replies can include variables that auto-fill with customer information.
  • Click the copy icon next to your personal replies to edit them.

Use Slash Commands

Access quick actions and AI features using slash commands.

Note
AI Write a Response generates a new message based on the conversation. The other AI commands work on text you've already typed—write your message first, then use the slash command to improve it.
Warning
The AI commands (Write a Response, Spelling and Grammar Check, Improve Sales, Improve Customer Support) require the AI Writing Assistant permission. If you don't have this permission, these options will not appear in the menu.
Screenshot showing the slash command menu with available AI and chat actions

Steps:

  1. Type / in the message box.
  2. A menu appears showing available commands, including AI writing tools and chat actions.
  3. Use and arrow keys to navigate.
  4. Press Enter to select a command, or Esc to close.
CommandDescription
AI Write a ResponseAI generates a complete response based on the conversation context.
AI Spelling and Grammar CheckChecks and corrects spelling and grammar in your typed message.
AI Improve (Sales)Rewrites your message with sales best practices - compelling hooks, clear CTAs, and confident language.
AI Improve (Customer Support)Rewrites your message with support best practices - empathy, clarity, and clear expectations.
Transfer ChatOpens the agent finder to transfer this conversation to another agent or team.
Finish ChatEnds the current conversation with the customer.

Send an Image

Share an image or photo with the customer.

Steps:

  1. Click the Image button (picture icon) in the message toolbar.
  2. Select an image file from your computer.
  3. Preview the image and click Send to send it.
  4. Click Cancel (X) to cancel the upload.

Send a Document/Attachment

Share files and documents with the customer.

Steps:

  1. Click the Attachment button (paperclip icon).
  2. Select a file from your computer.
  3. Supported formats include PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and text files.
  4. Preview the attachment and click Send.

Send a Voice Message

Record and send a voice message to the customer.

Steps:

  1. Click the Microphone button.
  2. Allow browser access to your microphone if prompted.
  3. Record your message.
  4. Click Send to send the recording, or Cancel to discard.

WhatsApp Message Templates

Send pre-approved WhatsApp template messages, required when starting or restarting conversations.

Note

Why are templates required for WhatsApp?

WhatsApp has strict rules to protect users from spam. When a customer messages you first, a 24-hour service window opens during which you can send free-form messages just like a normal chat. However, once this window closes (or if you're contacting a customer first), you must use a pre-approved template message.

The key rule: Once the customer replies to you, the 24-hour window resets and you can send normal messages again. Templates are only needed to start or restart a conversation.

Warning

Template Warnings

When you click the Template button, the system may display a warning banner if it detects potential issues. These warnings help protect your WhatsApp quality rating.

No Customer Engagement: Appears when the customer has never replied. Sending templates to unengaged customers may be marked as spam, negatively impact your quality rating, or result in rate limiting.

Message Delivery Failed: Appears when your last message failed to deliver. The customer may have blocked your number or is no longer on WhatsApp. Check the error message on the failed message (hover over the red triangle) for details.

Click Choose Template to proceed anyway, or close the warning to reconsider.

Screenshot of the message toolbar when the WhatsApp 24-hour window is closed, showing the Template button

Steps:

  1. Click the Template button in the message toolbar. A modal window opens showing available templates.
  2. Browse or search for the template you need (e.g., "order update", "appointment reminder"). See WhatsApp Templates for detailed guidance on using the template selector.
  3. Fill in any required variables (shown as placeholders like {{1}}, {{2}}).
  4. Preview the message and click Send.
Scenario Can Send Free-Form? Template Required?
Customer messaged within last 24 hours Yes No
Customer messaged more than 24 hours ago No Yes
Starting a new conversation with a customer No Yes
Following up after customer stops replying No Yes
Tips
  • After sending a template: Once the customer replies, you can chat normally for 24 hours.
  • Templates are pre-approved by WhatsApp to ensure quality - you cannot create them on the fly.
  • Common template types include: order confirmations, shipping updates, appointment reminders, and re-engagement messages.

AI Writing Assistant

Boost productivity with AI-powered agent assist features. Use real-time AI assistance to generate responses, correct spelling and grammar, and optimize messages for sales or customer support—helping reduce handle time while maintaining quality.

Screenshot showing an AI-generated reply preview with Edit Message and Send Message buttons

Steps:

  1. Click the AI button (sparkle icon) in the message toolbar, or type / in the message input to access AI commands.
  2. Select an AI action from the dropdown menu:
AI Action Description
AI Writing Assistant Opens the full AI Writing Assistant dialog with all improvement options including specialized options for Sales and Customer Support.
AI Write a Response AI generates a complete response by analysing the conversation context and learning from previous agent responses. Capable of answering complex questions, but always review before sending.
Spelling and Grammar Check AI corrects spelling and grammar in your draft without changing the tone or meaning.
AI Improve (Sales) Optimizes your message for sales conversations—adds compelling hooks, clear CTAs, confident language, and removes hedging words.
AI Improve (Customer Support) Optimizes your message for support conversations—adds empathy, simplifies language, and sets clear expectations with specific timelines.
More Options Available

For additional improvement options like Shorten, Expand, and targeted actions like De-escalate, Show Empathy, and more, open the full AI Writing Assistant dialog.

Permission Required

This feature requires the AI Writing Assistant permission to be enabled.

Tips
  • When AI generates a response, you can preview it before sending.
  • Click Edit Message to modify the AI response before sending.
  • Click Send Message to send the AI response directly.
  • The menu options apply changes directly. For more control, use the AI Writing Assistant dialog where you can undo changes, apply multiple improvements, and choose from specific goal-based options.
  • The UI displays a disclaimer when previewing AI responses. As the agent, you should always review the response for accuracy before sending to the customer.

Delete a Message

Remove a message you sent (if supported by the channel).

Steps:

  1. Right-click (or long-press on mobile) on a message you sent.
  2. Select Delete from the context menu.
  3. Confirm the deletion when prompted.
Permission Required

This feature requires the Delete Message permission.

Tips
  • Not all messaging channels support message deletion.
  • Deleted messages may still be visible to the customer depending on the channel.

Send a Whisper Message

Send an internal message visible only to other agents (not the customer).

Steps:

  1. Click the Whisper tab above the message input.
  2. Type your internal message.
  3. Click Send to post the whisper.
Tips
  • Whisper messages appear in a different color in the chat.
  • Use whispers to communicate with supervisors or leave notes for other agents.
  • Whispers are never shown to the customer.

Search in This Chat

Find specific messages within the current conversation.

Steps:

  1. Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat header.
  2. Select Search in this Chat.
  3. Type your search term.
  4. Click a result to jump to that message in the conversation.

Chat Header Actions

The chat header displays customer information and provides quick access to important actions. Access the menu by clicking the three-dot icon on the right side of the header.

View Text Transcript

View a plain-text version of the entire conversation.

Steps:

  1. Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat header.
  2. Select View Text Transcript.
  3. The transcript opens in a new dialog.
  4. You can copy or print the transcript as needed.

Show Bot & User Chat

View the conversation between the bot and user before handover to an agent.

Steps:

  1. Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat header.
  2. Select Show Bot & User Chat.
  3. The bot log indicator appears in the header when viewing bot messages.
  4. Click the bot icon in the header to toggle the view on/off.
Permission Required

This feature requires the View Bot Log permission.

Transfer Chat

Transfer the conversation to another agent or department.

Steps:

  1. Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat header.
  2. Select Transfer Chat.
  3. Choose the agent or department to transfer to.
  4. Optionally add a transfer note explaining the situation.
  5. Click Transfer to complete the handover.
Permission Required

This feature requires the Transfer Chat permission.

Tips
  • The receiving agent will see your transfer note.
  • The chat will be removed from your list after transfer.

Finish Chat

Close the current conversation when it's resolved.

Steps:

  1. Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat header.
  2. Select Finish Chat.
  3. Confirm when prompted.
Tips
  • Finishing a chat removes it from your active chat list.
  • The conversation history is preserved and can be viewed in Chat History.
  • If the customer sends a new message, a new chat session will be created.

Finish All Chats

Close all your active conversations at once.

Warning
Use with caution - this will close ALL your active conversations.

Steps:

  1. Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat header.
  2. Select Finish All Chats.
  3. Confirm when prompted.
Permission Required

This feature requires the Close All Chats permission.

Block User

Block a user from contacting your organization.

Warning

Blocking a user prevents them from contacting your organization. This action should be used carefully and typically only for abusive or spam users.

Steps:

  1. Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat header.
  2. Select Block this User.
  3. Confirm the action when prompted.
Permission Required

This feature requires the Block User permission.

Translate Messages

Translate customer messages and enable auto-translation for the conversation.

Steps:

  1. Hover over any message from the customer to reveal the message menu (three dots).
  2. Click the menu icon to open the message options.
  3. Select Translate this message then turn on auto translate.
  4. The selected message is immediately translated, and auto-translate is enabled for this conversation.
Permission Required

This feature requires the AgentChatAllowTranslate permission. If you don't have this permission, the translate options will be disabled in the menu.

Result: Once auto-translate is enabled:

  • A Globe icon appears in the chat header indicating translation is active.
  • All incoming messages from the customer are automatically translated to your language.
  • Your outgoing messages are automatically translated to the customer's language before being sent.
  • Translated messages display both the original text and the translation.

Tips
  • Your language is set in your agent profile settings.
  • The system detects the customer's language automatically from their messages.
  • Original messages are always preserved - translations appear alongside them.
  • Translation quality depends on the languages involved and message complexity.

Turn Off Auto-Translate

Disable automatic translation for the current conversation.

Steps:

  1. Option 1: Click the Globe icon in the chat header to turn off auto-translate.
  2. Option 2: Hover over any customer message, click the menu, and select Turn off auto translate.

Result: When auto-translate is turned off:

  • The Globe icon disappears from the chat header.
  • New messages will no longer be automatically translated.
  • Previously translated messages remain visible with their translations.
  • Your outgoing messages will be sent in your original language without translation.

Tips
  • You can re-enable translation at any time by using the message menu again.
  • Translation settings are per-conversation - turning off translation in one chat doesn't affect other chats.

User Details Panel

The User Details Panel appears on the right side of the chat interface and displays comprehensive information about the customer you're chatting with.

Permission Required

The User Details Panel requires the User Panel permission to be visible.

View Customer Information

View and edit customer profile information.

Field Description
Name Customer's display name
Phone Phone number (if available)
Email Email address (if provided)
Notes Agent notes about this customer. Notes are searchable and will appear in search results when matching.
Tags Labels applied to this customer for categorization

Use Quick Replies

Access standard replies directly from the user panel.

Steps:

  1. Open the User Details Panel.
  2. Look for the Replies or Standard Replies section.
  3. Click a reply to insert it into the message box.
Permission Required

This feature requires the Own Replies permission to create personal replies.

Hide/Show Panel

Collapse or expand the User Details Panel for more chat space.

Steps:

  1. Click the Arrow button to hide the panel.
  2. Click the Show Panel button in the header to restore it.

Message Status Indicators

Messages display status indicators to show their delivery state:

Indicator Status Meaning
Sending Message is being sent
Sent Message sent to server
✓✓ Delivered Message delivered to customer's device
✓✓ Read Customer has seen the message
! Failed Message could not be delivered. Hover over the red triangle to see the error message.
Note

Status indicators depend on the messaging channel - not all channels support all statuses. WhatsApp and Webchat show full read receipts; some channels only show sent status.

Inline Chat Information

Within the conversation area, the system displays contextual information markers that provide details about chat sessions and AI analysis. These inline elements help you understand the history and context of conversations.

Chat Activity Markers

View details about when chats started, ended, and key metrics for each conversation session.

Chat Activity Markers appear as horizontal lines within the conversation history, marking the start and end of each chat session. These markers show at a glance whether a chat was inbound, outbound, or transferred, along with a sentiment indicator if AI analysis is enabled.

Note
For missed chats (where the customer left the queue before being connected), the marker shows "Queue wait time (missed chat)" instead of the standard timing metrics. This helps identify when customers abandoned the queue.

Steps:

  1. Look for the horizontal marker lines in the conversation area—these appear at the start and end of each chat session.
  2. The marker displays an icon indicating the chat type:
    • Arrow pointing right — Inbound chat (customer initiated)
    • Arrow pointing left — Outbound chat (agent initiated)
    • Repeat/loop icon — Transferred chat
  3. If sentiment analysis is enabled, a face icon appears next to the chat type:
    • Green happy face — Positive sentiment
    • Grey happy face — Neutral sentiment
    • Red sad face — Negative sentiment
  4. Click on any marker to expand and view detailed information about that chat session.

When you click on a Chat Activity Marker, the following details are displayed:

Field Description
Chat Summary AI-generated summary of the conversation (if AI analysis is enabled)
Sentiment Overall sentiment of the conversation: Positive, Neutral, or Negative
Emotions Expressed by the User Specific emotions detected in the customer's messages (e.g., Frustration, Satisfaction, Confusion)
AI Chat Tags Automatically assigned topic or category tags based on conversation content
AI CSAT AI-predicted customer satisfaction score: Very Satisfied, Satisfied, Neutral, Dissatisfied, or Very Dissatisfied. Hover over the badge to see the confidence level (High, Medium, or Low) and reasoning.
Open Reason How the chat was initiated:
  • Inbound — Customer initiated the conversation
  • Outbound — Agent initiated the conversation (e.g., via SMS or WhatsApp outreach)
  • Transfer — Chat was transferred from another agent or department
Shows "(from waiting queue)" if the customer was in the queue before being connected to an agent.
Close Reason How the chat ended:
  • User Closed — Customer ended the conversation
  • Agent Closed — Agent finished the chat
  • Agent Transfer — Agent transferred to another agent
  • System Closed — System automatically closed the chat
  • System Agent Transfer — System transferred via routing rules
  • Supervisor Closed — A supervisor closed the chat
  • System: Inactive Chat — Closed due to inactivity timeout
  • System: Agent Offline — Agent went offline during the chat
  • System: Agent is not logged in — Message arrived while agent was logged out
Requested Time When the chat request was created. For inbound chats, this is when the customer first requested to speak with an agent. For outbound chats initiated by an agent, this is the same as the Allocated Time.
Allocated Time When the chat was assigned to an agent. For inbound chats, this may be later than Requested Time if the customer waited in a queue. For outbound chats, this is set immediately when the agent initiates the conversation.
Allocated Agent The agent who handled this chat session. For transferred chats, this shows the agent who received the transfer.
End Time When the chat session was closed
Queue Wait Time Time between Requested Time and Allocated Time. This represents how long the customer waited in the queue before being connected to an agent. For outbound chats initiated by agents, this is typically zero or not shown. For missed chats, this shows "Queue wait time (missed chat)" — the time the customer waited before leaving.
Agent First Response Time between Allocated Time and the agent's first message. This measures how quickly the agent responded after being assigned the chat. For outbound chats, this is the time between initiating the conversation and sending the first message.
Total Wait Time Time from Requested Time to the agent's first response. This is the total time the customer waited from initial request to receiving a reply — combining both queue wait time and agent response time. For outbound chats, this equals the Agent First Response time.
Duration Length of the active conversation from the agent's first message to chat close
Chat Tags Manually assigned tags for this chat session (if chat tagging is enabled). Tags can be added during or after the conversation.
Tips
  • Use Chat Activity Markers to quickly review conversation history when a customer returns
  • Check the Queue Wait Time and Agent First Response metrics to understand customer experience
  • For outbound chats you initiated, Queue Wait Time will be zero since the customer didn't wait — focus on Agent First Response and Duration instead
  • For transferred chats, the metrics reflect only the current agent's session — previous agent sessions have their own activity markers
  • Review AI-detected emotions and sentiment to gauge how the conversation went
  • Click the marker again to collapse the details panel

AI Chat Summary

View AI-generated conversation insights including sentiment, emotions, satisfaction prediction, and a summary of the discussion.

When AI analysis is enabled, an AI Chat Summary panel appears after a chat session ends. This provides a quick overview of the conversation without needing to read through all the messages.

Steps:

  1. Look for the panel with the sparkle icon and "AI Chat Summary" header after a chat closes.
  2. The summary header shows the date range of the conversation.
  3. Click the up/down arrow in the header to collapse or expand the summary panel.

The AI Chat Summary displays the following information:

Element Description
Sentiment Icon A large face icon indicating overall sentiment:
  • Green happy face — Positive Sentiment
  • Grey happy face — Neutral Sentiment
  • Red sad face — Negative Sentiment
Emotions Badges showing specific emotions detected in the conversation (e.g., Appreciation, Frustration, Curiosity). Shows "No emotions detected" if none were identified.
AI CSAT Predicted customer satisfaction displayed as a colored badge:
  • Very Satisfied or Satisfied — Green
  • Neutral — Yellow/Orange
  • Dissatisfied — Red
  • Very Dissatisfied — Dark
Hover over the badge to see the confidence level and reasoning.
Summary Text A concise AI-generated description of what was discussed and the outcome of the conversation
AI Chat Tags Topic and category tags automatically assigned based on conversation content, displayed as badges
Tips
  • Use the AI Chat Summary to quickly understand past conversations when a customer returns
  • Review the AI CSAT prediction to identify conversations that may need follow-up
  • The summary panel can be collapsed to save space while keeping the header visible
  • AI Chat Tags help you understand common topics across conversations
Note

AI Chat Summary requires AI analysis to be enabled for your organization. The summary appears automatically after each chat session ends. If you don't see AI summaries, contact your administrator.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Use these keyboard shortcuts to work more efficiently:

Shortcut Action
Enter Send message
Shift + Enter Add new line in message
/ Open slash command menu
/ Navigate canned replies or slash commands
Esc Close slash command or canned reply menu

Permissions Reference

The following features require specific permissions. Contact your administrator if you need access to a feature that is not available to you.

Permission Features Enabled
AI Writing Assistant AI menu, auto-response generation, grammar check, tone adjustment
Delete Message Right-click to delete sent messages
Transfer Chat Transfer Chat menu option
Close All Chats Finish All Chats menu option
User Panel Right-side User Details Panel
View Bot Log Show Bot & User Chat menu option
Block User Block this User menu option
AgentChatAllowTranslate Translate messages and enable auto-translate via the message menu
Supervisor Supervised Chats and Open Chats tabs
Own Replies Create personal canned replies
My Profile WhatsApp Templates