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 PermissionsSome 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.
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.
Steps:
- Click the + (plus) button at the top of the chat list.
- If you have multiple SMS or WhatsApp channels configured, select the channel from the dropdown.
- Enter the customer's international phone number.
- Optionally enter the customer's email address, first name, and last name.
- Click New Chat to start the conversation.
- 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:
- Click the Search icon next to the menu button.
- Type your search term in the search box.
- Results will show matching users and messages.
- 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:
- Click the Filter icon (funnel) in the chat list header.
- Select one or more tags from the dropdown.
- Only chats with customers matching those tags will be shown.
- Clear the selection to show all chats again.
- 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:
- Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat list header.
- 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 |
- 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:
- Select the chat you want to star.
- Click the Star icon (outline star) in the chat header.
- The star turns gold and the chat moves to the top of your list.
- 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.
Send a Message
Send a text message to the customer.
Steps:
- Type your message in the text box at the bottom of the chat.
- Press Enter or click the Send button.
- 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:
- Click the Emoji button (smiley face icon) in the message toolbar.
- The emoji picker appears above the message box.
- Browse emoji categories or use the search box to find a specific emoji.
- Click an emoji to insert it at your cursor position in the message.
- Click the Hide button (down arrow) to close the picker.
- 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.
Steps:
- In the message box, type # (hashtag) to activate the canned replies dropdown.
- Continue typing after the # to filter replies by hashtag name or content.
- Use ↑ and ↓ arrow keys to navigate the list.
- Press Enter to select and insert the reply into your message.
- Press Esc to close the dropdown without selecting.
- 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.
Steps:
- Type / in the message box.
- A menu appears showing available commands, including AI writing tools and chat actions.
- Use ↑ and ↓ arrow keys to navigate.
- Press Enter to select a command, or Esc to close.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
| AI Write a Response | AI generates a complete response based on the conversation context. |
| AI Spelling and Grammar Check | Checks 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 Chat | Opens the agent finder to transfer this conversation to another agent or team. |
| Finish Chat | Ends the current conversation with the customer. |
Send an Image
Share an image or photo with the customer.
Steps:
- Click the Image button (picture icon) in the message toolbar.
- Select an image file from your computer.
- Preview the image and click Send to send it.
- Click Cancel (X) to cancel the upload.
Send a Document/Attachment
Share files and documents with the customer.
Steps:
- Click the Attachment button (paperclip icon).
- Select a file from your computer.
- Supported formats include PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and text files.
- Preview the attachment and click Send.
Send a Voice Message
Record and send a voice message to the customer.
Steps:
- Click the Microphone button.
- Allow browser access to your microphone if prompted.
- Record your message.
- 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.
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.
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.
Steps:
- Click the Template button in the message toolbar. A modal window opens showing available templates.
- 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.
- Fill in any required variables (shown as placeholders like {{1}}, {{2}}).
- 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 |
- 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.
Steps:
- Click the AI button (sparkle icon) in the message toolbar, or type / in the message input to access AI commands.
- 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. |
For additional improvement options like Shorten, Expand, and targeted actions like De-escalate, Show Empathy, and more, open the full AI Writing Assistant dialog.
This feature requires the AI Writing Assistant permission to be enabled.
- 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:
- Right-click (or long-press on mobile) on a message you sent.
- Select Delete from the context menu.
- Confirm the deletion when prompted.
This feature requires the Delete Message permission.
- 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:
- Click the Whisper tab above the message input.
- Type your internal message.
- Click Send to post the whisper.
- 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:
- Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat header.
- Select Search in this Chat.
- Type your search term.
- 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:
- Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat header.
- Select View Text Transcript.
- The transcript opens in a new dialog.
- 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:
- Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat header.
- Select Show Bot & User Chat.
- The bot log indicator appears in the header when viewing bot messages.
- Click the bot icon in the header to toggle the view on/off.
This feature requires the View Bot Log permission.
Transfer Chat
Transfer the conversation to another agent or department.
Steps:
- Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat header.
- Select Transfer Chat.
- Choose the agent or department to transfer to.
- Optionally add a transfer note explaining the situation.
- Click Transfer to complete the handover.
This feature requires the Transfer Chat permission.
- 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:
- Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat header.
- Select Finish Chat.
- Confirm when prompted.
- 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.
Steps:
- Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat header.
- Select Finish All Chats.
- Confirm when prompted.
This feature requires the Close All Chats permission.
Block User
Block a user from contacting your organization.
Blocking a user prevents them from contacting your organization. This action should be used carefully and typically only for abusive or spam users.
Steps:
- Click the More menu (three dots) in the chat header.
- Select Block this User.
- Confirm the action when prompted.
This feature requires the Block User permission.
Translate Messages
Translate customer messages and enable auto-translation for the conversation.
Steps:
- Hover over any message from the customer to reveal the message menu (three dots).
- Click the menu icon to open the message options.
- Select Translate this message then turn on auto translate.
- The selected message is immediately translated, and auto-translate is enabled for this conversation.
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.
- 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:
- Option 1: Click the Globe icon in the chat header to turn off auto-translate.
- 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.
- 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.
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 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:
- Open the User Details Panel.
- Look for the Replies or Standard Replies section.
- Click a reply to insert it into the message box.
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:
- Click the Arrow button to hide the panel.
- 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. |
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.
Steps:
- Look for the horizontal marker lines in the conversation area—these appear at the start and end of each chat session.
- 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
- 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
- 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:
|
| Close Reason | How the chat ended:
|
| 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. |
- 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:
- Look for the panel with the sparkle icon and "AI Chat Summary" header after a chat closes.
- The summary header shows the date range of the conversation.
- 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:
|
| 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:
|
| 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 |
- 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
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 |