Channels are how a constituent can communicate with your organization in Conversations. You may create channels for Email, SMS/Texting, Agent, Internal, and CivicPlus Chatbot.
Email Channel
Once you save your Email Channel, the username associated with the email domain can be edited as long as there are no Conversations associated with it. Once a Conversation has been started with an Email Channel, the username and domain cannot be changed.
Instructions
Click the profile icon and then select Manage Organization from the drop-down
Select Channels from the left-hand menu
Click Create Channel and select Email Channel from the drop-down
Complete the fields
Name: The name of the email channel
Note:
It is recommended that you name a Channel for its intended purpose (such as General, Community Events, and Parks).
Email Address: Add the username to the domain you established during configuration.
Note:
If you choose to use an email address with a custom domain, you will need to set up auto-forwarding with your email provider. Conversations focuses primarily on Microsoft Outlook and Gmail, but other providers can support auto-forwarding so that incoming emails to your custom domain route to Conversations.
Click Save
SMS Channel
You can set up organizational and SMS messages from constituents. Once you've chosen the phone number you want to send and receive SMS messages from, you can choose a number from which incoming texts will be forwarded. This number is generally an office number so as to ensure notifications of incoming texts.
In addition to a forwarding number, phone configuration offers an opportunity for you to set an auto-response to incoming texts so that you may automatically communicate back to the constituent and set their expectations for response time from your organization or department. Auto-responses can be enabled or disabled both in configuration and from the Channel list view.
Important Note
In order to create an SMS channel in Conversations, you must first confirm a new Twilio subaccount to provision a new phone number. Learn more about Conversations SMS Provision and Registration.
Instructions
Click the profile icon and then select Manage Organization from the drop-down
Select Channels from the left-hand menu
Click Create Channel and select SMS Channel from the drop-down
Complete the fields
Name: The name of the channel
Note:
It is recommended that you name a Channel for its intended purpose (such as General, Community Events, and Parks).
Area Code: Enter the area code for the desired phone number.
Phone Number: Search for a phone number.
Click Save
Agent Channel
Agent channels should be used for any correspondence with a constituent that is not email or SMS, such as walk-ins or phone calls.
Instructions
Click the profile icon and then select Manage Organization from the drop-down
Select Channels from the left-hand menu
Click Create Channel and then select Agent Channel from the drop-down
Enter the desired Name
Note:
It is recommended that you name a Channel for its intended purpose (such as General, Community Events, and Parks).
Click Save
Internal Channel
Internal channels are staff-only conversations that can be used to communicate important information and details about any inquiries, suggestions, or concerns with other members of your organization.
Instructions
Click the profile icon and then select Manage Organization from the drop-down
Select Channels from the left-hand menu
Click Create Channel and select Internal Channel from the drop-down
Enter the desired Name
Note:
It is recommended that you name a Channel for its intended purpose (such as General, Community Events, and Parks).
Click Save
CivicPlus Chatbot Channel
Click the profile icon and then select Manage Organization from the drop-down
Select Channels from the left-hand menu
Click Create Channel and select CivicPlus Chatbot Channel from the drop-down
Complete the fields
Name: The name of the channel
Note:
It is recommended that you name a Channel for its intended purpose (such as General, Community Events, and Parks).
Auto-Assignment: The email for the staff member who will be the primary assignee for this channel
Companion Email Channel: Select the email address that users will see when getting responses from this channel.
Click Save