# "How to Connect Bongo Live SMS to On-Chat"

> "On-Chat integrates with Bongo Live SMS so your team can receive and respond to SMS messages from East African customers in a unified inbox."

URL: https://on-chat.live/guides/how-to-connect-bongo-live-sms-to-on-chat/
Last updated: 2026-11-14

## Introduction
Bongo Live is an SMS gateway and mobile communications platform serving East African markets, particularly Tanzania. It provides businesses with SMS sending, receiving, and two-way messaging capabilities. Connecting Bongo Live to On-Chat allows your support team to manage SMS conversations from East African customers in a centralized inbox.

**SEO Keywords:** Bongo Live SMS integration, Tanzania SMS gateway, East Africa SMS helpdesk, Bongo Live On-Chat, SMS customer support Tanzania, East African SMS platform

## Prerequisites
- An active Bongo Live account with API access
- Bongo Live API credentials (username, password, or API key)
- On-Chat account with admin access
- A registered short code or sender ID from Bongo Live
- Webhook configuration access in Bongo Live

## Step 1: Obtain Bongo Live API Credentials
Log in to your Bongo Live account and navigate to **API Settings** or **Developer Tools**. Find your API key, username, or access token. These credentials authenticate On-Chat's requests to Bongo Live's SMS gateway for sending and receiving messages.

## Step 2: Register a Short Code or Sender ID
In your Bongo Live account, register a short code or alphanumeric sender ID for your business. For two-way SMS conversations in On-Chat, you need a short code that supports inbound SMS messages from customers.

## Step 3: Create an SMS Inbox in On-Chat
In your On-Chat dashboard, go to **Settings** → **Inboxes** → **New Inbox** and select **SMS**. Choose **Bongo Live** as the SMS provider. Enter your API credentials and registered short code or sender ID. Save to generate your On-Chat webhook URL.

## Step 4: Configure the Inbound Message Webhook
In your Bongo Live account, set the inbound SMS callback URL to your On-Chat webhook endpoint. This configuration routes all incoming SMS messages from your customers directly to your On-Chat inbox in real time.

## Step 5: Assign Agents to Your Bongo Live Inbox
In On-Chat, go to **Settings** → **Inboxes** → select your Bongo Live inbox → **Collaborators**. Add agents who will handle the SMS conversations. Set up auto-assignment and routing rules for efficient message handling.

## Step 6: Test the SMS Integration
Send a test SMS to your Bongo Live short code from a Tanzanian or East African mobile number. Verify the message appears in your On-Chat inbox. Reply from On-Chat and confirm delivery back to the mobile device.

## Best Practices
- Use Swahili and English templates to serve East African customers in their preferred language
- Monitor SMS delivery rates across different East African carriers in Bongo Live reports
- Use On-Chat's automation to send instant acknowledgments to incoming SMS messages
- Regularly review and update your contact database to ensure accurate SMS routing

## Keep reading

- [How to Build a WhatsApp Chatbot Without Code](https://on-chat.live/guides/how-to-build-a-whatsapp-chatbot/): A step-by-step tutorial for building a dynamic WhatsApp chatbot in a visual flow builder, from your first message to live data and agent handoff.
- [Chatbot Flow Design: 12 Best Practices](https://on-chat.live/guides/chatbot-flow-design-best-practices/): Practical rules for designing chatbot conversation flows that customers finish: branching, fallbacks, personalisation, handoff and testing.
- [Make Your Chatbot Dynamic with Webhooks](https://on-chat.live/guides/dynamic-chatbot-webhooks/): Connect your chatbot flows to live data. Learn how webhooks, expressions and splits turn a scripted bot into one that answers with real information.