"getting-started"
"How to Connect Bongo Live SMS to On-Chat"
"Connect Bongo Live SMS to On-Chat and manage SMS conversations from East African customers in a shared team inbox."
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.
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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