# "How to Connect Vonage SMS to On-Chat"

> "On-Chat integrates with Vonage SMS so your team can receive and respond to customer SMS messages from a unified inbox using Vonage's global network."

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

## Introduction
Vonage (formerly Nexmo) is a global cloud communications provider offering SMS, voice, and messaging APIs with coverage in over 200 countries. Integrating Vonage SMS with On-Chat enables your support team to handle customer SMS conversations through a centralized inbox with full collaboration features.

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## Prerequisites
- An active Vonage (Nexmo) account
- Vonage API Key and API Secret
- On-Chat account with admin access
- A Vonage virtual number or short code with SMS enabled
- Access to Vonage Dashboard for webhook configuration

## Step 1: Retrieve Your Vonage API Credentials
Log in to dashboard.nexmo.com (Vonage Dashboard). On the main dashboard page, your **API Key** and **API Secret** are displayed at the top. Copy these credentials — they authenticate On-Chat's requests to Vonage's SMS API.

## Step 2: Purchase a Vonage Virtual Number
In the Vonage Dashboard, go to **Numbers** → **Buy Numbers**. Search for an SMS-capable number in your desired country and area code. Complete the purchase. Your new number will appear under **Your Numbers**.

## Step 3: Configure SMS Inbox in On-Chat
In On-Chat, navigate to **Settings** → **Inboxes** → **New Inbox** and select **SMS**. Choose **Vonage** (or Nexmo) as the provider. Enter your API Key, API Secret, and Vonage virtual number. Save to generate your On-Chat webhook URL.

## Step 4: Set Inbound Webhook in Vonage
In the Vonage Dashboard, go to your virtual number's settings. Set the **Inbound Webhook URL** to your On-Chat SMS webhook endpoint. Set the **HTTP Method** to POST. This routes all incoming SMS messages to your On-Chat inbox.

## Step 5: Assign Agents and Configure Routing
In On-Chat, go to **Settings** → **Inboxes** → select your Vonage inbox → **Collaborators**. Add agents to handle SMS conversations. Configure auto-assignment rules and business hours for optimal SMS routing.

## Step 6: Test the SMS Integration
Send a test SMS to your Vonage number from a mobile phone. The message should appear in your On-Chat inbox promptly. Reply from On-Chat and confirm delivery back to the sender. Verify delivery receipts in the Vonage Dashboard.

## Best Practices
- Use Vonage's delivery receipt webhooks to track SMS delivery status
- Configure sender IDs for branded SMS in countries that support it
- Monitor Vonage SMS costs and usage in the Vonage Dashboard
- Use On-Chat's automation to send initial Vonage SMS responses instantly

## 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.