"getting-started"
"How to Connect YO! SMS to On-Chat"
"Connect YO! SMS gateway to On-Chat and manage two-way customer SMS conversations in a shared inbox with automation, routing, and conversation management for Uga"
Introduction
YO! is a Ugandan SMS gateway provider offering reliable mobile messaging services for businesses operating in Uganda and East Africa. By integrating YO! with On-Chat, support teams can receive and respond to inbound SMS from local customers in a shared inbox, with agent routing, automated responses, and conversation management — enabling efficient, two-way customer support across the region.
SEO Keywords: YO SMS On-Chat integration, YO Uganda SMS helpdesk, YO SMS customer support, two-way SMS Uganda On-Chat, connect YO SMS On-Chat, East Africa SMS support platform, Uganda SMS inbox On-Chat
Prerequisites
- An active YO! account with SMS API access
- YO! API credentials (username, password, or API key)
- A YO! shortcode or virtual number enabled for inbound SMS
- On-Chat account with admin access
- Ability to configure inbound message webhooks in YO!
Step 1: Obtain Your YO! API Credentials
Log in to your YO! account or contact YO! support to access your API credentials. Obtain your API username and password (or API key), along with the YO! API endpoint URL. Also note your sender ID or shortcode that customers will use. Keep these credentials secure.
Step 2: Provision an Inbound SMS Number or Shortcode
Verify with YO! that your account has a shortcode or virtual number configured for receiving inbound SMS. If two-way messaging is not yet enabled, contact YO! business support to provision the right number for your customer support use case in Uganda or East Africa.
Step 3: Create an SMS Inbox in On-Chat
In On-Chat, go to Settings → Inboxes → New Inbox and select SMS. Choose YO! as the provider. Enter your YO! API credentials, endpoint URL, and shortcode or virtual number. Save the inbox — On-Chat will generate the inbound webhook URL for the next step.
Step 4: Configure the Inbound Webhook in YO!
In your YO! account settings or via YO! support, configure the inbound message delivery URL to the On-Chat webhook URL you generated. Set the HTTP method to POST. YO! will now forward all incoming customer SMS to On-Chat as new conversations automatically.
Step 5: Add Agents and Set Up Routing
In On-Chat, go to Settings → Inboxes → select your YO! inbox → Collaborators. Add agents who will handle YO! SMS conversations. Enable auto-assignment so On-Chat routes new conversations to available agents based on availability and workload.
Step 6: Test the Integration
Send a test SMS to your YO! shortcode or virtual number. Verify the message appears in On-Chat as a new conversation. Reply from an agent and confirm the customer receives the outbound SMS via YO!. Review message logs and On-Chat conversation history for accuracy.
Best Practices
- Use On-Chat automation to send immediate auto-replies in local languages when customers first message via YO!
- Assign the YO! inbox to agents with East African regional expertise for culturally appropriate support
- Apply On-Chat conversation labels to categorize and analyze SMS support trends across Uganda and the region
- Monitor YO! message delivery regularly to identify and resolve delivery failures quickly