---
description: >-
  Operator AI makes it easy to connect all your communication channels and
  manage conversations from a single dashboard.
---

# Connect Your Channels

***

### 🌎 Supported Channels

You can connect any or all of the following:

| Channel                                | Example Use                                              |
| -------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Web Chat**                           | Add a live chat widget to your website.                  |
| **SMS (via Twilio)**                   | Handle customer conversations over text.                 |
| **WhatsApp Business API (via Twilio)** | Offer support and marketing via WhatsApp.                |
| **Instagram DMs**                      | Manage direct messages from Instagram followers.         |
| **Facebook Messenger**                 | Support users directly from your Facebook page.          |
| **Telegram Bot**                       | Chat with users inside Telegram apps.                    |
| **Slack**                              | Route conversations into Slack for internal teams.       |
| **Email (IMAP/POP3)**                  | Receive and reply to customer emails inside Operator AI. |
| **WeChat**                             | Connect with users in China and Asia-Pacific.            |

✅ Operator AI supports simultaneous multi-channel communication — no switching between platforms.

***

### 🛠️ How to Connect a Channel

1. Go to your **Operator AI Dashboard**.
2. Navigate to **Settings.**
3. Choose the channel you want to connect.
4. Follow the on-screen authentication steps (API keys, OAuth approvals, credentials).
5. Test the connection by sending a sample message.

✅ Most channels can be connected in less than 5 minutes.

***

### 📋 Requirements by Channel

| Channel            | Requirements                                            |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| Web Chat           | Website access to install a JavaScript snippet.         |
| SMS                | Twilio account and SMS-enabled number.                  |
| WhatsApp           | Twilio WhatsApp Business API access.                    |
| Instagram          | Business Instagram account linked to Facebook.          |
| Facebook Messenger | Facebook Business Page and Facebook App permissions.    |
| Telegram           | Telegram Bot created via BotFather.                     |
| Slack              | Slack App OAuth token and channel permissions.          |
| Email              | IMAP/POP3 credentials (host, port, username, password). |
| WeChat             | Official WeChat Business Account credentials.           |

✅ Minimal technical setup required for most channels.

***

### 🔗 Best Practices for Connecting Channels

| Tip                                         | Why It Matters                                          |
| ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| Connect your highest-traffic channels first | Maximizes your initial engagement.                      |
| Test each channel after setup               | Ensure message delivery and user experience.            |
| Personalize welcome messages per channel    | Tailor the tone for SMS vs Web Chat vs Instagram.       |
| Set Business Hours by channel if needed     | Control offline behavior for each channel individually. |

✅ Smart channel setup = faster, smoother customer conversations.

***

### 📱 SMS (via Twilio)

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**Requirements:**

* [Twilio Account](https://www.twilio.com/)
* SMS-enabled phone number

**Steps:**

1. Log into Operator AI Dashboard.
2. Go to **Settings → Notifications → Text Message Notifications**.
3. Enter your:
   * **Account SID**
   * **Auth Token**
   * **Messaging Service SID** (or Sender number)
4. Click **Save**.

**✅ Done!** You can now receive and send SMS through Operator AI.

***

### 📲 WhatsApp

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### 🔌 Option 1: Twilio WhatsApp Business API

#### ✅ Requirements:

* Twilio account
* WhatsApp-enabled phone number

#### 🔧 Setup Steps:

1. Go to **Settings → Channels → WhatsApp**.
2. Choose **Connect via Twilio**.
3. Enter your:
   * **Twilio SID**
   * **Auth Token**
   * **Phone Number SID**
4. Click **Save** to verify your connection.

✅ You can now send and receive WhatsApp messages via Operator AI.

### ☁️ Option 2: WhatsApp Cloud API (Meta)

#### 🔄 Automatic Sync Mode

> _Recommended for most users_

1. Go to **Settings → Channels → WhatsApp** and click **Synchronize Now**.
2. Follow the Facebook Business verification steps.
3. To add new numbers, visit:\
   [https://business.facebook.com/wa/manage/phone-numbers](https://business.facebook.com/wa/manage/phone-numbers/)
4. After syncing:
   * All numbers are added automatically.
   * You can delete or disable numbers from **Settings → WhatsApp → Cloud API Numbers**.
5. If SMS verification doesn't work, enter the most recent PIN code you received.

#### 🛠️ Troubleshooting:

* If you're not receiving messages, click **Reconnect** and re-authenticate.
* Add a valid payment method in your [Meta Business Suite](https://business.facebook.com/).

✅ You’re all set for real-time message syncing via WhatsApp Cloud API.

### 🧑‍💻 Manual Sync Mode (Advanced)

#### Step-by-Step Setup:

1. Visit [https://developers.facebook.com](https://developers.facebook.com/) and log in.
2. Create a new app (choose **Other** → **Business**).
3. Link the app to your Business Manager account.
4. In **Operator AI → Settings → WhatsApp → Cloud API**, generate a **Secret Key**.
5. Go back to your Meta app:
   * Add WhatsApp as a product.
   * In **WhatsApp > Configuration**, paste:
     * **Webhook URL** from Operator AI
     * **Verify Token** = Secret Key from earlier
6. Enable the **messages** field under **Webhook fields**.
7. Verify integration:
   * Go to **API Setup** in your app.
   * Send a test message using your **Phone Number ID** and **Temporary Token**.

#### 🔐 Permanent Token Setup:

1. In [business.facebook.com](https://business.facebook.com/):
   * Go to **Business Settings → Users → System Users**
   * Create or select a system user and grant **Full Control** to your WhatsApp app.
2. Go to **System Users → Generate New Token**.
3. Select your app, enable the following permissions:
   * `whatsapp_business_management`
   * `whatsapp_business_messaging`
   * `business_management`
4. Set expiration to **Never**, generate, and copy the token.
5. Paste it into:\
   **Operator AI → Settings → WhatsApp → Cloud API Numbers → Token**

#### ➕ Adding Additional Phone Numbers

1. In your app, go to **WhatsApp > API Setup** and click **Add Phone Number**.
2. After verification, copy the **Phone Number ID** and paste it into Operator AI.

#### ⚠️ Important Notes

* Using your current WhatsApp Business number with Operator AI will disconnect it from the WhatsApp Business App.
* To migrate, follow Meta’s official [migration instructions](https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/).

***

### 📩 Facebook Messenger

**Requirements:**

* Facebook Business Page
* Admin access to Facebook Business Manager

**Steps:**

1. Go to **Settings → Channels → Messenger**.
2. Click **Connect Facebook Page**.
3. Grant Operator AI the required permissions:
   * `pages_manage_metadata`
   * `pages_messaging`
   * `pages_read_engagement`
4. Select your Facebook Page.
5. Save.

**✅ Done!** You can now handle Messenger conversations inside Operator AI.

***

### 📸 Instagram Direct Messaging

**Requirements:**

* Instagram Business Account linked to Facebook Business Manager

**Steps:**

1. Go to **Settings → Channels → Instagram**.
2. Click **Connect Instagram Business Account**.
3. Authorize Operator AI.
4. Select the Instagram account you want to sync.

**✅ Done!** Operator AI can now reply to Instagram DMs.

***

### ✈️ Telegram

**Requirements:**

* Create a Telegram Bot via BotFather

**Steps:**

1. Talk to @BotFather in Telegram.
2. Create a new bot and get your **Bot Token**.
3. Go to **Settings → Channels → Telegram** in Operator AI.
4. Enter your Bot Token.
5. Save.

**✅ Done!** Messages sent to your Telegram bot will now appear in Operator AI.

***

### 🐦 Twitter (Direct Messages)

**Requirements:**

* Twitter Developer Access

**Steps:**

1. Go to [Twitter Developer Portal](https://developer.twitter.com/).
2. Create an App.
3. Get:
   * **Consumer Key**
   * **Consumer Secret**
   * **Access Token**
   * **Access Token Secret**
4. In Operator AI Dashboard → **Settings → Channels → Twitter**, enter the above details.
5. Save.

**✅ Done!** You can now handle Twitter DMs via Operator AI.

***

### 🇨🇳 WeChat

**Requirements:**

* WeChat Official Account

**Steps:**

1. Go to WeChat Official Accounts Platform.
2. Get:
   * **App ID**
   * **App Secret**
   * **Token**
3. In Operator AI, go to **Settings → Channels → WeChat**.
4. Enter your credentials.
5. Save.

**✅ Done!** WeChat messages are now routed to Operator AI.

***

### 🔔 Slack

**Requirements:**

* Slack Workspace
* Slack App credentials

**Steps:**

1. Create a Slack App or use an existing one.
2. Authorize it for your workspace.
3. Get:
   * **OAuth Token**
4. In Operator AI → **Settings → Channels → Slack**, paste the OAuth Token.
5. Map Slack channels to Operator AI departments if needed.

**✅ Done!** You can now handle Slack conversations inside Operator AI.

***

### 📧 Email (Email Piping)

**Requirements:**

* IMAP/POP3 email access credentials

**Steps:**

1. Go to **Settings → Channels → Email**.
2. Enable **Email Piping**.
3. Enter:
   * **Email Server Host**
   * **Username**
   * **Password**
   * **Port** (typically 993 for IMAP)
4. Save settings.

**✅ Done!** Incoming emails will now appear as conversations.

***

### 🛟 Need Help?

* See detailed guides inside the Connect Your Channels section.
* Contact Support: [support@heyoperator.ai](mailto:support@heyoperator.ai).
* Book a Channel Setup Call with your Success Manager (available for Growth and Enterprise plans).

✅ We’ll help you connect every channel easily.

***

## 🎯 Next Step

Once your channels are live,\
learn how to launch Operator AI and start capturing leads:

👉 [Continue to Go Live With Operator →](go-live)
