Overview & Usage
Overview
The SimplyChat module allows you to send SMS text messages to phone numbers with SMS capabilities. A user must be assigned to a chat group, or a SMS DID assigned to them.
To start an SMS chat, log into the Client Web Portal (https://cwp.thinksimplicity.com). Once logged in click on SimplyChat on the left hand menu. Then choose Chat. You will be greeted with a screen with a text field similar to a chatroom or SMS phone-app screen.
SimplyChat Limitations
- 1000 character limit when creating messages in chat window
Terms:
- DID: Direct Inward Dialing - A term meaning, for simplicity's sake, a telephone number. For example, a DID of 406-555-5555 would be a DID (direct inward dialing) for a cell phone, business, desk phone, etc.
Types of Conversations
- Visitor: A DID/SMS for non-guest at the hotel (visitors)
- Guest: A DID/SMS for guest at the hotel (check-ins)
- UI Users: Other users of the Client Web Portal/SimplyChat, such as other Front Desk employees, managers of the hotel, etc
- Groups: A grouping of users where a message can be sent to all members in that group.
Filtering SMS Conversations
- Unread Conversations - Filters and shows all unread conversations for the user
- All Conversations - Filters and shows all the exisiting conversations for a user
- Favorite Conversations - Filters and shows only favorited conversations for a user. Favorites allow for quick reference and navigation of often used, or currently being used conversations.
- Visitor Conversations - Filters and shows only Visitor type conversations
- Guest Conversations - Filters and shows only Guest type conversations
- UI Users Conversations - Filters and shows only UI Users type conversations
- Group Conersations - Filters and shows only Group type conversations
- Search Conversations - Allows a users to search conversations by Room, Staff or Group
Starting an SMS Conversation
- You can start a new SMS Conversation by secting the Plus Sign button as seen in the image above
Types of New Conversations:
- New Mobile: Starts a new SMS conversation where you enter a DID (mobile number) not previously used
- New Contact: Starts a new SMS conversation with a SimplyChat User/Contact
- New Group: Starts a new group conversation with participants in a group.
New Mobile
Starts a new conversation where you enter a new DID/SMS number that has not been previouisly used before.
- Enter the recipient's DID/SMS number you wish to communicate with (cell phone number)
- Select the DID you wish to use to communicate. The recipient will see this telephone number when the text message is sent, and will be replying to this telephone number.
- DIDs to send messages from can be assigned to individuals or groups. Such a a "Front Desk" Group where everyone in that group will be using the same DID to send messages.
- Click Create to start the conversation with the entered recipient phone number & selected DID
New Contact
- Starts a new conversation with previously used contact. You can select a contact (circles 1,2, or 3 in the picture below) to resume a conversation or start a new one with a previously saved contact.
- Select Pick Up to take over the conversation from another user and begin conversing. (circle 1 in picture below)
New Group
This option allows you to create a new Group Conversation with only the selected users you wish to be in the group.
- Enter a name for the Group Conversation
- Click the arrorw to choose your Group Conversation participants
The Conversation Screen
- Contact Info: Shows relevent information for the contact in the conversation such as name, email, phone number, reservations or other contact infro.
- Received Messages: Replies to you, the user, will be in dark green
- Sent Messages: Messeges sent to the contac twill be light gray
- Emoji: List of emojis that can be sent in the conversation
- Message Templates: Shortcut to the canned responses, or message templates, that allow for quick responses to common questions or responses.
- Send Button: Sens message written above to the recipient.