Introduction to Engage Interactions
Getting Started with Interactions
Within the Engage Platform, Interactions encompass the functionality relating to the exchange of information between agents and customers. It is through the Interaction API that developers can post messages back into 3rd-party sources.
We invite all developers to try out our Interactions API by writing a simple app to list threads that agents can engage with in almost no time at all. Get started using a Quick Start in any of the following languages:
Node JS » PHP » Python » Ruby »The Engage Interactions API encompasses the functionality necessary to manage the communication between agents and customers.
Core Concepts
Sources
A "source" refers to the origination of a customer interaction. Sources are handles to third-party services, external to Engage. Source represent on which platform a given interaction is taking place. Example sources include: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc.
Threads
When a customer initiates a conversation via a source, this results in the creation of a thread. Associated with each node within a thread is some content and an identity to identify what was said/shared and who posted it.
Interventions
When an agent chooses to engage with a customer within a thread, they create an "intervention." An intervention is in many ways synonymous with a "ticket" or "case." An intervention remains in an open status until the agent has successfully resolved the issue and set the disposition accordingly.
Web Messaging
RingCentral Engage offers a fully integrated three-in-one source called Engage Messaging:
- Live Chat mode: This is a real time web chat channel.
- Messaging mode: This is an asynchronous web chat channel.
- Mobile mode: This is an asynchronous in-app mobile messaging solution.
When the source is configured as messaging, the conversation histories are shared between the web and mobile channels. The 2 web chat channels also feature a proactive mode that allows a fine targeting of visitors being engaged.
Learn more about creating a web messaging channel so customers can interact with agents right from their browser.
Engage Bots
An Engage Bot is a specific kind of Engage integration that help developers build automated interactions. A bot follows this simple flow:
- Bot is notified via a webhook of a new thread.
- Bot fetches content associated with the interaction.
- Bot creates an intervention.
- Bot posts messages to the customer associated with the intervention.
Chatbots can be used to perform any of the following functions:
- Augment a thread with more detail about the customer.
- Correspond with the customer.
- Resolve the associated intervention.
- Transfer the intervention to a human agent for resolution.