Channels & Integrations
- What channels are and why they matter
- Which messaging platforms AutoTalk supports
- How channels, API tokens, and webhooks work together
Channels are the core building blocks of AutoTalk's messaging infrastructure. Each channel represents a live connection between AutoTalk and an external messaging platform. When a customer sends a message through any connected channel, it arrives in your Inbox automatically. You reply from AutoTalk, and the response is delivered back through the same channel the customer used.
You manage all of your channels from the Channels page, located at Integrations > Channels in the sidebar. This page is a standard list view with tools for filtering, bulk updating, and adding new channels.
Supported channel types
AutoTalk offers eight built-in channel types. When you click Add channel, you choose from a dropdown with these options:
| Channel type | Dropdown label | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp QR Code | WhatsApp QR Code | Quick WhatsApp setup by scanning a QR code, similar to WhatsApp Web |
| WhatsApp Business API | WhatsApp API (Official) | Official Meta API integration with message templates and high-volume support |
| Instagram Business | Instagram Business | Managing Instagram Direct Messages from your business account |
| Facebook / Meta | Meta | Receiving and replying to Facebook Page Messenger conversations |
| Telegram | Telegram | Connecting a Telegram bot to handle customer conversations |
| Twitch | Twitch | Receiving and replying to live Twitch chat through a broadcaster + bot account |
| Evolution API | Evolution API | Self-hosted WhatsApp gateway for teams that want full infrastructure control |
| AutoChat Web Widget | AutoChat | Embedded live chat widget for your website |
Additional integration tools
Beyond messaging channels, AutoTalk provides two tools for connecting with external systems:
- API Tokens (under Integrations > API Tokens) — Generate public API tokens so external applications can authenticate with AutoTalk's API.
- Webhooks (under Integrations > Webhooks) — Configure outgoing HTTP notifications that fire when events happen inside AutoTalk, such as new messages or updated contacts.
- REST API — A full public API for managing clients, conversations, messages, and dynamic data programmatically. See the API Reference for details and the live documentation.
If you are just getting started, the WhatsApp QR Code channel is the fastest to set up since it only requires scanning a code with your phone. For a website presence, add an AutoChat widget. For live community chat, use Twitch.
Next steps
- Adding a new integration — Step-by-step walkthrough of the channel creation flow
- WhatsApp Business (Official API) — Set up the official WhatsApp Business API
- WhatsApp Web and Evolution API — QR code and self-hosted WhatsApp options
- Telegram — Connect a Telegram bot
- Twitch — Connect Twitch chat with broadcaster and bot OAuth
- AutoChat Web Widget — Embed live chat on your website
- API Tokens — Create tokens for external integrations
- API Reference — Full REST API documentation and endpoints
- Webhooks — Send event notifications to other systems