Working with Communication Channels

Communication Channels in Kosmoy Studio provide the bridge between your Public Assistants and external platforms, enabling users to interact with your AI outside of the Kosmoy ecosystem. This section explains how to create, manage, and use Communication Channels.

Prerequisites

Before creating a Communication Channel, you must have an active integration with the corresponding provider (e.g., Twilio for WhatsApp). Refer to the Integrations section for details on setting up integrations.

Currently Supported Channels

Kosmoy Studio currently supports the following Communication Channel types:

  • WhatsApp (via Twilio): Deploy your Public Assistants to WhatsApp, making them accessible to users through this popular messaging platform.

Future Communication Channels

Kosmoy is continuously expanding its support for Communication Channels. Future integrations will include:

  • Phone PBX (via Twilio): Enable interaction with your Assistants through traditional phone systems.
  • (And more to come)

Creating a Communication Channel

  1. Navigate to Communication Channels: From the Kosmoy Studio home page, click on the “Communication Channels” menu in the left-hand navigation bar.

  2. Add a New Channel: Click the ”+ ADD” button located in the upper right corner of the Communication Channels section.

  3. Select Channel Type: Choose the desired channel type from the dropdown menu. Currently, only “WhatsApp” is supported.

  4. Select Integration: Choose the relevant Twilio integration you have previously configured. This integration provides the necessary connection to your Twilio account.

  5. Configure Channel Parameters: Enter the required parameters for the selected channel type. For WhatsApp, you need to provide:

    • Phone Number: The WhatsApp phone number associated with your Twilio account.
  6. Click “Next”: Proceed to the next step.

  7. Name and Describe the Channel: Give your Communication Channel a unique name and an optional description.

  8. Click “Review”: Review the channel configuration.

  9. Click “Create”: Create the Communication Channel.

Communication Channel Cards

The Communication Channels section displays each created channel as a card. Each card shows:

  • Channel Type Icon: An icon representing the channel type (e.g., WhatsApp).
  • Channel Name: The name you assigned to the channel.
  • Description: The description you provided for the channel.
  • Edit Icon (Pencil): Click this icon to update the channel’s configuration, name, or description (only if the channel is not in use).
  • Delete Icon (Trash Bin): Click this icon to remove the channel (only if the channel is not in use).

Communication Channel Usage Restrictions

You cannot edit or delete a Communication Channel if it is currently referenced by other entities within Kosmoy Studio. This includes being used in:

  • Public Assistants
  • Any other Kosmoy Studio component that references Communication Channels.

Before attempting to edit or delete a channel, ensure it is not actively used in any of these areas. You may need to modify or remove the channel from those components first.

Updating a Communication Channel

You can update the configuration, name, and description of a registered Communication Channel, provided it is not currently referenced by a Public Assistant.

  1. Navigate to Communication Channels: Click on the “Communication Channels” icon in the left-hand navigation bar.
  2. Locate the Channel Card: Find the card for the channel you want to update.
  3. Click the Edit (Pencil) Icon: This will open the update dialog.
  4. Modify Channel Parameters: Update the channel’s configuration as needed. For example, you can change the phone number for a WhatsApp channel. You can also modify the name and description.
  5. Click “Save”: Save the changes.

If you attempt to edit a channel that is currently in use, a warning banner will be displayed at the top of the screen, preventing the modification.

Removing a Communication Channel

You can remove a registered Communication Channel if it’s no longer needed. However, you cannot delete a channel that is currently referenced by a Public Assistant.

  1. Navigate to Communication Channels: Click on the “Communication Channels” icon in the left-hand navigation bar.
  2. Locate the Channel Card: Find the card for the channel you want to remove.
  3. Click the Delete (Trash Bin) Icon: This will trigger a confirmation prompt.

If you attempt to delete a channel that is currently in use, a modal will appear, preventing the deletion and explaining that the channel is in use.

  1. Confirm Deletion: Confirm that you want to delete the channel.

Warning: Deleting a Communication Channel is a permanent action and cannot be undone. Ensure that the channel is not being referenced by any Public Assistant before proceeding.

Using Communication Channels

Communication Channels are used when deploying Public Assistants. During the deployment process, you will be prompted to select a Communication Channel, which determines the external platform where the Assistant will be accessible.

Note: Each Public Assistant can only be associated with one Communication Channel.

This section provides a comprehensive guide to managing Communication Channels in Kosmoy Studio.