What are Departments?
Departments represent different channels of communication. Each Department you create may contain a unique phone number, a group of phone numbers (read more on Smart SMS here), or a business Facebook page through which you can communicate with your customers.
Depending on the pricing plan you have, you can start with 1 to 5 Departments, but you can always purchase additional Departments to suit your company’s needs. A Department can be a new number we provide for you; one or more of your existing business lines, if eligible for text-enablement; or a Facebook Messenger/ Instagram Business channel.
How do Departments function?
Messages sent and received within each Department are kept in separate Conversation Lists, which, if you have access to the Departments, you can easily toggle between them (image below). Customers will need to use the unique Department phone number to send a text to that Department, and any text you send a customer will come from the phone number of the Department you're currently viewing.
If you decide to utilize multiple Departments, you can:
Assign your members to have access to all, some, or just one of the Departments. They will only be able to view Conversation Histories and respond to Conversations in Departments they have access to.
View messaging metrics for individual Departments, or the company as a whole.
Create separate Automations and Shortcuts for each Department.
Use the Unified Inbox view to see all of your Organization's Conversation Histories from all Departments in one list (Pro plan customers and above only)
Why might I need multiple Departments?
You might need multiple departments if:
Your business has multiple physical locations that each need their own line
Your business has multiple internal divisions that each need their own line
Your company's employees need different phone lines
How to add a Department?
Once you’ve created your account, your assigned Textline phone number will be your first Department.
To create additional Departments, click Settings > Departments > New Department, then click the blue New Department button.
You can then choose what type of Department you'd like to add: a new phone number that we provide (which can be international), an existing business line you'd like to text-enable, an existing Twilio number, an existing Nexmo number, or your business's Facebook or Instagram pages.
If you choose to Get a New Phone Number, we will automatically assign you a new phone number. That number will be active and ready to use immediately.
For further information on international numbers, click here.
For further information on text enabling an existing number, click here.
For further information on setting up a Smart SMS department, click here.
For further information on using an existing Twilio line, click here.
For further information on adding Facebook as a Department, click here.
Once you’ve added multiple Departments to your account, you can toggle between them in the Conversation List by selecting the drop-down arrow next to the Department name on the left.
Our various pricing plans include certain numbers of Departments, but you can always purchase additional Departments à la carte if you need them.
Watch the tutorial video on Adding Departments here.
Deleting Departments
When deleting a Department, click on the department to view its details. At the top right will be a button to remove that Department. If you cannot see that button, double check the role assigned to your Agent has the correct permission. Deleting a department will:
Disable Shortcuts, Automations, and Dispositions associated with that department
Hide Metrics and Insights for that department.
Stop and delete any running Announcements or scheduled Announcements for that department.
Delete any Scheduled Messages for that department.
Isolate any Agent that is only assigned to that department. Agents must be re-assigned before they can use Textline if you delete the only department they have access to.
If you are deleting a Survey department, deleting it will:
Stop and delete any running surveys.
Allow you to view existing survey results but you cannot send a survey.
Require you to get a new survey number to create and send surveys.
Need more help?
Text us at +1 (415) 849-4349 or email us at [email protected].