# Email Integration

Let users interact with your AI chatbot via email for support tickets, inquiries, and automated responses.


Deploy your Chipp AI as an email responder. Users can email questions and receive AI-powered responses automatically—perfect for support tickets, sales inquiries, and customer service.

<Callout type="info">
Email integration is currently in beta. To enable this feature for your account, contact **support@chipp.ai** and request access.
</Callout>

## How Email Integration Works

| Feature | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| **Inbound emails** | Users email your AI, get automated responses |
| **Conversation threading** | Multi-turn conversations via email replies |
| **Whitelist protection** | Control who can email your AI |
| **Custom domains** | Use your own email domain (optional) |

## Quick Start (Shared Infrastructure)

The fastest way to get started is using Chipp's shared email infrastructure. No Postmark account needed!

<Steps>
  <Step title="1">
    <strong>Open Email Configuration</strong>

    Go to your app and click **Share** in the navigation. Select the **Deploy** tab and find the **Deploy to Email** card. Click **Add Deployment**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="2">
    <strong>Review Your Email Address</strong>

    Chipp automatically generates an email address for your app using the shared domain. It will look like:

    ```
    yourappname-123@mail.chipp.ai
    ```

    This is both your inbound address (where users send emails) and from address (where responses come from).
  </Step>

  <Step title="3">
    <strong>Set Display Name</strong>

    Enter a **From Display Name** - this is what recipients see in their email client (e.g., "Sales Assistant" or "Support Bot").
  </Step>

  <Step title="4">
    <strong>Enable the Deployment</strong>

    Toggle on **Enable Email Deployment** at the top of the dialog.
  </Step>

  <Step title="5">
    <strong>Configure Whitelist</strong>

    By default, whitelist protection is enabled. You must add at least one email address to the whitelist before your AI will respond to anyone.

    Click **Manage Whitelist** to add allowed email addresses.
  </Step>

  <Step title="6">
    <strong>Save Configuration</strong>

    Click **Save Configuration** to activate your email deployment.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Email Whitelist

The whitelist controls who can email your AI.

### Adding Emails to Whitelist

1. In the email configuration dialog, click **Manage Whitelist**
2. Enter email addresses (one per line or comma-separated)
3. Click **Add to Whitelist**

You can whitelist:
- Individual emails: `john@example.com`
- Domain patterns: `@company.com` (allows anyone from that domain)

### Disabling Whitelist

<Callout type="warning">
Disabling whitelist protection means anyone can email your AI. This may result in increased AI usage costs and potential spam.
</Callout>

To disable whitelist protection:

1. Go to the Whitelist tab
2. Toggle off **Email Whitelist Protection**

Only disable this if you have other protection measures in place.

## Custom Domain (Advanced)

Want to use your own email domain like `support@yourbrand.com`? You'll need a Postmark account.

<Steps>
  <Step title="1">
    <strong>Create Postmark Account</strong>

    Sign up at [postmarkapp.com](https://postmarkapp.com) and create a server for your email integration.
  </Step>

  <Step title="2">
    <strong>Verify Your Domain</strong>

    In Postmark:
    1. Go to **Sender Signatures** > **Domains**
    2. Add your domain and verify DNS records
  </Step>

  <Step title="3">
    <strong>Configure MX Records</strong>

    Set up MX records for your inbound email subdomain to point to:
    ```
    inbound.postmarkapp.com
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="4">
    <strong>Get Your API Token</strong>

    In Postmark, go to your server > **API Tokens** and copy your Server API Token.
  </Step>

  <Step title="5">
    <strong>Configure in Chipp</strong>

    In the email configuration dialog:

    1. Change the email addresses to use your custom domain
    2. Enter your **Postmark Server API Token**
    3. Save the configuration
  </Step>

  <Step title="6">
    <strong>Set Up Webhook</strong>

    After saving, go to the **Webhook** tab in the dialog. Copy the webhook URL and configure it in Postmark:

    1. Go to your Postmark server > **Message Streams** > **Inbound**
    2. In Settings, paste the webhook URL from Chipp
    3. Save and test with a sample email
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Email Behavior

### Response Format

Your AI responds to emails maintaining conversation context:

- **Subject line**: Preserved for threading
- **Reply format**: Clean text response
- **Threading**: Email clients group conversations automatically

### Conversation Memory

Each email thread maintains context:

- Previous messages are included in AI context
- Users can have ongoing conversations
- Context resets after extended inactivity

## Use Cases

### Customer Support

Handle support tickets automatically:

```
System prompt addition:

You are a support agent for [Company]. When users email:
1. Acknowledge their issue
2. Provide helpful solutions
3. Escalate complex issues to human support
4. Include ticket reference numbers
```

### Sales Inquiries

Qualify leads via email:

```
System prompt addition:

You are a sales assistant. When prospects email:
1. Answer product questions
2. Gather their requirements
3. Offer to schedule a demo
4. Collect contact information for follow-up
```

### Information Requests

Provide automated information:

```
System prompt addition:

You are an information assistant. Respond to emails with:
1. Accurate information from your knowledge base
2. Links to relevant resources
3. Suggestions for related topics
```

## Monitoring Email Conversations

View email conversations in your Chipp dashboard:

1. Go to **Chats** in your app
2. Use the **Source** filter to select **Email**
3. View full email threads and AI responses

## Best Practices

### Clear Auto-Replies

Set expectations in responses:

```
System prompt addition:

Start each response with a brief acknowledgment like
"Thanks for reaching out!" and end with "Reply to this
email to continue our conversation."
```

### Set Boundaries

Prevent misuse:

```
System prompt addition:

If asked to perform actions outside your scope (like
making purchases or accessing external systems), politely
explain your capabilities and suggest alternatives.
```

### Professional Tone

Maintain email etiquette:

```
System prompt addition:

Respond professionally with proper email formatting.
Use appropriate greetings and sign-offs. Keep responses
concise but complete.
```

## Troubleshooting

### Emails Not Being Received

1. **Check whitelist**: Ensure sender is on the whitelist (if enabled)
2. **Verify deployment is active**: Toggle must be on
3. **Check spam folder**: AI responses may be filtered by recipient
4. **For custom domains**: Verify Postmark webhook is configured

### AI Not Responding to Whitelisted Users

1. Verify the email address is exactly as whitelisted
2. Check for typos in the whitelist entry
3. Domain patterns must start with `@` (e.g., `@company.com`)

### Slow Response Times

1. Check your AI model - faster models respond quicker
2. Reduce system prompt complexity
3. Complex custom actions may add latency

### Threading Issues

1. Keep subject lines consistent - don't change mid-conversation
2. Use reply, not new email, to continue conversations
3. Some email clients may break threading

### Custom Domain Not Working

1. **Verify DNS**: Domain must be verified in Postmark with correct DNS records
2. **Check MX records**: Must point to `inbound.postmarkapp.com`
3. **Test webhook**: URL must be accessible and correctly configured
4. **Check API token**: Ensure token has correct permissions