Glossary
Definitions for terms used across Bird.
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Definitions for terms used across Bird.
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control data access and usage in Bird. They grant or deny access to specific areas within the software, ensuring compliance and authorized usage.
assign permissions to Bird users. They group to define a role's access, like "Marketing Manager" for Campaigns. This lets you control access for many users with different levels of access needs.
In , an action is a task performed by a flow when it runs. Actions can be organizational tasks, such as branching the flow when certain conditions are met or reformatting a number or date, or event-based actions such as replying to a WhatsApp message or updating a lead's details in HubSpot.
An agent is a user who has access to and is able to view and respond to customer conversations.
Assigning a conversation to an or an individual means that they are responsible for ensuring the conversation is handled correctly.
Asynchronous messaging is a form of communication where the customer and the agent do not need to be available at the same time. Each party can respond as needed. Examples of asynchronous messaging channels include , , and .
An attachment is a file that is added to a message when it is sent, such as a PDF or a word document.
In Contacts, an attribute is a piece of information that is attached to a contact profile to provide more information about that contact and their preferences.
An audience is dynamic group of contacts that is defined by a set of matching attributes. Contacts move in and out of audiences automatically as they meet the audience criteria, or no longer match the criteria.
Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user, account, or connector, in order to ensure that data is being shared only with authorized people or tools.
When building message templates, a block is a customizable pre-set section that can be used as a building block to add content to message templates.
A bundle is a group of plans and contracts that our team has put together for you so that you can use Bird's products.
A channel instance refers to a specific version of a channel. For example, when you add a new channel like WhatsApp, you choose a specific instance to connect to, such as a particular WhatsApp number. To add more WhatsApp numbers, you can create additional WhatsApp channel instances.
The channels marketplace is where you can browse the channels that we support, and install them.
A contact is a person that you have in your database.
A contact profile contains information about a specific contact, including their browsing and purchasing history, their contact information, and additional information such as preferred channels for communication and which language they speak.
When building message templates content is the body of the message that you are sending, including things like text, images, files, and other elements.
Conversation history is a record of all of the messages that have previously been exchanged during a conversation.
In order for a conversation to take place, people have to be talking! Anyone who is in a conversation, such as a customer, or any agents that might be present, is known as a conversation participant.
Data compliance is the process of ensuring your business complies with laws, regulations, and standards about how your customer's data is stored and processed.
Debugging is the process of identifying and fixing errors in your flows and automations.
A directory is a searchable list of contacts.
Engagement is a measure of how many customers have interacted with a campaign.
An entry point is a means through which customers can access a way to contact you, such as via Google search results, social media platforms, or web pages.
An escalation path is used when a customer's inquiry is urgent, or when it needs to be handled by a human agent instead of a chatbot.
A fallback is a backup message, route, or language that we will default to if the input is not expected or planned for.
Flows are automations. At their core, every automation works as follows: ‘When this happens, do that’. Flows can also use AI.
In Contacts, a group is a fixed selection of contacts that is defined by a set of criteria. Unlike audiences, contacts do not move in and out of segments as attributes are updated.
Handle is a term that is used to describe the process of processing data, or managing a conversation.
In Contacts, identifiers are unique pieces of information, such as a phone number or email address, that are used to automatically identify and recognize a contact when they get in touch.
A journey is an automated marketing workflow designed to help you engage customers.
A journey template is a pre-built, fully customizable journey designed to help you get up and running faster.
Projects can be localized into the languages that your customers use. Content, such as images in message templates, can also be adapted for different locations.
MessageBird offers a variety of channels and connectors that you can install. You can discover which channels and connectors we support by browsing their respective marketplaces from your dashboard.
A message refers to a piece of information that is exchanged through a channel, such as SMS or WhatsApp. Messages can be text-only or contain rich media such as images, GIFs, attachments, quick reply buttons, or link buttons.
Message templates are customizable, reusable messages that you can send on any installed communication channel.
A number is either a physical or virtual identifier that can be used to make or receive calls. You can purchase numbers directly from MessageBird. All numbers have different capabilities, so make sure you check carefully before purchasing.
Omnichannel is a customer-focused approach that integrates multiple communication channels, including websites, connectors, and channels like WhatsApp and SMS. It aims to deliver a seamless and consistent experience, allowing customers to interact across these channels without losing information.
In a conversation, a participant is someone who is part of that conversation. Participants can be contacts or agents.
A project is an experience such as a message template that you can create, edit, publish, and deploy.
Reach refers to the total number of unique individuals exposed to a marketing campaign within a specific timeframe.
A recipient is the person that receives a message. They are the intended target or audience for the information being sent.
A reply is a message that is sent in response to another message.
Rich media refers to message content that combines interactive elements like images, videos, buttons, and carousels to create an engaging user experience.
Spam refers to unwanted and unsolicited electronic messages, typically sent in bulk. These messages are often promotional and sent without the recipient's consent or desire to receive them. Spam can include email, text messages, or other digital communications and is generally considered a nuisance.
Synchronous refers to real-time communication where participants interact immediately and continuously, allowing for instant exchanges of messages. A phone call between a contact and an agent is an example of a synchronous channel.
Unsubscribe refers to the process of opting out of future marketing communications.
Verification is the process of confirming a customer's identity. This is often done through two-step verification, which provides an additional layer of security beyond just a username and password.
Your balance is how much money you have in your . Balances are used to pay for messages, numbers, and other features that are priced separately from your Bird subscription or contract.
In , a broadcast campaign is a one-off message that you send to an audience or a group of contacts.
Bulk messaging is the process of sending a large number of messages at the same time. It is a term most commonly associated with .
A is a message that has been designed to be sent to a specific audience or group. Campaigns are typically used by marketers.
A is a communication platform or channel where messages or conversations can occur, such as WhatsApp, SMS, or Facebook Messenger.
In , when a conversation is closed by an agent, this means that the issue has been resolved, the question has been answered, or the sale has been made, and the agent doesn't expect to have any more interaction with that customer.
In , conditions are a set of rules that causes a flow to adapt based on the input that it receives.
In , a condition group is a collection of conditions that must all be met for a flow to perform a specific action.
are used to connect MessageBird’s capabilities with external systems, such as CRMs, e-commerce platforms, AI tools, or customer support platforms.
In , a conversation is what starts when a customer sends you a message, or you send a new message to a customer.
In , a feed is a place where conversations and other feed items are grouped together. Feeds essentially act as folders, organizing and grouping conversations to make them easier for agents to navigate through.
is a unified console for communications where you and your team can have conversations with customers, collaborate to solve issues, and leverage customer data to personalize experiences.
A log is a record of every time a has run. It keeps track of the completion status of the flow run, provides details about when the flow run began and when the most recent action was completed, and gives detailed information about the data that was passed. Logs are useful for flows.
In , the message composer refers to the space in which an Inbox agent can draft and edit a message before they send it.
Sometimes used interchangeably with '', 'Originator' refers to the entity or individual who initiates or sends a message or communication. The originator can be a number, email address, or agent responsible for initiating communication and delivering a message to the intended recipient or recipients.
In , routing refers to the process of directing a customer inquiry to the appropriate agent or team for handling. It ensures efficient handling of tickets by assigning them to the right resources or agents based on factors like inquiry type, skills, or workload.
Sometimes used interchangeably with '', 'Sender' is a less-technical term for the entity or individual who initiates or sends a message or communication. The originator can be a number, email address, or agent responsible for initiating communication and delivering a message to the intended recipient or recipients.
In , a skill represents an agent's specific area of expertise or language. Skills allow agents to effectively handle certain types of inquiries based on their training and knowledge. Routing based on agent skills ensures that customer inquiries are directed to the most suitable agent for efficient and specialized assistance.
In , a team is a group of agents who are assigned to work on a specific type of inquiry, in a particular language, or for a specific department.
In , a trigger is an event that starts a flow. A trigger can either be an event that occurs within MessageBird or an event that occurs within an external connector.
In , an unassigned conversation is a conversation that has not been given to a specific agent or team to handle.