> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://developers.nlpearl.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Inbound

> Learn how to set up Inbound Activities using your created Pearl to handle incoming conversations effectively.

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## Setting Up Inbound Activities

Inbound text activities let Pearl answer incoming conversations from your connected messaging channels. Start by asking PearlVibe to create an **inbound text Pearl**, then configure how the activity should handle messages, inactivity, transcripts, and webhooks.

<Info>
  Inbound activities are used when the end user starts the conversation. Pearl replies using the flow, knowledge, and actions defined in your Pearl.
</Info>

***

### Steps to Create an Inbound Activity

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create an inbound text Pearl">
    Ask PearlVibe to create a Pearl for your inbound text use case. Describe the channel, tone, expected questions, handoff rules, and any tools Pearl should use.

    <Card title="PearlVibe" icon="diagram-subtask" iconType="light" href="/pages/pearl_vibe">
      Build and customize your Pearl's logic, knowledge, and actions from a single prompt-driven interface.
    </Card>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure inbound settings">
    Set how Pearl should manage each incoming chat:

    * **Message Limit**: Set the maximum number of messages Pearl can send before automatically handing the conversation off to a human.
    * **Auto-close After Inactivity**: Set how long the chat can remain inactive before Pearl marks it as finished and triggers the post-chat summary.
    * **Inactivity Follow-up**: Send follow-up messages when the end user stops replying after Pearl's last message. You can configure up to **3** follow-ups.
    * **Transcript Options**: Choose what should be kept from the conversation: the full transcript, only non-sensitive parts, or no transcript.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Publish the Pearl">
    Publish the Pearl when its flow and inbound settings are ready. After publishing, use the Pearl overview page to connect a channel.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect a channel from the overview">
    From the Pearl overview page, connect the messaging channel your customers will use.

    Unlike a voice activity, an inbound text activity is not tied to a phone number. It is connected to a **messaging channel**, such as:

    * **WhatsApp**
    * **Telegram**
    * **SMS**
    * **Glassix**

    Each channel can be dedicated to your Inbound Activity and can receive conversations from anywhere at any time.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure webhooks if needed">
    Use webhooks only if external tools need event notifications, such as when a chat starts or ends.

    <Note>
      For actual automations, rely on Post-Chat actions tied to how the conversation ended.
    </Note>
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Agents" icon="users" iconType="light" href="/pages/agents">
    Understand how to manage your agents, including adding and configuring agents for your inbound and outbound activities.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Post-Chat" icon="message-check" iconType="light" href="/pages/text/postchat">
    Review everything captured after a conversation, from transcript to summary.
  </Card>
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***

<Info>
  ### Monitoring and Adjusting Your Inbound Activities

  While basic monitoring of conversation logs and activity reports can be done via our API, any modifications to the activity setup or its settings need to be handled directly on the platform.
</Info>