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Overview

The Chat Configuration section allows you to fine-tune how your AI assistant interacts with visitors, ensuring it represents your dealership professionally while maximizing lead capture.

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Accessing Chat Settings

  1. Log in to your Vaile Dashboard
  2. Navigate to Settings → Chat Configuration
  3. Make changes in real-time with instant preview
Changes typically take effect within 1-2 minutes on your live website

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Assistant Configuration

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Basic Settings

  • Assistant Identity
  • Conversation Style
  • Response Behavior
Assistant Name Give your AI assistant a personality:
  • Default: “Vaile Assistant”
  • Examples: “Sarah”, “Mike”, “Auto Expert”
  • Keep it professional and approachable
Role Description How the assistant introduces itself:
"Hi! I'm Sarah, your virtual sales assistant at [Dealership Name]"
Use a name that matches your brand personality

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Knowledge Base

Configure what your assistant knows about:
Essential information to provide:
  • Dealership name and address
  • Phone numbers (sales, service, parts)
  • Business hours for each department
  • Website URLs
  • Special services offered
  • Current promotions
Keep this information updated, especially hours and promotions
How the AI discusses vehicles:
  • General inventory categories (SUVs, Sedans, Trucks)
  • Price ranges for each category
  • Popular models and features
  • New vs. used availability
  • Special deals or featured vehicles
The AI won’t quote specific prices but can give ranges
Additional services to mention:
  • Financing options
  • Trade-in evaluations
  • Service department
  • Parts availability
  • Extended warranties
  • Delivery options
Important policies to communicate:
  • Test drive requirements
  • Financing pre-approval process
  • Return/exchange policy
  • Warranty information
  • Service appointment booking

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Greeting Configuration

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Initial Greeting

The first message visitors see:
1

Welcome Message

Default: “Hi! Welcome to [Dealership Name]. How can I help you today?”Customize with:
  • Your dealership name
  • Current promotion
  • Friendly invitation
2

Greeting Triggers

When to show the greeting:
  • Immediate: As soon as page loads
  • Delayed: After X seconds (recommended: 5-10)
  • On Scroll: When user scrolls down
  • Exit Intent: When user moves to leave
3

Repeat Visitor Greeting

Different message for returning visitors:
  • “Welcome back! Still looking for that perfect vehicle?”
  • “Hi again! Ready to continue where we left off?”

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Time-Based Greetings

Customize greetings by time:

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Lead Capture Settings

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Information Collection

Configure what information to request:
  • Required Fields
  • Optional Fields
  • Progressive Capture
Minimum information needed:
  • ✅ First Name (always required)
  • ✅ Either Email OR Phone
Keep requirements minimal to reduce friction

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Capture Triggers

When to request contact information:

Interest Signals

  • Asks about specific vehicle
  • Inquires about pricing
  • Mentions test drive
  • Asks about financing

Time-Based

  • After 3 exchanges
  • Before providing detailed info
  • When conversation goes idle
  • At natural transition points

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Behavioral Settings

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Widget Behavior

Fine-tune how the widget acts:
Desktop Behavior
  • Never auto-open (default)
  • Open after X seconds
  • Open on specific pages
  • Open for new visitors only
Mobile Behavior
  • Never auto-open (recommended)
  • Open on landing
  • Subtle notification only
Conversation Memory
  • Remember across pages
  • Remember across sessions
  • Clear after X days of inactivity
Widget State
  • Remember if minimized
  • Remember position (if moveable)
  • Reset on new session
Configure notification sounds:
  • New message sound
  • Widget open sound
  • Typing indicator sound
  • Error/success sounds
Volume control and mute options

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Advanced AI Settings

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Response Guidelines

Train your AI assistant:
1

Do's - What AI Should Do

  • Be helpful and friendly
  • Collect contact information naturally
  • Mention current promotions
  • Encourage test drives
  • Provide general information
  • Transfer complex questions to humans
2

Don'ts - What AI Should Avoid

  • Quote specific prices
  • Make promises about availability
  • Discuss competitor comparisons
  • Share confidential information
  • Process transactions
  • Give legal or financial advice

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Custom Instructions

Add specific instructions for your AI: 
Example Instructions:
- Always mention our "No Haggle" pricing policy
- Highlight our 100-point inspection for used cars
- Emphasize family-owned for 50 years
- Mention free lifetime oil changes with purchase
- Direct service questions to service department
Test custom instructions thoroughly to ensure appropriate responses

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FAQ Management

Pre-configure answers to common questions:
  • Sales FAQs
  • Inventory FAQs
  • Service FAQs
  • What are your hours?
  • Do you have financing?
  • Can I trade in my car?
  • Do you offer warranties?
  • What’s your return policy?

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Appearance Customization

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Visual Settings

Colors

  • Primary color (header/button)
  • Secondary color (accents)
  • Text colors
  • Background color
  • Message bubble colors

Typography

  • Font family
  • Font sizes
  • Line height
  • Message alignment
  • Timestamp display

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Widget Design

Choose from templates or customize:
  • Modern: Clean, minimal design
  • Classic: Traditional chat layout
  • Branded: Fully customized to match site
  • Compact: Space-saving design
  • Expanded: Larger conversation area

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Testing Your Configuration

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Preview Mode

Test changes before going live:
1

Enable Preview

Click “Preview Mode” toggle
2

Test Interactions

  • Send test messages
  • Trigger different scenarios
  • Check mobile/desktop views
3

Verify Behavior

  • Greeting timing
  • Lead capture flow
  • Response appropriateness
4

Publish Changes

When satisfied, click “Publish”

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A/B Testing

Test different configurations:
  1. Create variant configurations
  2. Set traffic split (50/50, etc.)
  3. Run for meaningful period
  4. Analyze results:
    • Engagement rate
    • Lead capture rate
    • Conversation quality
  5. Implement winning variant

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Monitoring and Optimization

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Performance Metrics

Track configuration effectiveness:

Engagement Metrics

  • Widget open rate
  • Conversation start rate
  • Average messages per chat
  • Time to lead capture

Quality Metrics

  • Lead quality score
  • Successful captures
  • Dropout points
  • Customer satisfaction

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Regular Reviews

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Best Practices

  • Clear, concise greetings
  • Minimal required fields
  • Easy-to-understand responses
  • Natural conversation flow
  • Match website design
  • Use brand voice
  • Include taglines/slogans
  • Maintain professionalism
  • Monitor analytics regularly
  • Test new approaches
  • Update based on feedback
  • Stay current with inventory

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Next Steps

General Settings

Configure account and team settings

Widget Customization

Advanced widget styling options