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Telegram bot setup

For many 1Desk projects, Telegram is the fastest and most useful entry point.

Why Telegram is used​

  • customers already know how to use it
  • it works well for fast first response
  • it is good for notifications and operator handoff
  • it is simple for solo founders and small teams

What the user needs​

To connect a Telegram bot, we usually need:

  • a Telegram account with admin access to create the bot
  • the bot name and username
  • avatar, description, and greeting text
  • the business language(s)
  • the list of operators who should receive notifications
  • the business hours and fallback text
  • a public domain with HTTPS for the webhook

How the bot is created​

  1. Create the bot in BotFather.
  2. Save the token on the server, not in the docs.
  3. Point the bot to the 1Desk webhook endpoint.
  4. Configure the reply flow.
  5. Test the customer path and the operator path.

How it works inside 1Desk​

  • the customer writes to the bot
  • 1Desk receives the message
  • Dify or the operator produces the response
  • the chosen CRM gets the lead or conversation update
  • notifications go to the right person

Good practice​

  • use one bot per business unless there is a clear reason to split them
  • keep the bot name human and understandable
  • make the first message short and clear
  • prepare a fallback message for off-hours
  • define when the bot should hand over to a human

Security notes​

  • never store the bot token in a public note
  • use HTTPS for webhooks
  • keep operator access limited to the people who need it

Why it matters for the business​

A good Telegram bot makes 1Desk feel like a working front desk, not just a tech demo.

For SMB it means faster handling of requests. For a solo founder it means the inbox can stay under control even when you are away from the desk.

Short conclusion

Telegram is often the first channel. 1Desk turns it into a controlled workflow instead of a chat pile.