Connect Integrations
Integrations let your agents interact with external services — send emails, read CRM data, respond on WhatsApp, and more. This guide shows you how to connect them.
What you'll learn
- What integrations are and why they matter
- How to connect services like Gmail, Slack, or HubSpot (one-click)
- How to set up custom API connections for services not in the marketplace
- How to connect WhatsApp for messaging
What are integrations?
An integration connects your agent to an external service. When connected, your agent can:
- Send and read emails via Gmail
- Post messages in Slack channels
- Look up customer data in HubSpot or Salesforce
- Respond to WhatsApp messages
- Create tickets in Jira or Linear
- And 145+ more via OAuth
Without integrations, your agent can only chat. With integrations, it can take action on behalf of your team.
Connect a service (OAuth)
Most popular services connect with one click:
- Open your agent's detail page
- Go to the Connected Services tab
- Click Add a Service
- Search for the service you want (e.g., "Gmail")
- Click Connect next to it
- A popup appears — sign in to the service and authorize Orxa
- Done! The integration appears under "Connected to this agent"
Your credentials are encrypted with AES-256 encryption and stored securely. OAuth tokens are refreshed automatically in the background — you don't need to reconnect.
Set up a custom API integration
If the service you need isn't in the marketplace, you can create a custom integration for any REST API:
- On the Connected Services tab, click Create custom integration
- Enter a name and base URL (e.g., https://api.yourservice.com)
- Choose the authentication method: API key, Bearer token, Basic auth, OAuth2, or JWT
- Define the tools (endpoints) your agent can call — give each a name, HTTP method, path, and description
- Click Create integration
Write clear descriptions for each tool — the AI uses these descriptions to decide when to call each endpoint. For example: "Look up a customer by email address" is better than "GET customer".
Connect WhatsApp
WhatsApp works differently from other integrations. It uses a tool called WAHA that connects by scanning a QR code with your phone, just like WhatsApp Web:
- Go to Inbox in the sidebar
- Click the Channels button at the top-right of the conversation list — this opens the Channels page
- Click Connect on the WhatsApp row
- A QR code dialog opens — scan it with WhatsApp on your phone (Linked Devices → Link a Device)
- Once connected, your agent will receive and respond to WhatsApp messages automatically
WhatsApp messaging is configured workspace-wide via Inbox → Channels. The Connected Services tab is for tools like Gmail, Slack, and CRM — not the primary WhatsApp channel setup.
The WhatsApp connection uses your phone number. Messages sent by your agent appear as coming from that number. Make sure you use a dedicated business phone number.
Expected outcome
Your agent is now connected to external services. It can send emails, read data, respond on WhatsApp, and interact with your business tools — all automatically. Next, learn how to monitor and manage these conversations in the Inbox.