Overview
Discover how HostBuddy's messaging interface enables seamless communication with your guests through user-friendly tools and features. Utilize AI to enhance message generation and manage guest reviews efficiently, keeping your interactions professional and effective.
Navigate Messaging Interface
Access Inbox
To access the Inbox in HostBuddy, click on the Messaging tab located in the navigation bar. This will open the default messaging interface, displaying a list of conversations on the left and the currently selected message thread on the right.
The left section contains your properties and message filters, including an Urgent dropdown to prioritize critical messages that have action items attached to them. The central section shows the message thread, allowing you to read and respond to guest messages. You can type your response in the Type a message... textbox and send it using the Send button.
On the far right, you will find the Reservation section, which provides relevant details of the guest's booking. Just below, there's a snapshot of any open issues related to the conversation. This helps you track and manage problems without scrolling through the entire thread. You can also use the toggle on/off functionality to temporarily turn HostBuddy off for a specific guest conversation. This can be timed to pause HostBuddy for 15 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours or indefinitely.
Use Open Issues for Quick Identification
Easily spot urgent conversation problems with the 'Open Issues' feature. Save time by viewing a top-level snapshot of issues, allowing you to address them quickly without scrolling through entire message threads.
Filter Messages
To use message filters in HostBuddy, navigate to the Inbox. On the left, locate the filters section. Hover over the options to see various filters, including Urgent.
Click the Urgent filter to display messages marked as urgent. This view helps focus on critical conversations first, ensuring timely responses to priority issues. From HostBuddy will grant you the ability to see messages most recently sent by HostBuddy.
Filtering messages allows you to manage your inbox more effectively, helping prioritize and address urgent matters without sifting through all of your messages.
Compose and Send Messages
Use Message Input
To compose a message, click on the Type a message... text box located at the bottom of the conversation pane. Once you start typing your message, the input box will remain focused, allowing you to continue your text with ease. After composing your message, locate the Send button to the right of the input box. Click this button to deliver your message instantly.
Generate Messages with AI
To generate a message in HostBuddy, click the AI button next to the message input box. This brings up a dropdown menu with the options Generate From Scratch and Generate From My Instruction. Selecting Generate From Scratch allows you to have HostBuddy create a new message automatically. Alternatively, choose Generate From My Instruction to provide specific guidelines for the message.
Generate From Scratch uses the same message HostBuddy would normally send automatically. This can be a great way to test HostBuddy before scheduling!
Message Management
In the messaging inbox, we offer a few message management tools. The first tool is Where did this come from?. By clicking it, you can see why HostBuddy responded to a specific guest message the way it did. This helps you understand where HostBuddy found the information it used, so you can correct any errors or make adjustments easily. The second tool is the thumbs up and thumbs down icons. While they don't directly change HostBuddy's behavior, they provide valuable feedback to our technology team for product improvement. Additionally, you can see who sent a message. If it's sent by a human, it will say Sent by Host, and if it's sent by HostBuddy, it will say Sent by HostBuddy, along with the time it was sent.
Access Reservation Details and Controls
On the far right side of the HostBuddy messaging interface, you'll find the reservation details for the selected guest and controls for HostBuddy. This section provides crucial information about the guest's reservation phase.
In this panel, you can view the guest's name, the property they are staying at, and the reservation dates. This information helps you quickly identify the guest and their booking details.
You also have the option to pause HostBuddy for any conversation with the guest. To do this, use the dropdown menu located within the reservation details section. You can choose to pause HostBuddy for 15 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours, or indefinitely. Select the duration based on your needs for that specific guest conversation.
In addition to reservation details, this section also shows any open issues related to the guest's stay at your property. This overview lets you quickly identify and address problems without sifting through message threads. If there are any issues, you can respond promptly.
HostBuddy analyzes guest conversations to determine their overall satisfaction with their stay. The sentiment analysis is displayed in the reservation details section, marked as positive, negative, or neutral. Monitoring guest satisfaction helps you gauge the quality of their experience and make improvements if necessary.