How does Chatref integrate with my existing powersports DMS?

Custom actions are the engine behind DMS compatibility. You can configure Chatref to call your DMS's API or webhook endpoints directly from the chat thread. This allows your AI agent to perform real work - pull up a unit's service history, check part availability, or schedule a service appointment - without leaving the conversation. Because custom actions work with any REST API, they turn Chatref into a flexible layer that integrates with virtually any dealership management system, not just a pre-built list.

Once connected, common interactions become hands-off. A customer asking "Is my bike ready?" can trigger an action that queries the DMS repair order status and replies with a live update. A prospect inquiring "Do you have a 2026 Sidewinder in stock?" instantly prompts a search via your inventory API. This software integration reduces manual lookups and keeps conversations moving, all while drawing answers from your own business data, not the open web.

Not every DMS task suits full automation. When a request needs a finance manager's approval or a service advisor's judgment, the shared inbox brings your team in with one click. Agents see the full chat history and any custom action results already collected, then take over the same thread - no context lost, no ticket transfers. This keeps your DMS workflows human-led exactly where you want them, while Chatref handles the rest.

Setup follows a straightforward path: you define which DMS endpoints you want Chatref to call during a conversation, map those to custom actions in the Chatref dashboard, and test them in the live playground. When a chat hits a matching trigger, Chatref sends a secure API request to your DMS, waits for the response, and formats it for the customer. Meanwhile, every conversation is logged, so you can review which actions were run and when your team stepped in - all to refine the integration over time.

Can Chatref work with my current dealership management system?
Yes. Chatref custom actions can connect to any DMS that exposes a webhook or REST API. Even with older systems that lack a modern API, the shared inbox ensures your team can still handle DMS-related tasks manually while keeping full conversation context.

What are the steps to integrate Chatref with my DMS?

1. Identify the DMS tasks you want Chatref to handle (inventory checks, service order status, lead creation).
2. In your Chatref dashboard, set up custom actions that call the corresponding DMS API endpoints.
3. Test each action in the Chatref playground to confirm it returns the right data.
4. Deploy the widget on your site, and assign a team member to monitor the shared inbox for any conversations that need a human touch.
5. Use chat insights to refine which actions are automated and which remain handoff-only.

Are there any limitations when integrating Chatref with other software?
Custom actions require the target software (your DMS) to have a publicly accessible API; they cannot perform complex, multi-step workflows unless your API supports a single call to do so. The shared inbox is for human handoff, not for fully automated back-office updates. Chatref does not sync data bidirectionally with your DMS - it reaches out only when a conversation triggers an action.