To connect Apple Messages for Business to your Bitrix24 account successfully, you need to demonstrate all chat processing capabilities to an Apple specialist. These include:

• Rich Links
• List Picker
• Time Picker

This is a mandatory condition for the Apple Messages for Business verification.

This article explains how to set up a test connection and provides examples of these features for reference. CRM forms with chat processing capabilities for your account verification should contain data relevant to your business.

Setting up a test connection

Before connecting Apple Messages for Business and sending a verification request to Apple, set up a special test connection to explore all possible scenarios. This option doesn't require verification and activates immediately. Only specified Apple Accounts can access this channel as testers, unlike the commercial connection.

To set up a test connection, choose the Internal test account as your account type.
Connect Apple Messages for Business

Next, specify your Tester Apple Accounts by clicking Add Apple Accounts. Only these users will be able to send messages via the Messages app to your test account.

Click Send to review, and your test account's status will switch to Online.

Rich Links

Displaying rich links is mandatory for successful verification and connection of the Apple Messages for Business account to Bitrix24. Enable rich link preview in Bitrix24 to ensure they display correctly on Apple devices.

Bitrix24 Cloud. Go to Settings > Communications > turn on the toggle switch next to the Enable rich link previews option > click Save.

Bitrix24 On-Premise. Go to the Control Panel section > click Settings > System settings > Module settings > Main module > Settings > check the Enable rich media links option > click Apply.

Also, disable the automatic response warning about collecting personal data until your Apple Messages for Business account is verified by Apple employee, as it won't display as a rich link.

1. Go to the Open Channel settings.
2. Open the Cookie consent tab.
3. Disable the Send warning about collecting personal data option.

After your account is verified, you can enable this option again.

Now, any external link sent in Bitrix24 Messenger will display as a rich link in the Messages app and vice versa.

List Picker

To send a list picker to the Messages app, create a CRM form with just one List field. Use a simple list, a multiple selection list (with checkmarks), or a product list.

Create and configure a form with a simple list.

1. Go to CRM > Add-ons > CRM Forms.
2. Click Add and select any use case to proceed.
3. Remove other fields selected by default.
4. Click Add field.
5. Click Create field and select the List type.
6. Name your field and add list items. Enable the Multiple option if you need a multiple selection list.
7. Click Save.
8. Select the field and click Add. Make sure it's the only field in the CRM form.
9. Open the Other settings tab and rename the form to quickly find it later.
10. Click Save at the bottom.

Create and configure CRM form

Create and configure a form with a product list.

1. Go to CRM > Add-ons > CRM Forms.
2. Click Add and select any use case to proceed.
3. Remove other fields selected by default.
4. Click Add products.
5. Click the pencil icon next to Products.
6. Select products from the catalog or add them manually.
7. Click Save.
8. Open the Other settings tab and rename the form to quickly find it later.
9. Click Save at the bottom.

Create and configure CRM form

Add the form to Chat enabled sales. To use the created form in customer chats, add it as a page under Sales center. Here's how:

1. Go to CRM > Sales > Sales center.
2. Click Service booking via chat > Create a page.
3. Select the created CRM form.

Information pages in Sales Center

Send a form to your customer. To send a list picker to the chat:

1. Click the Start selling button in the chat.
2. Expand CRM forms.
3. Select the form you need.
4. Click Send at the bottom.

The form will be sent to the Messages app as a native list, not as a link.

Time Picker

To send a time picker to the Messages app, create a CRM form with just one Book a Resource field. It's important to set default values of the booked resource and select only one responsible employee.

Create a field. To create a Book a Resource field in CRM:

1. Open the item form and click Add field.
2. Select Book a Resource as the custom field type.
3. Complete the new field form.
4. Leave the Date only and Add services and duration options disabled.
5. Click Save.

Add a CRM form. To create a CRM form with your Book a Resource field:

1. Go to CRM > Add-ons > CRM Forms.
2. Click Add and select any use case to proceed.
3. Remove other fields selected by default.
4. Click Add field.
5. Select the created field and click Add.
6. Click the pencil icon next to the added field to edit it.
7. Select only one user and resource. Ensure the Duration field is disabled.
8. Click Finish the customization.
9. Open the Other settings tab and rename the form to quickly find it later.
10. Click Save at the bottom.

Create and configure CRM form

Add the form to Chat enabled sales. To use this form in customer chats, add it as a new page under Sales center. Here's how:

1. Go to CRM > Sales > Sales center.
2. Click Service booking via chat > Create a page.
3. Select the created CRM form.

Information pages in Sales Center

Send a form to your customer. To send a time picker form to the chat:

1. Click the Start selling button in the chat.
2. Expand CRM forms.
3. Select the form you need.
4. Click Send at the bottom.

The form will be sent to the Messages app as a native list, not as a link.

After creating CRM forms and testing their work in a test account, you can configure the settings of the Apple Messages for Business commercial account.
Connect Apple Messages for Business

Chat Suggest

This option is not mandatory. To enable it, you need to contact Apple Messages for Business support, either during the account verification process or anytime later.

When a client taps one of your company's phone numbers on his/her Apple device, a new window opens, offering two options: call this number or contact you via Apple Messages for Business.

Learn more about the Chat Suggest option in the Apple support article.