HubSpot conversations: managing shared customer communications
HubSpot’s Conversations tools allow teams to manage customer communications from a shared inbox, bringing together messages from live chat, email, forms and chatbots in one central place.
This helps teams respond more efficiently, collaborate effectively and maintain visibility across customer interactions.
Team inboxes are typically used by Sales, Marketing and Service teams to help manage inbound communication consistently.
Team inboxes
A team inbox is a shared workspace where multiple users can view, assign and respond to conversations.
Key considerations
- Inboxes should be structured by function, such as Sales, Support or Marketing
- Clear ownership and assignment rules help reduce response delays
- Access should be restricted to relevant users
Live chat
Live chat allows website visitors to start real-time conversations with your team.
Chats appear within the conversations inbox and can be assigned to individual users or teams.
Key considerations
- Availability hours should reflect your team’s capacity
- Live chat performance depends on staffing and response times
- Chat activity can be associated with contact records in the CRM
Chatbots and automation
Chatbots can automate parts of the initial customer conversation.
They can be used to:
- Qualify visitors
- Route conversations to the appropriate team
- Answer common questions
- Create tickets or CRM records
Key considerations
- Bots should complement rather than replace human interaction
- Poorly designed bots can create friction for customers
- Automation should be reviewed regularly to make sure it remains accurate
Connected email channels
Shared email addresses, such as sales@ or support@, can be connected to a team inbox so messages can be managed by the wider team and recorded in HubSpot.
Key considerations
- Use shared addresses rather than personal inboxes for team-based communications
- Ownership and responsibility for replies should be clearly defined
- Conversations can be logged against CRM records where possible
HubSpot guide:
Conversations inbox overview
HubSpot supports connecting WhatsApp Business accounts so messages can be managed from within the conversations inbox.
This can enable teams to:
- Send and receive WhatsApp messages from HubSpot
- View conversation history alongside other channels
- Associate messages with CRM records
- Route and assign conversations to teams
Key considerations
- A WhatsApp Business account is required
- WhatsApp has its own messaging rules and templates
- Consent and opt-in requirements still apply
HubSpot guide:
Connect WhatsApp to the conversations inbox
Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger can be connected to HubSpot so customer messages from Facebook Pages appear within a shared inbox.
This can enable teams to:
- Manage Messenger conversations in HubSpot
- Assign conversations to users or teams
- Log conversations against contacts where possible
- Use automation and chatbots for Messenger
Key considerations
- Admin access to the Facebook Page is required
- Facebook platform rules and response windows apply
- Messenger bots should be reviewed regularly
HubSpot guide:
Connect Facebook Messenger to the conversations inbox
Calling in HubSpot
HubSpot’s calling tools allow users to make and receive calls from the CRM, with calls logged as activities on relevant records.
This can provide:
- Inbound and outbound calling, depending on your setup
- Call logging and recordings
- Call outcomes and notes stored in the CRM
- Visibility across sales and service teams
Key considerations
- Calling availability depends on subscription and region
- Local regulations around call recording apply
- Phone numbers and users must be configured correctly
Access, permissions and governance
Access to inboxes and conversation tools is controlled through HubSpot users, teams and permissions.
Key considerations
- Limit inbox access to users who need it
- Review permissions and inactive users regularly
- Ensure conversation data handling aligns with your organisation’s privacy policies
What to remember
HubSpot Conversations brings multiple communication channels into shared team inboxes.
Clear inbox structure, ownership, permissions and automation help teams manage customer communications consistently while keeping interaction history visible within HubSpot.