Instant delivery
Messages appear without delay on both sides.
All features
Platform
Everything happens live – no reloading
Messages, typing indicator, online presence, and read receipts all run over a persistent WebSocket connection. Customer and team see each other in real time – like a modern messenger.
Team online
Are you available right now?
typing…
Read · 09:41
What it can do
The key capabilities of this feature at a glance.
Typing indicator
"Typing…" shows that a reply is coming.
Online presence
The customer sees whether the team is currently available.
Read receipt
Read status brings clarity to both sides.
How it works
What happens behind the scenes – in three steps.
- 1
Connection established
Widget and inbox connect via WebSocket on open.
- 2
Events flow
Every message and typing status is transmitted immediately.
- 3
Both in the loop
Presence and read receipts keep both sides in sync.
Frequently asked questions
01Do customers need to reload the page to see new replies?
No. The widget and the inbox keep a persistent WebSocket connection open, so every message appears on both sides as soon as it is sent. It feels like a modern messenger rather than a contact form.
02Can customers see when my team is typing or online?
Yes. A “Typing…” indicator shows that a reply is on its way, and the online presence shows whether your team is currently available. That takes the uncertainty out of waiting in a chat, just like in a modern messenger.
03How do read receipts work in the chat?
Both sides see when a message has been read. Customers know their question has arrived, and your team knows whether the customer has seen the reply before following up. Like the messages themselves, the read status updates live, without reloading the page.
04Does my team notice new chats straight away?
Yes. New chats and handoffs appear live in the inbox with an unread counter. If nobody has the inbox open, askVela notifies your team by email when a case is handed off to a person.