# Starting a New Chat with a Customer {% embed url="" %} Demo: How to Start a new conversation with Customer {% endembed %} * Navigate to the **Conversation** section in the Mercuri CX dashboard. * Click on the **Start Chat** icon located in the conversation panel on the left side. * Next, select the **source number** based on the communication channel you want to use—WhatsApp or SMS, and click **Continue**. * You can either **manually enter the customer’s phone number** or use the **search bar** to find an existing contact. After selecting the number, click **Continue**. * If you're using WhatsApp as the communication channel, select a **pre-approved template** from the available list. * Enter the appropriate values for the **variables** included in the template, such as the customer’s name or order ID. * You’ll be able to **review the message** before sending. If needed, click on **Edit Message** to make any changes. * Once satisfied with the message content, click **Send** to initiate the conversation. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.mercuri.cx/features/conversations-inbox/starting-a-new-chat-with-a-customer.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.