> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Use the AI Assistant in iMessage > Ask your facility assistant questions from a team group chat in Messages and read short, helpful replies on your phone. ## What you will accomplish You will use your facility's **team iMessage group chat** to ask the AI Assistant everyday questions—schedule, parking, customer lookups, and more—right from your phone. You do **not** need to open the dashboard for quick answers during a phone call or while walking the lot. **Admins: set up the group chat first** If your facility has not connected iMessage yet, an owner or manager must complete [Use the AI Assistant from iMessage](/docs/ai-assistant/use-the-ai-assistant-from-imessage) (or [Connect iMessage to the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/connect-imessage-to-the-ai-assistant)) before staff can text the assistant. This guide assumes the group is already linked. ## When to use iMessage vs the web assistant **Use iMessage** when you are away from a computer, on the lot, or already texting with your team in the group chat. **Use the web [AI Assistant](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/agent)** when you need **proposal cards** to review new customers, cars, or appointments before saving—or when you want links that open straight to a dashboard page. **Setup must happen first** An admin must connect the group chat before this works. If your group never gets replies, ask an admin to follow [Connect iMessage to the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/connect-imessage-to-the-ai-assistant). ## Before you start * Your phone shows a green checkmark under **2 · Text the robot** on [Settings > AI Agent](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/ai-agent) (ask an admin if you are unsure). * You are in the **correct team group chat** in Messages—not a chat with a customer. * You know at least one detail to make the question clear: customer name, car, date, or spot number. * You understand that replies are **helpful drafts**—double-check important times and amounts before promising a customer. ## How replies look in the group chat Unlike the web assistant, iMessage answers appear as **regular text bubbles** in the group—not cards on a dashboard page. * There are **no proposal cards** or **Confirm All** button in Messages. * Replies are usually **short** so they are easy to read on a phone. * The assistant may ask a **follow-up question** if your message was missing a name, date, or VIN. * For changes that affect customers or money, the assistant may ask you to **confirm in plain language** before it acts. **Same brain, different screen** The information is the same whether you ask on the web or in your team group chat. The web [AI Assistant](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/agent) shows rich cards and links. iMessage shows a **plain-text summary** of the same answer. Use the screenshot below as a reference for the type of answer you will see as a text bubble on your phone. Web AI Assistant showing customer, vehicle, and appointment cards after a lookup—the same facts appear as a short text reply in iMessage *On the web, lookups often show cards you can scan quickly. In iMessage you get the same facts as a short message—read it carefully before you repeat details to a customer on the phone.* Settings AI Agent page showing iMessage AI Agent feature description and team setup cards *Staff do not set up iMessage on this page—that is an admin job. Once the feature is enabled, your admin adds verified phone numbers and links a team group chat here.* AI Agent settings step 2 Text the robot showing teammate invite and verified phone cards *Ask an admin to confirm your card in **2 · Text the robot** shows a green checkmark (**Verified**) before you expect replies in the group chat.* **Keep customer chats separate** Do **not** add customers to the assistant group chat. This group is for **staff only**. Customer texts and emails still go through [Inbox](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/inbox). ## Good questions to ask in the group chat Use the same plain-English style as the web assistant. ### Schedule and appointments * What's on the schedule today? * What appointments does Alex Morgan have this week? * Is there a drop-off scheduled for the Porsche 911 tomorrow? **Expected result:** A list of upcoming visits with times. Before you promise a customer on the phone, confirm on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) if the answer is critical. ### Parking * How many parking spots are available? * Where is the 2017 Lamborghini Huracan parked? * Is spot A1 open? **Expected result:** Availability counts or a spot name. If the map is wrong in real life, update [Parking Spots](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/parking-spots)—the assistant reads what your team entered. ### Customer and vehicle lookups * Look up Alex Morgan's cars. * Find the car with plate NORTH1. * Show me the 1995 Porsche 911. **Expected result:** Vehicle details and owner name. If the wrong person appears, send the **full name**, email, or VIN in a new message. ### Billing and documents (if you have access) * Does Alex Morgan have any open invoices? * What contracts are waiting for signature? **Expected result:** A summary you can read quickly. Open [Payments](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/payments) or the customer record before quoting dollar amounts. See [Ask about billing, contracts, and alerts](/docs/ai-assistant/ask-about-billing-contracts-and-alerts). Web AI Assistant showing an invoice lookup reply for Alex Morgan—the same question works in your team iMessage group *The web assistant shows the same kind of billing summary you will see as a text reply in your group chat. Always verify totals in [Payments](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/payments) before you tell a customer what they owe.* ## Write clear messages Start with the job: look up, check, find, or list. **Good:** Look up Alex Morgan's cars. **Hard to answer:** Alex Morgan? Include a full name, vehicle, date, or spot number. **Why this matters:** Many customers share last names. Extra detail prevents mix-ups. Ask about one customer or task per message when possible. **Expected result:** Faster, clearer replies for everyone reading the group chat. ## When the assistant asks you to confirm For sensitive actions—canceling an appointment, sending a contract, or changing billing—the assistant may reply with a question such as “Should I go ahead?” Make sure you understand which customer, car, and action the assistant means. Answer **yes** or **no** in plain language. Add corrections if something looks wrong. **Why this matters:** In iMessage there is no **Confirm All** screen. Your written yes or no is the confirmation step. For voiding invoices, changing payment methods, or deleting records, use the normal dashboard pages instead of the group chat. AI Agent settings Linked group chats section showing active group status with Pause and Unlink buttons *Admins can **Pause** a linked group when you want messages to stay in the thread but the assistant should stop replying—for example during a staff meeting.* ## What iMessage cannot do as well as the web page * **Review proposal cards** before creating customers, cars, and appointments—use [Prepare work with the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/prepare-work-with-the-ai-assistant) on the web instead. * **Open dashboard pages** with a **Go now** button—copy details from the text reply and open the app yourself. * **Send customer texts or emails**—draft wording in the group if helpful, but always send from [Inbox](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/inbox). ## Troubleshooting ### The assistant never replies * Confirm the group is **active** in [Settings > AI Agent](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/ai-agent) (ask an admin). * Confirm your phone is **Verified**. * Check whether an admin **Paused** the group. ### The answer mentions the wrong customer Send a follow-up with the full name, email, or VIN. Do not use a wrong answer for customer promises or billing. ### Times look wrong Your facility time zone lives in [Settings > General](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/general). Compare important appointments on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule). ### I need to create a new customer and car Use the web [AI Assistant](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/agent) with [Prepare work with the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/prepare-work-with-the-ai-assistant) so you can review cards before saving—or enter records manually in [Contacts](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/contacts) and [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars). ## What to do next * [Ask about schedule, parking, and records](/docs/ai-assistant/ask-about-schedule-parking-and-records) — more examples for the web assistant that also work in iMessage. * [Manage team memory for the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/manage-team-memory-for-the-ai-assistant) — facts admins add so every chat stays consistent. * [Use the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/use-the-ai-assistant) — voice, typing, and navigation on the web page. 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