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How to design the Chat Console for agent productivity

Modern Chat Console design is part of Service Console configuration. Each design decision affects agent throughput and customer experience.

By Dipojjal Chakrabarti · Founder & Editor, Salesforce DictionaryLast updated May 20, 2026

Modern Chat Console design is part of Service Console configuration. Each design decision affects agent throughput and customer experience.

  1. Build the Service Console Lightning page

    App Builder. Configure a Service Console layout that surfaces Omni-Channel, the active workspace tab, Knowledge sidebar, and Quick Text where agents need them.

  2. Configure Omni-Channel capacity

    Setup, Omni-Channel, Presence Configurations. Set chat capacity per agent role. Three to five concurrent chats is the practical range.

  3. Add Quick Text and Macros

    Set up Quick Text snippets for common chat responses. Build Macros for repeated multi-step workflows (verify customer, attach Knowledge, send follow-up email).

  4. Configure pre-chat form to populate customer context

    Pre-chat forms collect basic info that powers screen pop. Without screen pop, agents cold-start every chat.

  5. Iterate based on agent feedback

    Run a weekly agent feedback session in the first month. Console layouts often miss the agent's actual workflow on the first pass; iteration tightens the design.

Gotchas
  • Console layouts cluttered with unused components slow chat handling. Test layouts with actual agents before launch.
  • Capacity set too high overwhelms agents; three to five concurrent chats is the practical range.
  • Quick Text catalogues drift toward off-brand or stale content. Curate and prune regularly.
  • The Classic Chat Console layout no longer applies. Documentation that references it is legacy.

See the full Chat Console entry

Chat Console includes the definition, worked example, deep dive, related terms, and a quiz.