First-run setup
The required setup wizard that runs after installing Enscale — timezone, availability, and your first channel.
After installing, Enscale opens a short required setup wizard. You can't reach the rest of the app until it's done, because automations behave badly without this configuration — an out-of-hours auto-reply with no timezone set will fire at the wrong times for every customer you have.
It takes about two minutes.
Step 1 — Quick basics
Timezone
Your store's operating timezone. This drives:
- Business-hours checks, including the Conversation Out of Hours workflow trigger.
- Campaign scheduling.
- Timestamps throughout the app.
Set the timezone your support team actually works in, which isn't always your store's currency region.
When can customers reach you?
Two options:
| Option | Effect |
|---|---|
| Always available (24/7) | No out-of-hours handling. Every conversation is treated as in-hours. |
| Only during business hours | You set your hours. Conversations starting outside them can trigger an out-of-hours reply or workflow. |
Choosing business hours is what makes the Conversation Out of Hours trigger usable, and lets you set an automatic out-of-hours message in Settings.
You can change both later in Settings → General.
Step 2 — Connect a channel
Pick one of WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, or webchat.
Connect WhatsApp first if you're unsure. It's the channel that campaigns, most automations, and template messaging all assume. The others are quicker to add later.
| Channel | Setup guide | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp setup | 10–15 min, plus Meta template approval | |
| Instagram setup | 5 min | |
| Facebook setup | 5 min | |
| Webchat | Webchat widget | 5 min |
Webchat is the fastest way to see Enscale working end-to-end, because it needs no Meta account and no approval. If you just want to confirm the app is wired up correctly, connect webchat first and add WhatsApp after.
After the wizard
You land on the dashboard with an onboarding checklist tracking what's left. Work through the full checklist at your own pace — nothing else is blocking.
Your 7-day Starter trial is already running from the moment you installed, so it's worth connecting a channel promptly to get real use out of it.
Next steps
- Onboarding checklist — everything else to set up.
- Channels overview — how channels work.
- Settings reference — changing these later.