Tutorial · Channels
How to set up a Telegram bot agent
This tutorial takes you from nothing to an AI agent answering messages in Telegram. You create a bot with Telegram's own @BotFather, paste the bot token into VegaDūta's Telegram channel settings, and the platform registers the webhook for you — there is no server to run and no code to write. Tokens are stored per workspace, so your bot stays yours.
Step by step
Create the bot with @BotFather
In Telegram, open a chat with @BotFather and send /newbot. Give the bot a display name and a username ending in 'bot'. BotFather replies with an API token — that token is the only credential you need.
Copy the bot token
Copy the token exactly as BotFather sent it. Treat it like a password: anyone holding it controls the bot. You can revoke and reissue it from @BotFather at any time if it leaks.
Paste the token into VegaDūta
In the console, open Channels, choose Telegram, and paste the token into the channel settings. Credentials are stored per tenant, so each workspace connects its own bot. Save, and pick which agent answers on this channel.
Let the platform register the webhook
On save, VegaDūta registers the Telegram webhook for the bot automatically. There is nothing to host and no polling loop to babysit — Telegram starts delivering messages to the platform immediately.
Test in Telegram
Open your bot in Telegram and send it a message. The agent should reply within moments. If nothing comes back, re-check the token in the channel settings — a stale or revoked token is the usual culprit.
Optionally wire it into a workflow
The Telegram channel can also act as a workflow trigger. In the workflow builder, choose Telegram as the trigger and incoming messages will start an automated run — useful for intake forms, alerts, or routing.
Going further
A Telegram bot is often the fastest channel to stand up, which makes it a good place to iterate on the agent itself.
- Refine the agent's instructions and knowledge in the builder — changes apply to the connected bot immediately.
- Add guardrails so the bot asks before taking consequential actions.
- Connect the same agent to WhatsApp or other channels once you are happy with its behaviour.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to host a server for a Telegram bot?
No. VegaDūta registers the Telegram webhook for you when you save the token, and the platform receives and answers messages on the bot's behalf. There is no code to deploy and no polling process to run.
Where do I get a Telegram bot token?
From @BotFather, Telegram's official bot for creating bots. Send it /newbot, choose a name and username, and it replies with the API token. Paste that token into VegaDūta's Telegram channel settings.
Is my bot token shared with other VegaDūta customers?
No. Channel credentials are stored per tenant, so your token belongs to your workspace alone and connects only your bot. You can replace it any time by issuing a new token from @BotFather.
Can a Telegram message trigger an automated workflow?
Yes. Telegram is one of the channels that can act as a workflow trigger, so an incoming message can start a multi-step automated run — an agent step, conditions, approvals, and so on — instead of just a chat reply.
See it working in two minutes
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