Telegram Notifications

Using the Telegram integration in Chauffeur Booking System, you can automatically send booking notifications to a defined Telegram group. Notifications can be configured both at the booking form level and at the driver level.

Step 1. Create a Telegram Bot

1. Open Telegram and start a chat with BotFather.
2. Send the command /newbot.
3. When prompted, enter a bot name, for example Booking Notifications.
4. Enter a unique bot username. The username must end with bot, for example chauffeur_booking_bot or ChauffeurBookingBot.
5. BotFather will generate an API token. Copy the token and save it securely. It will look similar to:

   123456789:ABCdEFGhijkLmNoPQRstuVWXyz
   

Step 2. Create a Telegram Group

1. In Telegram, create a new group.
2. Add the users who should receive booking notifications.
3. Add the bot you created with BotFather to the group.
4. Make sure the bot remains a member of the group and is allowed to send messages.

You will now need the numeric ID of this group to complete the plugin configuration.

Step 3. Get the Group ID

The Telegram group ID is a numeric value used by the Bot API to identify the destination chat. Copy the complete value, including the minus sign at the beginning.

Option A: Using the Telegram Bot API

This method uses the official Telegram Bot API.

1. After adding your bot to the group, send a command addressed to the bot, for example:

   /test@YourBotUsername
   

   Replace YourBotUsername with the actual username of your bot.

2. In your browser, open:

   https://api.telegram.org/bot<YOUR_TOKEN>/getUpdates
   

3. Replace <YOUR_TOKEN> with the API token generated by BotFather.
4. Look for the "chat" section and its "id" value, for example:

   "chat": {
       "id": -1001234567890,
       "title": "Booking Notifications"
   }
   

5. Copy the complete numeric id value, including the minus sign.

Option B: Using RawDataBot

You can also use a third-party Telegram bot such as RawDataBot to obtain the group ID.

1. Add RawDataBot to your Telegram group.
2. Send a short test message in the group.
3. RawDataBot will return information about the message and chat.
4. Find the "chat" section and copy its "id" value.
5. Remove RawDataBot from the group when you no longer need it.

Step 4. Configure Telegram for the Booking Form

Navigate to ‘Chauffeur Booking System’ -> ‘Booking Forms’ and edit the booking form you want to configure. Then open ‘Notifications’ -> ‘Telegram’.

Configure the following options:

• Status – set this option to ‘Enable’ to activate Telegram notifications for the booking form.
• Token – enter the API token generated by BotFather.
• Group ID – enter the complete numeric ID of the Telegram group, including the minus sign.
• Message – enter the notification text that should be sent when a new booking is created, for example New booking has been received.

Save the booking form. When a new booking is created through this form, the plugin will send the configured message to the selected Telegram group.

Step 5. Configure Telegram for a Driver (Optional)

Telegram can also be configured individually for drivers.

Navigate to ‘Chauffeur Booking System’ -> ‘Drivers’, edit a driver profile, open the ‘Contact Details’ tab, and locate the ‘Telegram’ section.

Configure:

• Token – enter the API token generated by BotFather.
• Group ID – enter the numeric ID of the Telegram group where booking details assigned to this driver should be sent.

Step 6. Test the Configuration

1. Make sure the Telegram bot is still a member of the configured group and is allowed to send messages.
2. Verify that the Token and Group ID entered in the plugin are correct.
3. Create a test booking through the booking form.
4. Check the configured Telegram group for the notification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Am I Not Receiving Telegram Notifications?

Check the following:

• Make sure the bot is still a member of the configured Telegram group.
• Make sure the bot is allowed to send messages to the group.
• Verify that the complete Group ID, including the minus sign, has been entered correctly.
• Verify that the Token generated by BotFather has been entered correctly.
• Make sure Telegram notifications are enabled in the relevant plugin settings.

Where Can I Check Telegram-Related Errors?

If Telegram notifications are not being delivered correctly, navigate to ‘Settings’ -> ‘Chauffeur Booking System’ -> ‘Log Manager’ -> ‘Telegram’.

The Telegram log can help identify errors returned while the plugin communicates with the Telegram Bot API.

The Bot Was Working Before but Stopped Sending Messages. What Should I Check?

Verify that the bot is still present in the group and that its permissions have not changed. Also check whether the bot token has been regenerated or revoked in BotFather. If the token has changed, update it in the plugin configuration.

If the configuration is correct, check whether your hosting server or firewall is blocking outgoing HTTPS connections to api.telegram.org and review the plugin’s Telegram log for additional information.

The Driver Did Not Receive the Booking Details. Why?

Driver Telegram notifications are sent only when the driver is already assigned to a vehicle or booking form when the booking is created. If the driver is assigned later, for example by editing an existing booking, no Telegram notification is generated for that booking.

What Should I Do if My Bot Token Becomes Public?

Open BotFather and revoke or regenerate the compromised token. Then update the Token in every booking form or driver configuration where the bot is used.