Outbound Webhooks
Outbound Webhooks are event-driven HTTP POST notifications sent automatically to external endpoints when specific events—such as completed chats or captured leads—occur.
How it works
Instead of external systems constantly polling an API for new data, webhooks push data immediately as events happen.
Payloads contain event metadata, timestamps, and the relevant entity data (such as conversation transcripts or contact details).
Security is maintained using HMAC signatures (e.g. HMAC-SHA256) included in request headers, allowing the receiving server to verify that the payload originated from an authorized sender and was not tampered with.
How SiteMind uses it
SiteMind dispatches real-time webhooks for `chat.answered` and `lead.captured` events with HMAC-SHA256 signature verification and built-in endpoint test triggers.
Related terms
Function Calling (AI Tool Use)
Function Calling allows an AI assistant to trigger external APIs and backend workflows by generating structured parameters during a conversation.
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is a method where an AI looks up relevant information from a trusted source before answering, so its replies are grounded in facts instead of guesses.