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This guide assumes you have access to a running Sniko instance. If you need to self-host first, see Installation.
1

Register an account

Navigate to your Sniko instance URL and click Register. Fill in your name, email address, and password.If the platform is invite-only or you are the first user, your administrator can create your account from the Admin → User Management panel and send you a password reset link.After registering you will land on the Dashboard.
2

Add your ElevenLabs API key

Sniko requires an ElevenLabs API key to create and manage voice agents.
  1. Log in to ElevenLabs and go to Profile → API Keys.
  2. Create a new key and copy it.
  3. In Sniko, open Settings from the sidebar.
  4. Paste the key into the ElevenLabs API Key field and save.
Use a dedicated API key for Sniko rather than a personal key. This makes it easy to rotate or revoke access independently.
Sniko validates the key immediately. If validation fails, double-check that the key is active and has the Conversational AI scope enabled in your ElevenLabs account.
3

Create your first agent

  1. Click Agents in the sidebar, then click Create Agent.
  2. Fill in the agent details:
    FieldDescription
    NameInternal label for the agent (e.g. Support Bot)
    VoicePick from your ElevenLabs library or a cloned voice
    System promptInstructions that define the agent’s persona and behavior
    First messageWhat the agent says when a call begins
  3. Click Save. Sniko creates the agent in your connected ElevenLabs account and stores a reference locally.
Start with a focused system prompt. For example: “You are a friendly support agent for Acme Corp. Answer questions about our return policy. If you cannot help, offer to transfer the caller.”
4

Test the agent with the conversation simulator

Once the agent is saved, open it and click Test Agent (or Simulate Conversation) in the agent detail view.The built-in simulator opens a browser-based voice session powered directly by ElevenLabs. Speak into your microphone to talk to the agent in real time.Use this to:
  • Verify the voice and persona feel right.
  • Check that the system prompt guides the conversation correctly.
  • Identify gaps in the agent’s knowledge before going live.
The simulator uses real ElevenLabs API credits. Each simulated conversation counts against your ElevenLabs plan.
5

(Optional) Assign a phone number via Twilio

To make the agent reachable by phone, you need a Twilio phone number connected to your Sniko instance.Prerequisites:
  • A Twilio account with at least one active phone number.
  • TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID, TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN, and TWILIO_FROM_NUMBER set in your .env (or configured in Admin → System Config).
Steps:
  1. Go to Phone Numbers in the sidebar.
  2. Click Import Number and enter the Twilio number in E.164 format (e.g. +15550001234).
  3. Open the agent you created, then click Assign Phone Number.
  4. Select the imported number from the list.
Once assigned, calls to that Twilio number are routed to your agent automatically via the Twilio webhook that Sniko configures.
The Twilio webhook URL is set to {APP_URL}/twilio/voice. Make sure your APP_URL in .env is publicly reachable so Twilio can reach it.

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What’s next

Knowledge base

Upload documents and URLs so the agent can answer questions with accurate, grounded information.

Batch calls

Launch outbound campaigns to a list of contacts using a CSV import.

Agent tools

Attach survey, appointment, or KYC tools to collect structured data during conversations.

Conversation history

Review transcripts, play back audio, and extract structured data from completed calls.

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