Your first flow

A flow is what your WhatsApp bot does when something happens. Let’s make a bot that says hello when someone writes to your number.

Pick your WhatsApp number

In the bot picker at the top of the sidebar, pick your WhatsApp number.

Make a new flow

Open Flows and make a new flow. Pick what starts it: When a WhatsApp message arrives.

Add a message block

Add the block that sends a WhatsApp message under the first block and connect them. Type:

Hi {wa_name|there}! Thanks for your message. We will answer you soon.

Look at the chat preview

The builder has a chat preview that shows how your message looks in WhatsApp, with backup values too.

Save

Save the flow. You see “Flow saved. It runs on the next message to your number.” Send a message to your number from another phone. Your bot answers!

What can start a flow?

Trigger	When it runs
When a WhatsApp message arrives	For every message: text, photos, files and locations.
When a message matches keywords	When a message contains, starts with or equals words you choose, like `price` or `hours`.
When someone taps a button or choice	Whenever someone answers your buttons or a choice list.
When a web request arrives	When another app (a form, a shop, Zapier, Make) sends data to your number’s web address. Each field arrives as `\{hook_field\}`. Set Send messages to to the customer’s number, usually `\{hook_phone\}`. See Apps and services.

What can a flow do?

Block	What it does
Send a WhatsApp message	Sends text.
Ask with buttons	Up to 3 buttons. Each button runs its own blocks.
Choice list	A list of up to 10 choices to pick from.
Photo, video or file	Sends a picture, video or document.
Location	Sends a pin on the map, like your shop.
Reaction	Reacts to their message with an emoji.
Approved template	Sends a Meta-approved template. The only way to message someone after the 24-hour window.
Mark as read	Shows blue ticks on their message.
Send to an app	Sends the chat’s details to Zapier, Make or any web address. The answer comes back as `\{app_reply\}`.
Add a row to Google Sheets	Saves details as a new row in your Sheet.
Hand over to a person	Stops the bot for this chat and puts it in your Inbox for a human.

Checks, variables, Pause, loops, web requests and Replay notes work here too. WhatsApp buttons on the board are WhatsApp green.

Trigger: When a WhatsApp message arrives.
Ask with buttons: Hi \{wa_name|there\}! What do you need? with buttons Prices, Opening hours, Talk to a person.
Under Prices: send your price list.
Under Opening hours: send We are open Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00.
Under Talk to a person: Hand over to a person, then send A team member will answer you here soon.

Start from a ready-made flow

At the top of the Flows page there are ready-made flows, in categories. Press Use this to save a copy and open it in the builder. Then change the words and links. They are also great examples of how flows are built.

Ready-made flow	What it does
Welcome message	Says hello to new people.
Questions and answers	Answers common questions.
Opening hours	Tells people when you are open.
Bookings	Takes a booking and saves it to Google Sheets.
Order status	Looks up an order in your shop.
Price list	Sends your prices.
Hand over to a person	Passes the chat to a real person in the Inbox.
Feedback	Asks for feedback and saves it to Google Sheets.
New enquiry to Zapier or Make	Sends new enquiries to your other apps.
Order confirmation from your shop	Sends a message when your shop gets an order.

Getting started

The builders

Variables

Build a system

Card Studio

Dashboard pages

WhatsApp bots

Modules and Marketplace

Your account

Help

What can start a flow?

What can a flow do?

Example: a simple menu

Start from a ready-made flow

​What can start a flow?

​What can a flow do?

​Example: a simple menu

​Start from a ready-made flow

What can start a flow?

What can a flow do?

Example: a simple menu

Start from a ready-made flow