Interakt users can set up WhatsApp chatbot workflows on the platform, enhancing user experience through seamless personalized interactions. To create a bot, register on Interakt, design your chatbot flow via drag-and-drop tools, integrate with the WhatsApp Business API, and deploy it to automate interactions instantly.
If you're looking to automate your WhatsApp Business replies with Interakt, here's a step-by-step guide to creating your first chatbot. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Navigate to the Chatbot Builder
First, log in to your Interakt Dashboard and access the Automation section from the Settings tab. From the options, choose Workflows.
Step 2: Create a New Chatbot
Click the green +Create new button to start from scratch, or you can choose to work on an existing workflow or a template.
If your chatbot aligns with one of the templates, you can select it to save your time. If you don’t like the existing chatbot templates, you can build your chatbot from scratch.
Step 3: Build Your Workflow
Follow the following steps to build your own flow for a template for the chatbot:
1. Edit Flow Name
Create a unique workflow name and confirm it. Now your workspace window will be ready for you to start your flow.
2: Set up Nodes
You need to drag and drop a node, i.e., the message box. These will contain the function(s) your flow will perform.
There are certain self-explanatory actions that are available for every node: edit, duplicate, delete, set start node (to make the node be the beginning of the flow), card color (to make the flow creating process easier and fun), and unset start node.
3: Setting up appropriate messages
There are many types of action you can choose for your structure. You can type your message in the text section and also add variables that can be called upon in the text after enclosing in double curly brackets.
In the "Add more" section, you can select
- Buttons: You can have a maximum of 3 buttons, with each button being at most 20 characters.
- List: You can have a maximum of 10 items on the list. Then, after selecting your list, you can choose to add a custom input or choose from custom auto-reply.
- Media: Interakt supports three types of media: image (size < 5 MB), Video (size < 16 MB), and documents (size < 2 MB)
4: Triggering Webhooks
Interakt lets you add webhooks only if you are an Advanced or Enterprise user. You can integrate API calls into the flow easily in a few steps
- Define the URL
Update the request type (GET, POST, PUT, or DELETE) accordingly to call the specific API. You can also add a variable as a part of the URL through the "Add Variable" option.
- Customize the Header
Choose Content-Type in the Key section and application/json in the Value section. You can also add other header parameters if required.
- Customize Body
You have to insert the body parameters here. Keep in mind that this Request Body has to be filled in JSON format only, with a character limit of 200.
- Save Response
Once you've made an API request and received a response, you need to save the necessary data as a user trait or variable. To do this, test the webhook with a sample response by clicking on the “Test Webhook” button. You'll be prompted to fill in test values for the variables configured in your Request, Header, and Body fields. This will trigger the API call and generate a response.
From the API response, gather relevant information such as “order ID” or “shipping status” and store it as a user trait or workflow variable. Use the corresponding key in the objectkey.keyname format to input the data.
- Error Handling
You can create your own error response that will be displayed when the APIs are failing. Upon receiving this, the flow will break from the next responses.
5: Saving User Responses
You can save the user responses for future use by using the “Save user response” button. There are two ways to save the responses:
- User Trait: To be used when you need to store the value permanently, like for username, ph number, and email address.
- Workflow Variable: This won’t keep the responses saved permanently, but using this, you can store them temporarily for further messages in the same flow.
Step 4: Save and Export the Workflow on WhatsApp
To save the workflow, you should click on the Save Workflow button at the top right section of the website.
You should click on the green “Export Workflow Responses” button to export the flow. Here, you can choose the time period for when you wish to receive the response report, which will be sent to your email address.
However, Interakt has its own drawbacks:
- As comprehensive as it gets, it's chatbot builder is difficult to follow and quite restrictive.
- Lacks advanced features like API integrations, analytics, and automated workflows, which are only available for its higher priced subscriptions.
- The starter plan has very limited functionalities without automated workflows.
- It's growth plan has no setup support, unlike Heltar, which provides end-to-end customer support, irrespective of the user's subscription plans.
Choosing the right WhatsApp Business API provider is very important to reap the most benefits in the best economically possible way.
Heltar is a more cost-effective, feature-rich, and scalable solution provider for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It offers:
Affordable Pricing: Heltar’s plans are significantly cheaper, starting at just ₹999/month.
Unlimited Scalability: No cap on chatbot responses or users in any plan.
Advanced Integrations: OpenAI and Javascript compatibility for enhanced functionality.
Customer-Centric Features: 24/7 support and a free green tick badge for credibility.
High Volume Messaging: Send over 1,000,000 messages with just one click, ensuring efficiency without risks.
You can start a free trial to explore the features by yourself or book a free demo!
If you have any questions about migrating from one BSP to another, read this blog on All You Need to Know About WhatsApp Business API BSP Migration.
For more insights, tips, and strategies to make the most of your WhatsApp Business API, explore Heltar Blogs.