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Build Your First Flow

Build your first flow​

This guide walks you through the Flows V2 builder — adding blocks, choosing how the flow starts, checking it for problems, and publishing it.

Create a flow​

  1. Go to Flows V2 in the sidebar
  2. Click Create flow
  3. Give it a name at the top of the builder, then start adding blocks

Get to know the builder​

When you open a flow you'll see:

  • The canvas — the open space where you place and connect blocks
  • The blocks panel — your library of blocks, grouped into Send, Ask, Utility, and Connectors
  • The toolbar (top) — your flow name and status, plus Save, Validate, and Publish, and buttons for triggers (⚡), flow settings (⚙), and validation issues (⚠)

Add and connect blocks​

  1. Start from the Start block — every flow begins with a Start block that's already on the canvas. It defines how the flow begins (see How your flow starts below).
  2. Drag a block from the panel onto the canvas.
  3. Connect blocks — drag a line from one block's output dot to the next block's input. This sets the order the conversation follows.
  4. Blocks that offer choices (buttons, lists, conditions) have multiple outputs, so each option can lead somewhere different.

Configure a block​

Click any block to open its settings. As you edit a message, a live preview on the side shows roughly what the customer will receive in WhatsApp — so you can see your message take shape as you type.

To personalize a message, type / in any text field (or click the {} button) to drop in a saved answer or a contact detail like {{contact.first_name}}. See Ask questions & save answers for the full picture.

How your flow starts​

A flow only runs when something triggers it. Open the triggers panel (the ⚡ button in the toolbar) to set this up. The most common triggers are:

  • Keyword — the customer sends a word or phrase you choose (for example, "menu" or "pricing")
  • Button tap — the customer taps a button in a message
  • Fallback — a catch-all that runs when a message doesn't match anything else
  • Ad click (Click-to-WhatsApp) — someone taps a Facebook or Instagram ad that opens WhatsApp — see More ways to start a flow

More advanced triggers are also available:

  • Template reply — the customer taps a button on one of your template messages
  • Contact created or updated — the flow starts when a contact changes in a way you choose (see More ways to start a flow)
  • Webhook — another system starts the flow by calling Waplify (see Start a Flow from Another Tool)
  • Pattern match — an advanced text-matching rule, available as an option inside the Keyword trigger
Use specific keywords

Give each flow its own clear trigger words (like "menu" or "support") so two flows don't compete for the same message.

Check it before you go live​

Click Validate to have Waplify scan your flow and flag anything incomplete — a missing message, an unconfigured option, or a trigger that can't fire. Issues appear in the validation issues panel (⚠) with a clickable link straight to the block that needs attention.

caution

You can't publish a flow that still has errors. Validate first, fix what's listed, then publish.

Publish your flow​

  1. Make sure every block is connected and configured
  2. Set up at least one trigger so the flow knows when to run
  3. Click Validate and clear any issues
  4. Click Publish

Your flow's status changes to Active and it starts responding to customers right away. Need to take it offline? You can unpublish or archive it any time.

Build with AI​

Don't want to start from a blank canvas? Click Build with AI in the toolbar. It opens a free AI assistant (in your own ChatGPT account) that turns a plain-English description into a ready-made flow:

  1. Click Build with AI, then Open AI Flow Builder
  2. Describe the flow you want — for example: "When someone messages 'hi', greet them, ask for their name and email, then send our price list."
  3. The assistant gives you back a flow file (a .json file) — save it to your computer
  4. Back in Waplify, click Import a flow file (or the ⋯ menu → Import JSON) and choose the file
  5. The flow appears on the canvas — review it, Validate, and Publish

Import, export, and reuse​

From the ⋯ menu in the toolbar you can:

  • Export JSON — download your flow as a file (a handy backup, or to share with someone)
  • Import JSON — load a flow file onto the canvas
  • Clear canvas — start over

Flow settings​

Open flow settings (⚙) to adjust:

  • Flow name
  • Session expiry — how long a customer's place in the flow is remembered before it times out
  • Maximum steps per run — a safety limit that stops a flow from looping forever

Tips & best practices​

  • Plan on paper first — sketch the conversation before you build it
  • Keep flows focused — a separate flow for "pricing", "support", and "order status" is easier to manage than one giant flow
  • Save often — the toolbar shows an Unsaved indicator when you have changes waiting
  • Always Validate before Publish — it catches the small mistakes that break a live bot

Frequently asked questions​

Can I edit a flow after publishing it?​

Yes. Open it, make your changes, Validate, and Save/Publish again. Updates take effect for new conversations.

What happens if a customer types something unexpected?​

It depends on how you built the flow. Guiding people with buttons and lists — instead of relying on free typing — keeps them on a path your flow can handle. You can also use a Fallback trigger to catch anything that doesn't match.

How do I test a flow?​

Publish it (or use a test keyword) and message your own WhatsApp number to walk through it. While building, the live preview shows how each message will look. You can also test Connectors from within their settings.

Where do I see the conversations my flow handled?​

On the Flows V2 list, open a flow's menu and choose View Sessions. See Monitor your flows.