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Understanding Automation Triggers and their cost

Updated over a week ago

Summary

Automation Triggers help streamline your workflow by automatically executing actions based on specific conditions. Whether you want to send notifications, assign tasks, or update records, Automation Triggers ensure that your system responds instantly - saving you time and effort.

Instructions

What are Automation Triggers?

Automation Triggers are predefined conditions that, when met, initiate an automated action within your system. These triggers enable users to automate repetitive tasks, ensuring efficiency and consistency without manual intervention. Automation Triggers support various types of automations, including:

  • Default Action

  • Keyword Action

  • Reply Material

  • Routing

  • Chatbots

  • Sequence

  • Rules

  • WhatsApp Flows

How Automation Triggers work

Automation Triggers operate based on a simple rule:

  1. A condition is met - The system continuously monitors for predefined conditions, such as a keyword match or a new user action.

  2. An automation is executed - When the condition is triggered, an automation action (e.g., sending a message, updating a record, or notifying a team member) is performed.

  3. Usage is tracked - Each triggered automation is counted towards your monthly automation limit.

Key benefits of Automation Triggers

  • Saves time - Automate repetitive tasks and focus on high-priority work.

  • Enhances efficiency - Reduce manual errors and speed up processes.

  • Improves responsiveness - Instantly take action based on user interactions.

  • Customizable control - Enable or disable automation overages based on your needs.

  • Better customer experience - Deliver faster, more personalized, and seamless interactions to improve satisfaction and loyalty.

Key considerations

Note: The Welcome Message and Out-of-Office Message will be completely free and will not count toward automation limits.

Monthly limits apply - Each plan has a monthly automation trigger limit, though users can purchase add-ons to increase limits.

  • Growth - 1000

  • Pro - 2000

  • Business - 5000

Moreover, to ensure transparency, here are some key aspects of how automation triggers are calculated:

Trigger-based pricing

Automation usage is counted each time an automation is triggered within Wati.

If a keyword starts an action, such as sending a chatbot response, the entire flow is counted as one automation, not multiple.

For example:

  • A keyword is triggered → counts as one automation

  • The keyword triggers a chatbot response → still counts as one automation

  • A keyword sends a response and the conversation continues and then a chatbot is triggered → counts as two automations (one for the keyword and one for the chatbot trigger)

Manual triggers

If an operator manually starts a chatbot in the Team Inbox, it will not count towards your automation trigger quota.

API triggers

If your developer uses the API to send a template message or start a chatbot, these actions will not count towards your automation trigger quota.

Monthly Automation Triggers per plan

Each Wati plan has a specific number of Automation Triggers included. Here's a breakdown of what each plan offers:

Plan Type

Monthly Automation Triggers

Growth

1,000

Pro

2,000

Business

5,000

What happens if you exceed your monthly Automation Triggers?

If you exceed your allocated Automation Triggers, your automations will stop triggering until one of two things happen:

  1. Upgrade your plan to get more automation triggers.

  2. Purchase the add-on to get more automation triggers.

  3. Wait for the billing cycle reset (at the start of the next billing month).

Note: Automation triggers reset on your billing renewal date, not on the first day of the month. For example, if your renewal date is July 15, your automation triggers will reset on the 15th of each month.

You’ll also receive email alerts when your automation usage approaches 80%, 90%, and 100% of your limit in a given month. This gives you a chance to monitor usage and take action before reaching the limit.

Add-On Monthly Triggers

If you need more Automation Triggers than your plan provides, you can purchase Add-On Automation Triggers at an additional fee.

To view the price details, please go to Wati's pricing page.

How to check your monthly Automation Triggers usage

To track your automation triggers usage for the current month, follow these steps:

1. On Wati, click on Settings.

2. Select Account Details and click on Your Plan.

3. Look for the Monthly Automation Triggers section to view your current trigger limit and usage for the month.

How to purchase or add more Automation Triggers

If you need more triggers, you can purchase the Add-On Automation Triggers. Here’s how to do it:

1. On Wati, click on Settings.

2. Select Account Details and click on Your Plan.

3. Under the Add-ons section, click Buy Automation Triggers.

4. Use the slider to choose the number of add-on automation triggers you want to subscribe to.

5. Click Subscribe Now.

Important

  • The add-on automation triggers billing frequency will match your base plan. For example, if you're on an annual plan, your add-on automation triggers will be billed annually.

  • If you downgrade your trigger limit, the change will take effect starting from the next billing cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General overview

1. What are Automation Triggers in Wati?

Automation Triggers are predefined conditions that automatically start an action, such as sending a message, assigning tasks, or updating records.

2. What types of automations can be triggered?

Automation Triggers support actions like Default Action, Keyword Action, Reply Material, Routing, Chatbots, Sequences, Rules, and WhatsApp Flows.

3. How do Automation Triggers work?

The system monitors for a condition (like a keyword or user action). When the condition is met, the configured automation runs automatically and the usage is counted.

Usage and limits

4. Do Automation Triggers count toward a monthly limit?

Yes. Each time an automation is triggered, it counts toward your plan’s monthly automation limit.

5. How is automation usage counted for chatbot or keyword flows?

If a keyword starts a flow or chatbot, the entire flow counts as one automation. If separate triggers occur later, each new trigger counts again.

6. Are there any triggers that do not count toward my limit?

Yes. Welcome Messages, Out-of-Office Messages, manually started chatbots in Team Inbox, and API-triggered actions do not count toward your quota.

7. How many Automation Triggers are included in each plan?

Growth includes 1,000 triggers per month, Pro includes 2,000, and Business includes 5,000.

Monitoring and managing triggers

8. How can I check my current trigger usage?

Go to Settings → Account Details → Your Plan and view the Monthly Automation Triggers section to see your limit and usage.

9. What happens if I exceed my monthly limit?

Your automations will stop running until you upgrade your plan, purchase add-ons, or wait for your billing cycle to reset.

10. How can I get more Automation Triggers?

You can purchase add-on triggers from Settings → Account Details → Your Plan → Add-ons, select the number you need, and subscribe. Billing follows your base plan’s cycle.

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