Summary
Filters in Rules allow you to automate responses in Wati based on specific conditions such as keywords, contact details, or message timing. By applying filters, you can ensure the right automation runs only when the defined conditions are met.
This guide explains the supported filters available in Rules, how to configure them, and how to combine multiple conditions to create more precise automations.
Instructions
Supported filters
You can use the following filters when creating Rules in Wati.
1. Incoming message matches keyword(s)
This filter checks whether an incoming message contains specific keywords.
Common use cases
Send an automatic reply when a message contains words such as “help”, “order”, or “pricing”.
Route conversations based on specific customer requests.
2. Contact initiates a new chat
This filter detects whether a message starts a new conversation, rather than being a reply in an existing chat.
Common use cases
Send a welcome message only when a customer starts a new conversation.
Trigger onboarding messages for first-time interactions.
3. Timestamp
This filter checks when a message is received.
Common use cases
Send out-of-office replies for messages received outside working hours.
Apply different responses during business hours vs after hours.
4. No keyword matches
This filter ensures that the rule runs only when no other keyword-based rules apply.
Common use cases
Send a fallback response when a message does not match any predefined keyword rules.
5. Contact
This filter checks whether the sender already exists in your contact list.
Common use cases
Send different responses to new leads and existing customers.
Trigger onboarding messages for new contacts.
6. Contact attributes
This filter matches rules based on specific contact attributes such as location, tags, or custom fields.
Common use cases
Personalize responses for VIP customers.
Segment customers by region, purchase history, or account status.
Tip: Have a filter request? Share your suggestions here (e.g., chat status, tags).
How to add filters to rules
Single condition
A single condition triggers an action when one specific rule is met.
Steps
Select the attribute you want to filter by (for example,
source_url).Define the value to match (for example, “contains sample.com”).
Example
IF source contains "sample.com" → Trigger action
Multiple AND conditions
Use AND conditions when you want the rule to run only if all conditions are true.
Add your first filter condition.
Click And.
Add another condition.
Example
IF source contains "sample.com" AND country contains India → Trigger action
This rule will trigger only when both conditions are satisfied.
Multiple OR conditions
Use OR conditions when you want the rule to run if any one of the conditions is true.
Add your first filter condition.
Click Or.
Add an alternative condition.
Example
IF source_url contains "sample.com" OR name contains "john" → Trigger action
This rule will trigger if either condition is met.
Advanced usage
Combining AND and OR conditions
You can combine multiple conditions to build more advanced automation rules.
Example
IF (source_url contains "sample.com" AND vip_customer is true) OR shop_name is "Cafe" OR address contains "India" → Trigger action
This rule triggers when any of the defined condition groups are satisfied.
Tailoring responses for different audiences
Filters can also be used to send different responses based on whether a contact is new or existing.
Example
IF message contains "hello" AND contact does not exist → Send welcome message IF message contains "hello" AND contact exists → Send personalized reply
In this scenario, the welcome message is sent only when a new customer sends “hello”, while existing customers receive a different response.
Next steps
After setting up your filters:
Test your rules using sample messages to confirm they trigger correctly.
Combine filters with automated actions such as:
Tagging contacts
Assigning chats
Sending automated responses
Using filters effectively helps you create more accurate, personalized, and scalable automations in Wati.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Filters in Wati automation rules
1. What are filters in Wati rules?
Filters in Wati rules are conditions that determine whether an automation rule should run. Filters allow automation to trigger only when specific criteria are met, such as keywords in a message, contact details, or message timing.
2. Why are filters used in Wati automation rules?
Filters are used to ensure that the correct automation runs only when defined conditions are satisfied. This helps businesses send the right response based on customer messages, contact information, or conversation context.
3. What types of filters are supported in Wati rules?
Wati rules support several types of filters, including:
Incoming message matches keyword(s) to detect specific words in a message
Contact initiates a new chat to identify when a conversation starts
Timestamp to evaluate when a message is received
No keyword matches to trigger a rule when no other keyword rules apply
Contact to check whether the sender exists in the contact list
Contact attributes to filter based on attributes such as location, tags, or custom fields
Configuring filters in rules
4. How do you add a single filter condition to a rule in Wati?
To add a single filter condition in Wati:
Select the attribute you want to filter by.
Define the value that should match the condition.
For example, a rule can check whether the source_url contains "sample.com" and trigger an action when the condition is met.
5. How do AND conditions work in Wati filters?
AND conditions require that all specified filter conditions must be true for the automation rule to run. For example, a rule can require that source contains "sample.com" AND country contains India before triggering an action.
6. How do OR conditions work in Wati filters?
OR conditions allow a rule to run if any one of the specified conditions is true. For example, a rule can trigger if source_url contains "sample.com" OR name contains "john".
7. Can Wati filters combine AND and OR conditions?
Yes. Wati filters can combine multiple AND and OR conditions to create more advanced automation rules. For example, a rule can trigger if (source_url contains "sample.com" AND vip_customer is true) OR shop_name is "Cafe" OR address contains "India".
8. How can filters be used to send different responses to new and existing contacts?
Filters can check whether a contact exists in the contact list. For example, a rule can send a welcome message when a new contact sends “hello”, while sending a personalized reply when an existing contact sends “hello.”
Using filters effectively
9. What actions can be combined with filters in Wati automation rules?
Filters can be combined with automated actions such as tagging contacts, assigning chats, or sending automated responses to create more targeted automation workflows.
10. What should you do after setting up filters in a Wati rule?
After configuring filters in a Wati rule, you should test the rule using sample messages to confirm that the automation triggers correctly under the defined conditions.