Summary
Triggers in Wati are events that initiate automation rules. This article explains what triggers are, the types of triggers currently supported, and how they can be used to automate various tasks within Wati.
Instructions
What are Triggers?
Triggers are events that occur within Wati and signal the need for automated actions. They act as the starting point for rule-based automation. For example, a trigger can be activated when a new attribute is added to a contact or when a chat's status changes.
Every rule in Wati begins with a trigger. Here's a breakdown of the triggers currently supported:
Note: We will be adding more triggers in the future! Let us know what types of triggers you would like to see. [Share your suggestions with us here!]
1. New WhatsApp message is received
How it Works: Triggers a rule whenever Wati receives a new incoming message.
Common Use Cases:
Respond to keywords using keyword filters.
Set up Welcome messages and Out-of-office messages.
2. New attribute is added to a contact
How it Works: Triggers a rule when a new attribute is added to a contact:
Manually via Team Inbox or Contact page
Via [/updateContactAttributes API]([URL to /updateContactAttributes API])
Attributes automatically added by integrations
CTWA:
source_url,source_id
Common Use Cases:
Automatically send a template message after your operator adds a specific attribute to a contact.
Start a specific chatbot to nurture your leads when they come in via Click-to-WhatsApp (CTWA) ads.
3. Attribute value changed for a contact
How it Works: Triggers a rule whenever the value of a specific attribute changes:
Manually changed via Team Inbox or Contact page
Via [/updateContactAttributes API]([URL to /updateContactAttributes API])
Common Use Cases:
Automatically send a template message after your operator changes an attribute value, such as updating a customer's status from "regular" to "VIP."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General Questions
1. What are triggers in Wati?
→ Triggers in Wati are events that start automated actions. They help automate tasks based on specific events like receiving a new message or updating a contact's attribute.
2. Where can I use triggers in Wati?
→ Triggers are used in Automation Rules. Every rule starts with a trigger that defines when the rule should run.
3. Will Wati add more triggers in the future?
→ Yes, Wati plans to support more triggers in the future. You can share your suggestions directly with Wati.
Supported Triggers
4. What happens when the "New WhatsApp message is received" trigger is used?
→ This trigger activates a rule whenever Wati receives a new incoming WhatsApp message. It's commonly used for keyword-based replies, welcome messages, or out-of-office responses.
5. How does the "New attribute is added to a contact" trigger work?
→ This trigger activates a rule when a new attribute is added to contact — either manually via Team Inbox or Contact page, through the API, or automatically by integrations.
6. What are common use cases for the "New attribute is added to a contact" trigger?
→ You can use this trigger to automatically send template messages or start specific chatbots after adding certain attributes to a contact.
7. How does the "Attribute value changed for a contact" trigger work?
→ This trigger activates a rule when the value of an existing attribute is updated — either manually via Team Inbox or Contact page, or through the API.
8. What can I do with the "Attribute value changed for a contact" trigger?
→ You can automatically send messages or start workflows based on changes in a contact's attributes, like updating a customer's status from "regular" to "VIP."