How to collect data using Google Spreadsheets

Sophia Updated by Sophia

Please note this Google Spreadsheets feature is an add-on to the regular plan and is charged separately

What can this do?

This is a feature within our Pro Plan add-on, which allows you to collect the data your users provide in Whatsapp and automatically feeds into Google Spreadsheets, reducing the need to manually input data. No additional installation is needed.

Why do you need it?

This feature is handy for small business teams who don’t have the budget for a separate CRM feature, or if your team spends a lot of time manually inputting data, you can capture the data you need automatically into Google Spreadsheets. Reducing both time and cost for your company.

Setting up your flow and configuring Google Spreadsheet

Create your flow:

  1. Go to Automation
  2. Flows
  3. + Add Flow
  4. Drag elements on the left to create flow

Where you slot the Google Spreadsheet button, this is when it will trigger to input the data. You can also choose to slot it after each data entry point if you wish.

Connecting to the Google Spreadsheet node:

  1. Hover over the edit button on the Google Spreadsheet node
  2. Add your Google account and allow permissions
  3. Select the spreadsheet you want the data to be inputted in
  4. Select which sheet tab of the spreadsheet for data input

If you are creating a spreadsheet for the first time, choose "insert a new row". Then, enter the variables that you wish the Google Spreadsheet to track, they should match the same as your flow variables and Google Spreadsheet column variables.

Click "save" and then remember to "save" your flow too.

Setting up the keywords: Now you need to configure the keywords for this flow, so that the user can trigger the flow

  1. Go to Automation
  2. Keyword Action
  3. Add Keyword Action

Enter the unique keyword that you want the user to be able to trigger the flow, such as "I am a new customer", you can choose exact matching or fuzzy matching.

  1. Click on next steps
  2. Flows
  3. Search the name of your flow
  4. Tick the box of the flow and save

How to Test

Use your registered WATI account number and type in the keyword to activate the flow. Here typing "I am a new customer" will activate this flow within whatsapp.

The data will automatically update in the selected Google Spreadsheet, as shown below:

This sheet will automatically input data whenever the user triggers the flow, you can proceed to share the spreadsheet to any one else in your team for their viewing.

How did we do?

How to build a flow

How to update data using Google Spreadsheets

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