Most WhatsApp bots work like this: ask a question, wait for a typed reply, ask the next question. It works, but it's clunky. Customers make typos, reply with unexpected answers, and drop off mid-way. WhatsApp Flows is Meta's answer — native interactive screens that run directly inside the WhatsApp chat. No external links, no redirects.
What Are WhatsApp Flows?
WhatsApp Flows are structured interactive experiences that appear as a card inside a WhatsApp conversation. When triggered, the user sees a series of screens with text inputs, dropdown selects, radio buttons, date pickers, and multi-screen navigation — all inside WhatsApp without leaving the app.
Use Cases
| Use case | What it replaces |
|---|---|
| Appointment booking | Calendly link sent over WhatsApp |
| Lead qualification | Typeform link + manual follow-up |
| Product order form | Catalog link → external checkout |
| Support ticket creation | Email form or unstructured chat |
| Customer survey / NPS | Google Form link |
| COD confirmation | Free-text reply |
How to Build a WhatsApp Flow
- Design your screens — in Tenreply's Flow Builder, add screens with title, components (fields, text, images), and Next/Submit actions
- Map the data — decide what data gets collected at each step and where it goes (contact fields, CRM, webhook)
- Publish the flow — flows must be published in Meta Business Manager before sending
- Trigger it — send as part of an automation or as a button in a template message
- Handle the response — submitted data arrives in your Tenreply contact record and can trigger follow-up automations
WhatsApp Flows vs Chatbot
| Chatbot | WhatsApp Flows | |
|---|---|---|
| UX | Conversational (question → reply) | Form-like (structured screens) |
| Completion rate | Medium (text input friction) | High (click-through, no typing errors) |
| Best for | Open-ended questions, discovery | Structured data collection |
Use a chatbot for initial qualification, then trigger a Flow to collect structured data. They're complementary, not alternatives.
See WhatsApp Flows in Tenreply → | For developers: trigger flows via the API →