How to Automate Complex Conversations with User Input Flow in Webchat
Guide: How to Automate Complex Conversations with User Input Flow in Webchat
Updated 25 September 2026
User Input Flow lets your chatbot collect information from users step by step — like email, phone number, business details, or any custom data. Instead of sending users to a form, the chatbot asks questions one at a time in a natural conversation. Collected data can be exported as a spreadsheet, synced to Google Sheets in real time, or sent to your CRM via webhook.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upxi1aLlYuc
How to Create a User Input Flow
Go to Bot Manager → Bot Reply → Create. Name your chatbot and assign a keyword trigger (e.g., "input flow"). This keyword fires the chatbot when a user sends that message.
Add a text block as the first message (e.g., "Hey! We need a couple of details from you."). Then drag and drop a User Input Flow component into the flow.
Name your input flow and optionally connect a data destination — a Webhook URL (to send data to Pabbly, Zapier, or your CRM) or a Google Sheet (for real-time sync).
Add Questions
Add your first question (e.g., "What's your email?") and set the reply type. The reply type validates the user's response — if you select Email, the chatbot will reject invalid formats and ask the user to try again.
Available reply types: Text, Email, Phone Number, URL, Number, File, Image, Video.
Save to a custom field — optionally store each response in a subscriber custom field (e.g., save the email to the "email" field). You can select an existing custom field or create a new one right from the dropdown. See Manage Custom Fields and Labels for details.
Add more questions using the "Next Question" button. You can also use multiple-choice questions instead of free text — for example, "Is your business registered?" with Yes/No options.
End the flow with a thank you message. You can personalize it using the collected data — for example: "Thank you for sharing your details. We see that you selected {{registered_business}}."
Test and Export Data
Test the flow by sending the keyword trigger on WhatsApp. The chatbot asks each question in order, validates responses, and stores the data.
Export collected data — go to your User Input Flow, click the flow you created, and use Report to view submissions or Export to download as a spreadsheet.
Related Articles
How to Create a Keyword-Based WhatsApp Chatbot — Chatbot fundamentals and keyword triggers
Manage Custom Fields and Labels — Create custom fields to store collected data
External HTTP API Integration in Bot Flow — Send collected data to external systems