Keyword-based flows
Keyword-started WhatsApp conversations, designed on a canvas
Conversation flows are designed around a start keyword. When a published flow matches inbound text, Vowels Connect runs the steps you connected on the canvas, from buttons and lists to media and a handoff to your team.
The problem conversation flows solve
The problem
Customers often need the same guided answers: opening hours, order status, a menu of services. Answering each one by hand ties up the team, and a plain auto reply cannot ask follow-up questions.
What changes with Vowels Connect
A flow asks with buttons and lists, branches on the answer, sends the right text or media, and hands off to a person when needed. The customer starts it by sending a keyword you choose.
How it works
Design, preview, publish
- 1
Set a start keyword
Every flow begins with a keyword, such as “menu”. Published flows must each use a different keyword.
- 2
Connect the steps
Drag steps onto the canvas and connect them. Buttons and list options each get their own path.
- 3
Preview safely
Walk through the conversation in the builder. Preview never sends a WhatsApp message.
- 4
Publish
Publish the flow. From then on, an inbound message that matches the keyword starts it.
Key capabilities
Steps you can use in a flow
Text messages
Send text at any step, with variables such as the customer name or an answer saved earlier in the flow.
Buttons and lists
Offer reply buttons or a list of options. Each choice can lead to a different next step.
Images, video, and documents
Send files from your media library, such as a brochure or a product video.
Payment QR
Send a QR code image from your media library with a reference and payment instructions.
Conditions and delays
Branch on an answer saved from a button or list, or on a field such as the customer name, or wait before the next step.
Handoff
Pass the conversation to the shared inbox so a teammate can take over.
Use cases
Flows customers actually use
Main menu
A “menu” keyword offers buttons for order status, store timings, and talking to a person.
Lead qualification
Ask what the customer is interested in with a list, collect their answer, and hand off to sales with context.
Brochures and catalogues
Send the right document or video based on the option a customer picks.
Part of the platform
How flows connect to the rest
Shared inbox receives handoffs and shows when a contact is inside a flow.
Automation handles event-triggered work; flows handle keyword-started conversations.
Conversation flow questions
Will editing a flow message my customers?
No. Preview stays in the builder. Only a published flow can send, and only after a matching keyword starts it.
What starts a flow?
A published start keyword. The inbound text has to match that keyword for the flow to start.
Can two flows use the same keyword?
No. Each published flow needs its own keyword, so a message always starts at most one flow.
What happens when a flow hands off?
The conversation continues in the shared inbox, where a teammate can reply.
Design your first conversation flow
Build and preview flows on any plan, then publish with a keyword from the Growth plan.