Maximize Your Messaging Efficiency with Background Flows

In the world of messaging, managing your contacts efficiently is key to maintaining smooth communication. But what happens when you need to perform actions on your contacts without disrupting their ongoing interactions? Enter the Background Flow—a powerful tool designed to enhance your messaging strategies without causing interruptions.

What is a Background Flow?

A Background Flow is a special type of flow that allows you to execute actions on your contacts without requiring them to respond. This means you can handle additional tasks, like updating contact details or sending notifications, without interrupting any active messaging conversations.

How to Build a Background Flow

Getting started with a Background Flow is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Access the Flows Tab: Begin by navigating to the Flows tab at the top left of your browser.

2. Create a New Flow: Click on the ‘New Flow’ button to start building your flow.

3. Name and Choose Flow Type: Name your new flow and select ‘Background’ from the dropdown menu.

4. Build Your Flow: Once you click ‘Create,’ you’ll be redirected to the flow editor. Here, you can design your flow by adding various actions. Remember, won’t be able to respond to Background Flows, so you won’t see the ‘Wait for Response’ option. This is because we still need to be able to map their responses back to their active Messaging Flow.

Actions You Can Take in a Background Flow

Background flows offer a wide range of actions similar to those in Messaging Flows. However, since responses are not an option, some features are adapted:

📬 Send a Message: Deliver messages or media attachments to active contacts.

🧔🏿 Send a Message to Someone Else: Send messages to contacts outside the current flow.

📞 Add or Update URNs: Include additional contact addresses such as phone numbers or email addresses.

🗂️ Modify Contact Fields: Update contact details based on previous data.

🧑🏻‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Group Management: Add or remove contacts from groups.

🪝 Call a Webhook: Trigger a webhook to perform external actions.

💻 Send an Email: Dispatch emails as part of your flow.

🌐 Language Preferences: Set or update the preferred language for your contacts.

🎟️ Integration Options: Open Tickets, call Zapier, send Airtime, and more.

How It Works

Imagine a scenario where a contact is engaged in a flow named “Due Date,” but then a new flow called “Survey Flow” needs to start. Because a contact can’t be active in two Messaging Flows simultaneously, the initial flow might get interrupted.

This is where Background Flows shine. They run concurrently with active Messaging Flows, allowing you to execute tasks like updating partner names or managing group memberships without disruption.

Starting a Background Flow

You have two options for initiating a Background Flow:

• Start Manually: Launch the flow immediately from the flow editor using the ‘Start’ button.
• Schedule for the Future: Set the flow to run at a later date or time, with options to repeat daily, weekly, or monthly.

By leveraging Background Flows, you can streamline your messaging operations and enhance your communication strategy. It’s a simple yet effective way to manage your contacts and keep your messaging experience smooth and uninterrupted.

Need More Help? If you have any questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. Send us a message via the support widget located in the bottom right corner of our website.