The "Delay" step allows you to add a delay, or a time period, between two other steps in your messaging flow. When a contact gets to this step, they will wait a time period you specify before proceeding to the next step.
You can set the step to wait for minutes, hours, or days. Note that if you select a time longer than 24 hours, then you must use the “Template” step next in your flow. This is because the 24-hour window defined by WhatsApp may have expired by then.
This step can be helpful if you want to wait a minute before sending the next message in a series, giving the impression that the bot is typing a response.
Configure the “Delay” step
- Click WhatsApp > Messaging Flows on the left menu.
- Edit or create a new Messaging Flow.
- If editing a flow, click a flow > Update > Steps. Click a node (+) in the builder where you want to place the action. A modal window will appear. Click the "Delay" option, then click the “Add” button
- If creating a new flow, a modal window will appear in the Flow builder. Click the "Delay" option, then click the “Add” button
- In the “Delay” modal that appears:
- Click the pencil icon and give your step a name. We recommend using unique names that are short and descriptive
- Choose how long the contact should wait in this step. You can select seconds, minutes, hours, or days.
- Optional: Click the toggle for the “Only continue within a specific schedule” option*. Use this if you want contacts to wait a day, but only on certain days
*About the “Only continue within a specific schedule” option
Use this setting if you want this step to function on certain days. During the days the delay is “turned off,” contacts will wait in this step until the 24-hour countdown resumes.
For example, let’s say you have a template message that you want to send during business hours only. To do that, you would add the “Delay” step above the “Template” step in your flow. As you configure the “Delay” step, click the “Only use within a specific schedule” > “In working hours” option.
In this scenario, if a contact lands on this “Delay” step on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, the message won’t be sent until the following Monday.
If a contact lands on this “Delay” step on a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, they would wait for a 24-hour period before proceeding to the “Template” step.
If you want to use a time window type other than your working hours, select the “Custom” option. The window will expand, allowing you to set your custom schedule, using days and hours.