Trigger a bot via inbound webhook

The Inbound Webhook Trigger lets an external system — your CRM, your website, a Zapier automation, or any custom code — start a WhatsApp bot flow by sending a POST request. The webhook receives data (such as a customer's phone number and name) and uses it to initiate a personalised bot conversation.

Create the bot with a webhook trigger

Go to Chatbot → Create Bot Flow. Give it a name.

Click the + icon and select WhatsApp Chatbot.

Choose Inbound Webhook Trigger as the trigger type.

Select how the channel will be identified (by channel name or dynamically from the payload).

Select the WhatsApp channel.

Add a Sample Payload (JSON) — this teaches WA.Expert what data to expect.

Select the field in the payload that identifies the customer (usually chat_uid, which is the customer's WhatsApp number in international format with no + sign).

Click Create Webhook.

Copy the generated Webhook URL.

{
  "chat_uid": "919867800451",
  "name": "Priya"
}

Test the webhook

Open Postman (or any API testing tool).

Set the method to POST and paste in the webhook URL.

Set the body to raw JSON and paste your sample payload.

Send the request. Check Run History in the bot builder to confirm it was received.

Build the bot flow

Add a Template Message block as the first message. Template messages are required if the customer has not messaged you in the last 24 hours.

Map payload variables (such as name) into the template body.

Add a Smart Wait block to wait for the customer's reply (set to 100 hours for open-ended waits).

Continue the flow with questions, routing, or data collection as needed.

Save and enable the workflow.

Phone number format

The chat_uid must be the customer's phone number in international format without the + sign. For example, an Indian number +91 98678 00451 becomes 919867800451.

Was this helpful? If you are stuck, message us and a real person will help — the only platform that answers you live on WhatsApp.

Ask us on WhatsApp

Want the bigger picture? See the Chatbot feature guide for use cases and strategy.

Trigger a bot flow from an external system via webhook

Create the bot with a webhook trigger

Test the webhook

Build the bot flow

Create a WhatsApp chatbot

Bot triggers explained

Message blocks: text, media, and more

The Ask a Question block

Pass data from bot to automation

Make an External API call from a bot

Bot triggers explained