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WhatsApp Flow Examples

This library provides production-ready WhatsApp Flow implementations for common industry use cases. Each example includes the complete Flow JSON definition, API implementation steps, webhook handling guidance, and industry-specific best practices.

These examples demonstrate real-world patterns you can adapt to your specific business needs. All payloads are tested and match the 8x8 Connect API specifications.

Available Examples by Industry​

Retail & eCommerce​

  • Product Return & Exchange - Automate returns processing, reduce support tickets by 40%, and capture structured data for quality insights.

Financial Services​

  • Loan Application - Streamline loan applications with KYC document upload, employment verification, and automated eligibility checks.

Professional Services​

  • Service Appointment Booking - Collect service requests, property details, and schedule technician appointments with skill-based routing.

Healthcare​

  • Appointment Scheduling - Reduce phone volume and scheduling errors with structured appointment data collection.

Sales & Marketing​

  • CPaaS Lead Generation - Capture qualified leads with product showcases, multi-select interests, and demo scheduling.

How to Use These Examples​

Each example provides complete Flow JSON and implementation guidance. You can use them in two ways:

Use the visual interface to create and deploy Flows without code:

  1. Copy the Flow JSON from Step 1 of any example
  2. Navigate to 8x8 Connect > Messaging Apps > WhatsApp flows at https://connect.8x8.com/chat/flows
  3. Click + Create a WhatsApp Flow or go directly to https://connect.8x8.com/chat/flows/create
  4. Paste the JSON into the editor
  5. Use the preview to test the Flow interactively
  6. Click Publish when ready
  7. Create a template with Flow button (or use Interactive messages within service window)
  8. Send via Campaigns for bulk sends, or directly to individual customers

Full walkthrough: WhatsApp Flows in 8x8 Connect

Option 2: API Integration (For Developers)​

Use programmatic API calls for automation and CI/CD:

  1. Use the complete API calls shown in each step of the examples
  2. Authenticate with your API key (Bearer token)
  3. Create Flow via POST request (Step 1 in each example)
  4. Publish via POST request (Step 2 in each example)
  5. Send Flow via Template or Interactive message (Step 3)
  6. Handle webhook submissions in your backend (Step 4)

Full API reference: WhatsApp Flows API Documentation

Example Structure​

Each example follows this consistent format:

  1. Scenario Overview: Business problem and solution approach
  2. Flow JSON: Complete Flow definition with screens and validation
  3. Template Creation: API payload for creating the template (if using business-initiated approach)
  4. Sending the Flow: Complete request payloads for template or interactive messages
  5. Webhook Handling: Expected submission payload and processing guidance

Tips:

  • Adapt field names and labels to match your business requirements
  • Test Flows in preview mode before publishing to production
  • Start with a similar example and customize from there
  • Note: Meta's WhatsApp Flows Playground is a one-way tool for building flows visually and exporting to JSON. It does not support importing/pasting JSON.

Best Practices Across All Examples​

Flow Design​

  • Keep it focused: Limit Flows to 3-5 screens maximum for better completion rates
  • Mobile-first: Design for small screens, keep text concise
  • Progressive disclosure: Ask for basic info first, complex details later
  • Clear CTAs: Use action-oriented button labels ("Book Now" vs "Submit")

Error Handling​

  • Validate early: Check order numbers, emails, phone formats before submission
  • Graceful failures: If validation fails, explain clearly and offer alternatives
  • Idempotency: Use umid to prevent duplicate processing
  • Timeout handling: Webhook must respond within 5 seconds
  • Retry logic: Implement exponential backoff for downstream API calls

Implementation Tips​

  1. Keep it Short: Limit to 3-5 screens maximum
  2. Show Progress: Use screen titles like "Step 1 of 3"
  3. Pre-populate When Possible: Pass known data via flowActionData
  4. Validate Appropriately: Use required: true and appropriate input-type
// Wrap parsing in try-catch
try {
  const data = JSON.parse(payload.content.interactive.nfmReply.responseJson);
  await processSubmission(data);
} catch (error) {
  console.error('Flow submission parsing error:', error);
  // Log for debugging but don't crash
}

Testing​

  • Test all Flows with preview URL before publishing
  • Send to test numbers and complete full journey
  • Verify webhook receives correct payload structure
  • Test error scenarios (missing fields, invalid data)
  • Track Flow completion rates
  • A/B test different Flow designs

Monitoring​

  • Track completion rates: Identify where users abandon Flows
  • Response times: Monitor webhook processing duration
  • Error rates: Alert on parsing failures
  • A/B testing: Test different Flow designs and button labels to optimize conversion

Additional Resources​