# Ask Order {% embed url="" %} The **Ask Order** action allows the chatbot to collect **product or service order details from users** during a conversation. This action enables customers to **select items directly from a product catalog**, confirm quantities, and submit their order within the chatbot interface. The selected product details are captured and stored in a variable, allowing the system to process orders automatically and continue the workflow. ### **When to Use Ask Order** Use the **Ask Order** action when the chatbot needs to **collect product selections from a catalog**. **Common Use Cases** * Restaurant food ordering * E-commerce product purchases * Service bookings with package options * Menu-based ordering systems * Product selection during checkout Example interaction: Bot: Order your favorite food now!\ Please select the items you would like to order from our menu catalogue.\ \ User: Selects items from catalog The chatbot captures the selected products and order details. ### **How to Add Ask Order** Follow these steps to add the Ask Order action to your bot workflow. * Open **Bot Builder** * Click **Add Node** * Select the **Ask** tab * Choose **Ask Order** * Configure the required fields * Click **Create** Once created, the chatbot will prompt users to select items from the configured catalog. ### **Ask Order Configuration** When creating an Ask Order action, several configuration fields must be completed. #### **Action Name** The **Action Name** identifies the order collection step within the bot workflow. This name is visible only inside the bot builder. Example: Collect Customer Order\ Food Order Selection\ Product Order Capture In the walkthrough example, the action name is **"Collect the order."** #### **Message** The **Message** field contains the prompt displayed to users. Example: 🍔 Order Your Favorite Food Now!\ \ We're ready to serve you 😊\ \ Please select the items you would like to order from our menu catalogue below.\ \ 🔗 View Full Menu Here:\ \ \ Select the products and confirm the quantity to continue. This message instructs users how to choose items from the catalog. The message supports: * Dynamic variables * Text formatting * Emojis Variables can be inserted using the **Add Variable** option. #### **Error Attempt** The **Error Attempt** field defines how many invalid attempts are allowed. Example: Error Attempt: 3 If the user does not select items properly, the chatbot triggers the configured **Action on Invalid** behavior. #### **Error Message** The **Error Message** is displayed when the user submits an invalid order response. Example: Please select items directly from the catalogue to place your order. This helps guide users to select products correctly. #### **Action on Invalid** This setting defines how the chatbot behaves when the user exceeds the allowed number of invalid attempts. Available options include: **End the Flow** Stops the chatbot conversation. **Skip the Question** Allows the chatbot to continue without collecting order details. **Fall Back Flow** Redirects the user to another predefined flow. ### **Store Response in Variable** The **Store Response in Variable** option saves the order details collected from the catalog. Example variable: ordered\_details The walkthrough shows creating a variable such as **ordered\_details** to store the order response data. #### **Creating a New Variable** If a variable does not already exist: * Click **Create New Variable**. * Enter a variable name. Example: ordered\_details * Select the variable in the **Store Response** field. * Click **Create** to save the configuration. ### **Data Captured by Ask Order** When a user places an order, the chatbot captures structured order details, including: * Selected product name * Quantity * Product price * Currency * Total order value The **diagram on page 15** shows that these values are captured in a structured format for further processing in the workflow. ### **Example Ask Order Interaction** Example chatbot conversation: Bot: Order your favorite food now!\ Please select the items you would like to order from our menu catalogue.\ \ User: Selects Pizza (2) and Burger (1) The chatbot stores the order details in the variable: ordered\_details and continues the workflow. ### **Best Practices** Follow these recommendations when using Ask Order. **Provide clear ordering instructions** Explain how users should select products from the catalog. **Include a catalog link** Provide a direct menu or product catalog link when needed. **Use meaningful action names** Clearly label the order collection step. **Provide helpful error messages** Guide users when incorrect responses occur. **Store order data properly** Save order details in variables for processing. ### **Summary** The **Ask Order** action enables chatbots to **collect product orders directly from a catalog** during conversations. With Ask Order, you can: * Allow customers to select products within the chatbot * Capture product selections and quantities * Store order details in variables * Validate order inputs * Automate order processing workflows This feature helps businesses **streamline product ordering and improve customer purchasing experiences through chatbot automation**. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.ownchat.app/bot/ask-action/ask-order.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.