Ask Phone Number
The Ask Phone Number action allows the chatbot to collect a valid phone number from users during a conversation.
This action ensures that the user enters a properly formatted phone number, which can be used for contact verification, follow-ups, or customer records.
The collected phone number is stored in a variable and can later be used for automation, CRM updates, or customer communication workflows.
When to Use Ask Phone Number
Use the Ask Phone Number action when the chatbot needs to collect a customer's contact number.
Common Use Cases
Customer contact collection
Appointment confirmation
Order verification
Lead generation
Support request follow-up
Example interaction:
Bot: We need your phone number to confirm your appointment. Please enter it with the country code. User: 919876543210
The chatbot captures and stores the phone number for later use.
How to Add Ask Phone Number
Follow these steps to add the Ask Phone Number action in your bot workflow.
Open Bot Builder
Click Add Node
Select the Ask tab
Choose Ask Phone Number
Configure the required fields
Click Create
The chatbot will pause at this step until the user enters a valid phone number.
Ask Phone Number Configuration
When creating an Ask Phone Number action, several fields must be configured.
Action Name
The Action Name identifies the action within the bot workflow.
This name is visible only inside the bot builder.
Example:
Collect Phone Number Customer Contact Input Verify Phone Number
Message
The Message field contains the prompt shown to the user.
Example:
Hello 👋 We need your phone number to confirm your appointment. Please enter it in the format: 919876543210
The message supports:
Dynamic variables
Text formatting
Emojis
Variables can be inserted using the Add Variable option.
Adding Variables
The Add Variable option allows dynamic values to be included in the message.
Examples include:
Customer name
Phone number
Email
Contact details
Example:
Hi {{customer.name}}
This helps personalize the interaction.
Error Attempt
The Error Attempt field defines the number of invalid attempts allowed.
Example:
Error Attempt: 2
If the user enters an invalid response multiple times, the chatbot will follow the configured Action on Invalid.
Error Message
The Error Message is displayed when the user provides an invalid phone number.
Example:
Please provide a proper phone number so we can continue. Example: 919876543210
This helps guide users to enter the correct format.
Action on Invalid
This setting defines the behavior when the user exceeds the allowed error attempts.
Available options include:
End the Flow
Stops the chatbot conversation.
Skip the Question
Allows the chatbot to continue without collecting the phone number.
Fall Back Flow
Redirects the user to another predefined chatbot flow.
Validation Settings
The Validation Setting ensures the phone number meets the required length.
When enabled, you can define:
Minimum Characters
Example:
Min Characters: 10
Maximum Characters
Example:
Max Characters: 12
These limits help ensure the user enters a valid phone number format.
Store Response in Variable
The Store Response in Variable field saves the collected phone number.
Example variable:
phonenumber_collect
This stored value can be used for:
Customer records
Marketing campaigns
WhatsApp broadcasts
Follow-up communication
Example Ask Phone Number Interaction
Example chatbot conversation:
Bot: Hello 👋 We need your phone number to confirm your appointment. Please enter it in the format: 919876543210 User: 919876543210
The chatbot stores the number in the variable:
phonenumber_collect
and continues the workflow.
Best Practices
Follow these recommendations when using Ask Phone Number.
Provide clear formatting instructions
Tell users whether to include the country code.
Use validation settings
Ensure phone numbers meet the expected length.
Provide helpful error messages
Guide users when incorrect input is entered.
Store phone numbers securely
Use variables for later automation or CRM integration.
Personalize messages
Include dynamic variables when possible.
Summary
The Ask Phone Number action enables chatbots to collect valid phone numbers from users during conversations.
With Ask Phone Number, you can:
Capture customer contact numbers
Validate phone number format
Limit incorrect input attempts
Store phone numbers in variables
Use collected data for automation and communication
This feature helps ensure accurate contact data collection for business workflows and customer engagement.
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