Workflows · 2 min read
AI-Generated SMS Messages in Workflows
An SMS action can write the text itself instead of sending one fixed template. You describe the message. The action fills in that contact's details and, if you turn it on, looks at the recent conversation. A new message is written every time the action runs. It does not reuse the last one.
The text is sent with the phone number already set up on the account. This guide does not cover rates or carrier fees.
Add it to a workflow
- Open the workflow and add an SMS action, or edit the SMS action that is already there. In the action list this is Send SMS.
- In the message area, turn on Write with AI.
- Write the prompt. Say what the message is for, the tone, what must be included, and how long it should be.
- Pull in contact fields with the field picker, or name them in the prompt, such as the appointment date. An empty field is left out of the message. If a detail is required, filter the workflow so only contacts who have that field continue.
- Turn on conversation history if the text should refer to earlier messages. The action uses the recent thread. The exact number of messages included is not listed as a fixed count. Leave history off for a first text that should ignore older chats.
- Choose where the text goes. Send immediately texts the contact with no preview. Save to custom field stores the text so a person can read it before a later step sends it.
- Test with a few contacts who have different field values. Read the result for tone and accuracy before you publish a workflow that sends immediately.
Sent messages show up in the contact's conversation like any other text, so a later step can see them. You can mix AI texts and ordinary template texts in the same workflow.
Prompts that stay useful
- Name the job: appointment confirmation, follow-up, reminder.
- Name the tone: friendly, short, formal.
- Cap the length, such as under 160 characters or two or three sentences.
- Only mention fields that belong in the text.
- Say the action you want, such as reply YES or open a booking link.
- Test more than one contact. If the wording is off, make the prompt more specific.
If the wording is wrong
Tighten the prompt, check that the custom fields actually have values, and confirm whether conversation history is on. There is no preview when the action sends immediately. Use save-to-field if someone should approve the text first.