How to Create an Automation that Sends a Message After a Specific Time?

To create an automation that sends a message after a specific time, you must use the "Wait" (Delay) step within a Flow on the Papo platform (https://papo.global/). This feature allows you to define a strategic pause of minutes, hours, or days before the automation proceeds to the next action, such as sending a follow-up message, a reminder, or a satisfaction survey.

The ability to pause an automation is crucial for creating communication journeys that feel natural and are delivered at the most opportune moment for the customer, without overwhelming them with instant messages.

What is the "Wait" step and what is it for?

The "Wait" step is one of the action "nodes" available in Papo's visual Flow builder. Its sole function is to introduce a temporal delay in the automation sequence. Instead of one action happening immediately after another, the Flow remains in a waiting state for the period you configure.

This feature is essential for building effective communication cadences, such as:

• Sales follow-up: Maintaining contact with a lead who showed interest but hasn't made a decision yet.
• Lead nurturing: Sending a series of educational content or tips about your product/service over several days.
• Reminders: Notifying customers about appointments, invoice due dates, or important events in advance.
• Post-interaction surveys: Collecting feedback some time after a service interaction was completed or a product was delivered, giving the customer time to have a complete experience.

By combining the "Wait" step with other action and condition nodes, you transform a simple chatbot into a powerful relationship and sales tool.

How to configure the "Wait" step in a Flow

Creating a pause in your automation is a simple and visual process. Follow the steps below to add a waiting time to your Flow.

1. Access the Flows Module: In the main menu of the Papo platform, navigate to Flows / Chatbot.
2. Create or Edit a Flow: You can start a new Flow from scratch or add the wait step to an existing automation.
3. Add a New Node: At the point in the journey where you want to insert the pause (for example, after sending an initial message), click the + icon to add a new step.
4. Select the "Wait" Action: In the list of available actions, find and select the "Wait" (Delay) option.
5. Define the Waiting Time: A configuration window will open. In it, you must define the duration of the pause:
   • Value: Enter the number corresponding to the time (e.g., 2).
   • Unit: Choose the unit of time from the dropdown menu (Minutes, Hours, or Days).
6. Connect the Next Action: After the "Wait" node, add the action that should be executed at the end of the wait. Generally, this will be a "Send Message" node.
7. Configure the Follow-up Message: In the "Send Message" node, write the text that the contact will receive. Remember that if the pause exceeds the 24-hour WhatsApp customer service window, the message sent must be a Message Template (HSM) previously approved by Meta.
8. Save and Activate the Flow: After building and reviewing your logic, save the changes and ensure that the Flow is set to "Active" status so that it can process contacts.

With these steps, any contact passing through this part of your Flow will be "paused" at the "Wait" node and will only proceed with the automation when the configured time is completed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

### What is the difference between using "Wait" in a Flow and a Sequence?

The "Wait" step within a Flow offers maximum flexibility, as it allows you to create branches and conditional logic after the wait. For example, you can wait 2 days and then check if the contact has a specific tag before deciding which message to send. A Sequence, on the other hand, is a simpler, more linear tool, designed specifically to send a series of messages at fixed intervals, without the complexity of interactions or conditions.

### What happens if the contact replies during the waiting period?

By default, the Flow will continue its normal execution after the waiting period ends, even if the contact sends a message during that time. The automation will follow the path that was designed. For more advanced scenarios, you can use Rules to create logic that interrupts the wait or alters the flow if the contact interacts.

### What happens if I need to send a message after 24 hours on WhatsApp?

If the waiting time configured in the "Wait" step causes the next message to be sent after the 24-hour WhatsApp customer service window, that message must be a Message Template (HSM) approved by Meta. Common text messages will be blocked. Make sure to create and approve your follow-up templates in advance.

### Is there a maximum limit for the waiting time?

The platform allows you to configure the waiting time in minutes, hours, or days, covering the vast majority of use cases for marketing and sales automations. For information on specific limits, consult the detailed documentation on the platform.

### Can I use variables in the message sent after the wait?

Yes. The message sent after the "Wait" step can be fully customized with contact attributes, such as name, company, or any other information stored in Papo's CRM. This makes your follow-up much more personal and effective.

### Is it possible to cancel the wait for a specific contact in a Flow?

Managing individual contacts within a running Flow is an advanced feature. Typically, a contact can be manually removed from a Flow, which would interrupt any future waiting steps.

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