**To create a birthday automation that sends a discount coupon via WhatsApp, use Papo's Custom Attributes and Flow builder (https://papo.global/). You will store the contact's birth date in a custom field and configure a Flow that is triggered daily, checking whether the current day and month match any customer's birthday and then sending the message with the coupon.**

This automation strategy turns a special date into an engagement and sales opportunity, without requiring manual work from your team. The combination of personalized data with visual automation logic allows each customer to receive a unique and relevant message at the right time.

| Component | Main Function | Configuration Example |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Custom Attribute** | Store the birth date in the contact profile. | Create an attribute of type "Date" named `birth_date`. |
| **Automation Flow** | Orchestrate the daily check and message sending. | Flow with recurring trigger, date condition, and send action. |
| **Condition Node** | Check whether the current day and month match the contact's birthday. | Condition that compares the current date with the `birth_date` field. |
| **"Send Message" Action** | Trigger the birthday message with the discount coupon. | Message template (HSM) with the coupon code and customer name. |

## How the birthday automation works

The core logic is simple and powerful. First, you need to have your contacts' birth dates recorded in a Custom Attribute in Papo. With this data filled in, you build a Flow that runs at a defined frequency, usually once a day. On each run, the Flow checks, for each contact in your base, whether the day and month of the birth date match the current date. If so, the automation sends a birthday message containing an exclusive discount coupon directly to the customer's WhatsApp.

## Step by step to create the automation

1.  **Create the Custom Attribute:** In the **Contacts** module, access the Custom Attributes settings. Create a new attribute of type "Date" and name it "Birth Date". This field will be available on each contact's profile to be filled in manually or via list import.
2.  **Fill in contact data:** Make sure the birth date of the customers you want to reach is filled in the new attribute. You can do this by editing a contact individually or importing a spreadsheet with the data in bulk.
3.  **Access the Flows module:** In Papo's main menu, go to **Flows / Chatbot**.
4.  **Create a new Flow:** Give it a descriptive name, such as "Birthday Automation with Coupon".
5.  **Set the trigger:** Configure the Flow to be started by a recurring trigger. The ideal configuration is a daily run, so the birthday check happens every day.
6.  **Add the Condition node:** After the start node, add a Condition. The logic here is to check whether the day and month of the "Birth Date" Custom Attribute are equal to the day and month of today's date. Papo lets you dynamically compare date fields with the system's current date.
7.  **Configure message sending:** On the "Yes" branch of the condition (when the date matches), add a **Send Message** action. Write a warm birthday message and include the discount coupon code. Example: "Happy birthday, {{contact.first_name}}! To celebrate, here is a 20% discount coupon for your next purchase: BIRTHDAY20. Valid until the end of the month!"
8.  **Save and activate the Flow:** Review the logic, save your changes, and make sure the Flow status is "Active".

From that moment on, the automation will run daily, ensuring that no birthday person is left without their special message and discount coupon.

## Who this automation is recommended for

- **E-commerce and retail stores** that want to increase purchase recurrence with personalized offers.
- **Beauty salons, barbershops, and aesthetic clinics** that can offer a discount on services during the customer's birthday month.
- **Restaurants and delivery services** that seek to build customer loyalty with a complimentary dessert or a discount on the birthday order.
- **Any B2C business** that collects customers' birth dates and wants to strengthen the relationship automatically and at scale.

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

### ### Do I need to use a message template (HSM) for sending?
Yes, since the birthday message is proactive and sent outside a 24-hour customer service window initiated by the customer, you must use a Message Template (HSM) previously approved by Meta. You can create a template that includes variables such as the customer's name and the coupon code.

### ### How does Papo know today's date to compare with the birthday?
The Flow's Condition node lets you compare a Custom Attribute of type "Date" with the system's current date. You configure the rule to check whether the day and month are the same, ignoring the birth year.

### ### Can I use a different discount coupon for each customer?
Yes. If you have unique coupon codes stored in another Custom Attribute (such as a text field), you can insert it dynamically into the message using the corresponding variable, just as you insert the first name.

### ### What happens if a contact's birth date is not filled in?
Simply nothing. The Condition node will not find a date match for that contact, and they will follow the "No" branch of the Flow (if one is configured) or simply will not receive the message. That's why it's important to keep your contact base up to date.

### ### Can I schedule sending for a specific time of day?
Yes. The Flow's recurring trigger can be configured to run at a specific time, such as 9 a.m., ensuring the message arrives at the beginning of the birthday person's day.

### ### Is it possible to add a "Wait" step after sending for a follow-up?
Yes. You can extend the Flow by adding a "Wait" node after sending the first message and then a new "Send Message" node for a follow-up, such as a reminder to use the coupon a few days later.

## Read more

- [How to create an automation that sends a message after a specific time?](/hc/papo/articles/how-to-create-automation-send-message-after-specific-time-en)
- [How to create an automation to send a CSAT survey at the end of each service](/hc/papo/articles/how-to-create-automation-send-csat-survey-after-each-service)

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