WhatsApp Flows - Interactive Forms Inside WhatsApp
Learn what WhatsApp Flows are and how ChatMaxima lets you build them two ways, with the visual Form Builder or as a Dynamic Data Flow driven by your API.
Overview
WhatsApp Flows let you collect structured information from customers inside a single, native screen in the WhatsApp chat. Instead of a long back-and-forth of question-and-answer messages, the customer opens a clean form with input fields, dropdowns, date pickers, and buttons, fills it in, and submits it in one step.
ChatMaxima gives you two ways to build a WhatsApp Flow:
- Form Builder - a visual, drag-and-drop builder for fixed forms whose fields and options are known in advance.
- Dynamic Data Flow - a builder for chained, dependent lists whose options are fetched live from your own API.
Both produce a real WhatsApp Flow that you publish to Meta and send to customers from a bot, a campaign, or the inbox.
Why Use WhatsApp Flows
A WhatsApp Flow replaces a multi-message conversation with a single guided experience. This improves completion rates and gives you clean, structured data.
Common use cases include:
- Lead capture - name, email, company, budget, and interest in one screen.
- Appointment booking - service, date, and time slot selection.
- Customer feedback - ratings, comments, and follow-up opt-in.
- Support intake - issue category, priority, and description.
Form Builder vs Dynamic Data Flow
Choose the builder that matches your data.
| Form Builder | Dynamic Data Flow | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Fixed fields and known options | Options that depend on a previous choice |
| Data source | Entered manually in the builder | Fetched live from your API |
| Example | Contact form, feedback survey | Category to Product, Doctor to Date to Time |
| Setup | Drag and drop components | Define ordered steps with API endpoints |
| Encryption key | Not required | Required, one time per account |
Note: If your lists never change, use the Form Builder. If a later list depends on an earlier selection, use a Dynamic Data Flow.
Prerequisites
Before you build a WhatsApp Flow, make sure you have:
- A connected WhatsApp account - a WhatsApp Cloud API number linked to ChatMaxima.
- Access to Campaigns - WhatsApp Flows is available under the Campaigns section of the dashboard.
The Flow Lifecycle
Every WhatsApp Flow moves through a simple lifecycle:
- Draft - you build and save the flow. Drafts can be edited freely.
- Published - the flow is locked and ready to send to customers. Published flows cannot be edited; create a new flow to make changes.
- Deprecated - an older published flow that is no longer in active use.
You build and save a draft, preview it, then publish it when it is ready.
Where to Find WhatsApp Flows
Open the dashboard and go to Campaigns then WhatsApp Flows. From there you can:
- See all flows for the selected WhatsApp account and their status.
- Create a new flow with the Form Builder or as a Dynamic Data Flow.
- Edit, publish, or delete existing flows.