Custom User Fields or, CUFs

1. What are Custom Fields?

In Chatbot Builder AI, fields are crucial for building personalized and effective chatbot interactions. Custom User Fields (CUFs) can be thought of as your chatbot's permanent memory, allowing it to store and recall important user details across multiple conversations. This is different from {{chat_history}}, which only tracks messages within a single session. With CUFs, your chatbot can remember user preferences, past actions, or important information for future interactions, making conversations more engaging and better experience.

Due to the large number of CUFs available across the platform, not all are listed in every dropdown menu. However, all CUFs mentioned in this document will function seamlessly wherever you use them in your chatbot flows.

Chatbot Builder AI offers three main types of fields for managing and storing data:

• System Fields automatically collect key user information, such as first name, last name, and email, allowing for easy personalization.
• Account Fields are used to store bot-specific settings and preferences, helping ensure the chatbot functions smoothly in different scenarios.
• Custom User Fields (CUFs) enable you to store unique user details, making interactions more personal and relevant.

For certain fields, like {{last_input}}, you may need to create a new Custom User Field (CUF) and use the "Set Custom Field" action to assign its value. This is necessary because fields like {{last_input}} track real-time data, such as the user’s most recent message. By setting this value in a CUF, you can save and reuse it throughout the conversation. This flexibility enables you to customize how your chatbot processes data, resulting in more personalized and engaging interactions for your users.

Types of CUFs include:

Text: For storing simple text messages and text strings.

Number: Holds numerical values.

Date: Stores specific dates.

Date and Time: Combines both date and time data.

True/False: For binary (yes or no) data.

Long Text: A new field that can hold up to 16 million characters, ideal for storing lengthy content such as your prompt.

CUFs can also be combined with other CUFs to create dynamic and flexible interactions within your chatbot.

This is what the structure of the custom field inside the platform looks like,

{{custom_field_name}}

2. Creating Custom Fields

a. Log in to your account

b. Click on Flows

c. Find and click on Custom Field 

 d. Click on Add.

e. Define the field Name, Type, and add a Description that best fits your custom field function.

f. Continue to save the custom field.

3. Using Custom Field on the Flow Builder

If you’ve already created a custom field to store user input, you’re all set. However, you can also create a custom field directly while building your chat flow.

a. Choose the flow where you’d like to implement the custom field feature.

Within the flow, use the “Get User Data” block to collect input from your subscribers (as shown in the image below).

b. Then click on the “Edit” button to configure the custom field.

c. Now, choose the custom field if you have created it already or you can create a new custom field here in the wizard itself.

When any subscriber on this flow provides the input on this user input, it will get stored on the custom field named “preferred color_laptop bags”.

The user input will be saved in the designated custom field, as mentioned before, and can be viewed on the inbox and contact pages. For example, the green color provided by the user is stored in the corresponding custom field on these pages.

4. Practical Use Cases:

Custom fields on platforms offer immense value for personalization, enabling you to customize your messages and interactions for individual users, resulting in a more engaging and relevant experience. Here are three practical examples of how you can leverage custom fields for personalization:

User Input with the Get User Data Element

1. Understanding User Input

In Chatbot Builder AI, the Get User Data element helps you capture and store information provided by users, such as messages, responses, or other data. User input is essential for chatbot interactions and can come in many forms—text messages, voice commands, button clicks, or form submissions. This input represents what users communicate to the chatbot, including their questions, preferences, or requests.

Effectively capturing and using this input is critical because it allows for more personalized and relevant conversations. By understanding and responding to user input, the chatbot can offer better solutions, improve engagement, and create a more valuable experience for both the user and the business.

2. Setting Up User Input Prompts

To create successful chatbot interactions, it’s important to set up prompts that guide users to provide the information you need. Here’s how you can effectively collect and use user input:

a. Personalized Greetings
You can use custom fields to personalize the interaction by greeting users by name. For example, when a user subscribes or provides their name, you can store it in a custom field like {{first_name}}. You can then use this field in your chatbot messages to personalize greetings: "Hi {{first_name}}, welcome to our chatbot! How can we assist you today?" This small touch makes users feel acknowledged and creates a more engaging experience. Throughout the conversation, you can continue to use {{first_name}} to add a personalized element to each message.

b. Product Recommendations
For e-commerce chatbots, you can take advantage of custom fields to recommend products based on a user’s preferences or purchase history. For example, you can store data like {{favorite_category}} or {{recent_purchase}}. Using this information, the chatbot can send personalized recommendations: "We noticed you purchased a smartphone. Take a look at our latest phone accessories!" This level of personalization helps you offer relevant suggestions, enhancing the user experience and increasing the chances of additional sales.

c. Configure Validation Rules
In some cases, you’ll want to ensure the information users provide is accurate and in the correct format. Validation rules help with this. For example, if you're collecting an email address, set a validation rule to check for the presence of an "@" symbol and a valid domain. 

Additionally, ensure users have opted in to receive emails to avoid errors. Setting up validation helps you maintain data quality and ensures that your chatbot interactions are smooth and effective.

By combining personalized greetings, product recommendations, and validation rules, you can create a chatbot experience that feels responsive, tailored, and seamless for users.

Note: To use custom fields in your chat flow, enclose the field name in double curly brackets {{ }} within a text block to reference the desired custom field. 

When you type the first {, a dropdown will appear in parts of Chatbot Builder AI, making it easy to select a CUF. However, even if the dropdown doesn't appear, you can still use CUFs almost everywhere in the platform by manually entering the field name.

List of System Fields and Custom User Fields (CUFs) in Chatbot Builder AI

Contact and Account Management

Instagram CUFs

Facebook Messenger CUFs

Location CUFs

Appointment CUFs

Ecommerce CUFs

3. What to Do If a System Field Isn't Visible:

4. Practical Use cases

Incorporate system fields into your chatbot messages. Here is a practical example:

a. Email Subscription Confirmation:

You can use system fields to capture a user's email address and confirm their subscription:

Assistant:  "Thanks for chatting with us, {{first_name}}! Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter? We already have your email address as {{email}}, is that correct?"

This approach simplifies the subscription process by using the email address already associated with the user's messaging platform account.

For dates, make sure they are entered in the correct format (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY) and fall within a sensible time range, like not being too far in the past or future. This ensures the date is usable and makes sense for your chatbot's needs.

CUFs Empower You to Build Better Chatbots

Custom User Fields (CUFs), system fields, and account fields in Chatbot Builder AI are essential tools that enable you to craft more intelligent and personalized chatbot experiences. By storing and utilizing user information effectively, you can enhance interactions, make conversations more engaging, and ensure that your chatbot delivers relevant, tailored responses every time.

Whether it's personalizing greetings, recommending products, or integrating with tools like Google Sheets, these fields give you the power to build better, more responsive chatbots that connect with users on a deeper level.