TABLE OF CONTENTS


Introduction

In this article, you will learn how to create an automation that responds to messages received outside of your business hours. This automation sends clients an SMS letting them know that you're currently out of the office and will get back to them during business hours. 



Warning


Please be aware that setting up this automation may cause glitches or break your other workflows. Additionally, setting up this automation can have negative impacts that may not be noticed immediately. 



Steps to Create an Automation That Replies to Leads Outside Business Hours



Step 1: Log Into StudioHub and Navigate to Automation


  • Log into StudioHub on your computer
  • Navigate to Automation in the side menu


Step 2: Create a New Automation


  • In the Automation
  • + section, click Create Workflow in the upper right
  • Click Start form Scratch


Step 3: Set The Automation Trigger


  • Click Add New Trigger at the top of the workflow
  • Scroll down and choose the Customer Replied trigger


  • In the trigger settings, click Add filters
  • Choose Response Channel 
  • Select SMS from the drop-down menu
  • Click Save


Step 4: Set The Business Hours Time Window


  • Click the '+' icon below the trigger. 
  • Choose the If/Else action


  • Change the box that says Condition to 'Is it within business hours?'


  • Change the box that says Branch to 'Yes'
  • Change the box that says None' to say 'No' 


  • Click the first box in the row and choose Date/Time, and select Current hour
  • Click the second box and choose Is on or before
  • In the last box, choose when your business hours BEGIN
    • For example, if your business opens at 9am, choose 9am, like in the screenshot below



  • Click + Add Condition below the boxes


  • Click the first box in the second row and choose Date/Time, and select 'Current hour'
  • Click the second box and choose 'Is on or after'
  • In the last box, choose when your business hours END
    • For example, if your business closes at 5pm, choose 5pm, like in the example below
  • Click Save Action to save your condition


Step 5: Create The SMS Reply


  • Click the '+' icon below the branch on the right side that is labeled 'Is it within business hours?'
  • Choose the Send SMS action


  • Enter your desired message into the text box that appears. 
  • Click Save Action to save your SMS action


Step 6: Prevent Other Automated Messages


  • Click the '+' icon below the SMS action 
  • Choose the Remove from All Workflows action


  • Click Save Action to save



Step 7: Name and Publish The Automation


  • Click the name of the workflow in the top right
  • Name your workflow 'Outside of Business Hours Auto-Reply'
  • Click the toggle on the right to Publish
  • Click Save to save your workflow




Conclusion


By following these steps, you can set up a workflow to automatically respond to text messages outside of your business hours, and ensure that additional automated messages do not send while you are away