Start Chat
Open a system-initiated conversation on a connected channel and continue when that session ends.
Type
chat.start-chatFolder
chatChannels
Any
Pipe
Value
Scope
Any
Human-in-the-loop
Yes
Start Chat is for system-initiated conversations: the agent or workflow opens a session on a connected channel with a chosen agent (WhatsApp, email, voice call, and similar). Use it when your system should reach someone — not when a person has already started the chat inbound.
The run waits until that session finishes, fails, or hits the timeout, then continues. Starting a new chat for the same channel and identifier ends other active sessions for that conversation. Channel identifier is required (customer phone, email, or similar). Channel setup is covered on Channels.
Configure
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Channel | Connected channel to start on (required) |
| Channel identifier | Customer phone, email, or other conversation id on that channel (required) |
| User identifier | Optional. The person on that channel. Defaults to the channel identifier |
| Agent | Agent that runs the conversation (required) |
| Agent input | Shown when the selected agent has an input schema. Fill each field with a literal or variable |
| Timeout (minutes) | How long to wait for the session to end. Default 5, at least 1 |
| Generate summary | After the session ends, generate a summary and save it on that session |
| Prompt | Instructions for that summary (shown when Generate summary is on) |
Handles
| Handle | Role |
|---|---|
| In (target) | Incoming connection |
| Out (source) | Continues after the session ends |
Pipe schema
The next block reads this on the data pipe (pipe.value).
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
sessionId | text | Session id of the conversation that was started |
status | text | finished or failed |
reason | text | End reason when present (timeout, superseded, and similar). May be empty on a normal end |
summary | text | Present when Generate summary is on and a summary was produced |
Use case
- Send a reminder, follow-up, or notification on WhatsApp, email, or another channel from a cron, webhook, or another workflow.
- Place an outbound voice call (for example Exotel Voice Call) by passing the callee number as Channel identifier.
- Collect a summary of that conversation before updating a table or sending a message.