Automation & Bots — the toolbox
In one sentence
MsgBuddy can answer messages for you — from simple auto-replies all the way up to a visual chatbot and an AI assistant — so customers get instant responses even when your team is asleep.
Why automate
- Speed — reply in seconds, any hour.
- Consistency — the same correct answer every time.
- Focus — let bots handle the routine so your team handles the tricky stuff.
Your four tools, from simplest to smartest
| Tool | What it does | Effort to set up |
|---|---|---|
| Business hours | Defines when you’re “open”, powering after-hours replies | Tiny |
| Automation rules | ”If X happens, do Y” — greet, auto-reply, route | Small |
| Visual flows | Multi-step guided conversations (menus, forms) | Medium |
| AI assistant | Answers freely from your documents | Medium |
You don’t have to use all four. Many businesses start with just business hours + a welcome rule + an after-hours reply, and add flows or AI later. Each tool is optional and independent.
The one thing to remember
However clever your automation, a human always takes priority. The moment a teammate picks up a chat, the bots go quiet — so automation never talks over your staff. The exact order MsgBuddy uses is on the Who answers? page.
The rest of this chapter
- Automation rules — welcome, after-hours, and keyword replies.
- Business hours — when you’re open.
- Visual flows — build guided conversations.
- The AI assistant & knowledge base — answers from your docs.
- Who answers? — how MsgBuddy decides between human, flow, and AI.
Next: start simple with automation rules →.