Using External APIs in Acele FlowBuilder with Dynamic List Display

Integrating external APIs into your chatbot flows in Acele allows you to fetch real-time data from third-party systems like eCommerce stores, CRMs, and inventory platforms. This guide walks you through building a WhatsApp bot flow that fetches dynamic data using an HTTP API and displays it using WhatsApp list replies.

---

🔍 What You Can Do with Acele’s API Integration

• Retrieve dynamic product or data lists via HTTP GET.
• Display the data as a structured WhatsApp list picker.
• Let users select from live options and respond based on their selection.
• Personalize replies using selected data points from the API.

---

🛠 Step-by-Step Guide to Create the API-Based WhatsApp Flow

---

1️⃣ Create the Flow with a Trigger Word

• Navigate to Bot Reply → Click Create
• Title: HTTP API
• Trigger Keyword: httptest
  📌 This is the keyword the user will type on WhatsApp to trigger the bot.

---

2️⃣ Add the HTTP API Call

• Drag the HTTP API element into the flow.
• Select a pre-configured GET API request (e.g., Test Http : GET)
• This API should return a list of items in JSON format.

---

3️⃣ Add an Interactive Message

• Add an Interactive Block after the API call.
• Message: “This is a live product list.”
• Button Label: “Choose One…”

---

4️⃣ Configure the WhatsApp List Picker

• Choose the List Message block.
• Set:
  • Quick Reply Name: Choose Product
  • Section Name: Pick One

---

5️⃣ Set Up Dynamic Rows

• Keep only 1 row element, delete extras.
• Row Generation Method: Dynamic
• Use the configuration below:

Field	Value
Custom Field for Dynamic Rows	#Product_Name#
Key/Index for Row Title	product_list
Row Description Format	#Product_Name->price# - #Product_Name->orderID#
Save Selection To	selected_product
Key/Index for Saved Value	purchase_link

---

6️⃣ Add Confirmation Message

• Add a Text Message Block right after the list selection.
• Text: You can buy this product from #selected_product#

---

7️⃣ Save and Test the Flow

• Click Save
• On WhatsApp, send the trigger word httptest
• The bot will:
  • Fetch live product data
  • Display options via WhatsApp list
  • Reply with the selected product’s purchase link

---

💡 Real-World Use Cases

• Show live product inventory from WooCommerce or Shopify
• List services, events, or tickets from any API
• Fetch order or delivery data from your backend and display it
• Custom CRM lead assignment or demo slot selection

---

✅ Summary

With Acele’s HTTP API + WhatsApp List Integration, you can:

✔ Fetch JSON data from any external system
✔ Display structured, interactive lists on WhatsApp
✔ Respond dynamically based on user choices

---

🔗 Want to Do More?

• Use custom fields to store and re-use selected data
• Use conditions to show different responses based on API output
• Combine this with Sequences and Tags for smart campaigns