New Customer After Hours

In this article

When a brand-new customer messages your business outside opening hours, silence is the worst response. This rule sends an automatic welcome that acknowledges their message and tells them when you will be available — so they know you are a real, responsive business even when the shop is closed.

Contents

Before You Start

Business Hours must be enabled and configured in WhatsApp General Settings. This rule uses the "After business hours" condition.
Test Group — Add at least one phone number in General Settings.

If you are new to auto reply rules, read Setting Up Auto Reply Rules first.

When This Rule Fires

Pre-configured conditions (all must be true at the same time):

New customer — The person has no existing profile in EasyBiz.
New conversation — It is their very first message.
After business hours — The message arrives outside your configured opening hours.

In plain terms: a brand-new customer messages you for the first time while your shop is closed. The @Next Available Time placeholder in the default message automatically shows the customer when you will be open next.

How to Set It Up

Go to WhatsApp Settings > Auto Reply Rules tab

Click + Add Rule

Under Welcome, select New Customer After Hours

The three conditions will be pre-configured for you.

Edit the reply message (optional). The default is:

"Welcome! Thanks for reaching out. We're currently closed but will get back to you at @Next Available Time."

Set Action type — the default is None. See the upgrade tip below for a better option.
Set Send frequency to Once per conversation.
Click Save.
Set Status to Testing.

Note: The @Next Available Time placeholder pulls directly from your Business Hours schedule in General Settings. If Business Hours are disabled or not configured, this placeholder will have no value to display.

Testing the Rule

Make sure the rule is set to Testing status
Confirm your test phone number is in the Test Group (General Settings)
Outside your configured business hours, send a WhatsApp message from your test phone
You should receive the after-hours welcome with the next opening time filled in

If you do not receive the reply, check that:

Business Hours are enabled in General Settings
The current time falls outside your configured opening hours
Your test number is in the Test Group

Once verified, switch the status from Testing to Live.

Rule Priority

Place this rule below the After Hours Notice and above the New Customer Welcome in your rules list.

Recommended order:

After Hours Notice (top)
New Customer After Hours (this rule)
New Customer Welcome

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Up next

After Hours Notice

Let every customer know when you'll be back — send an automatic reply to anyone who messages while you're closed.