Flow Builder
A flow builder is a visual no-code editor where you assemble automated message sequences by drag-and-drop. Instead of writing API calls, you connect nodes like "Send Message," "Wait," "Check Condition" into an executable graph.
What is a flow builder?
A flow builder is a graphical tool for creating flows — automated message sequences. Instead of writing code, you drag nodes onto a canvas, connect them with arrows, and configure each node via an input form. The result is a flow definition that the system runs automatically when the trigger fires.
Flow builders belong to the no-code family: marketing and service teams can build automations themselves without involving developers.
Node types in the SendSeven Flow Builder
| Node | Function |
|---|---|
| Send | Send a message via a channel (WhatsApp, email, SMS, Telegram, Messenger, Instagram). Channel can be overridden per run. |
| Wait | Wait period — fixed seconds/minutes/hours/days or conditional ("until reply, max 48h"). |
| Condition | Branch on a rule: check tag, compare custom-field value, test list membership. |
| Tag | Set or remove a tag. Changes the contact state; other flows or segments react. |
| End | Explicit close of a flow branch. Important for validator checks — no "loose ends." |
How building a flow goes
- Pick a trigger: Tag added, webhook received, newsletter signup, appointment in 24h, manual trigger from a conversation.
- Drag nodes: Send, Wait, Condition, Tag, End — each via drag-and-drop onto the canvas.
- Configure: Fill each node with content, conditions, durations.
- Wire up: Drag arrows between nodes — including branches (yes/no on Condition).
- Validate: Before publishing, the system checks the graph: all paths end, no infinite loops, all variables resolve.
- Test: Run with a chosen contact, without burning real marketing quota.
- Publish: Flow is live, runs automatically on the next trigger.
Advantages over code
- Faster iteration: Changes happen in minutes, not in a sprint.
- Owned by marketing: Marketing and service teams stop depending on developers.
- Visual clarity: A graph shows the logic at a glance — code is harder to skim.
- Safety: Validator rules prevent classic mistakes before publish (infinite loops, undefined variables).
- Versioning: Previous versions stay viewable, rollback is possible.
When code is better
- Highly complex logic: Above 30 nodes a flow gets unreadable — some logic belongs in a backend service.
- Enrichment from many systems: Deep data choreography is more efficient via an automation platform (Make, n8n) or direct API access.
- High-frequency mass operations: Processing 1M triggers per day is cheaper with a custom engine.
Flow Builder at SendSeven
The SendSeven Flow Builder has been part of the platform since April 2026. It uses the five nodes (Send, Wait, Condition, Tag, End) on a visual canvas, with a validator before publish, a run API with per-run channel override, and integrated versioning. Marketing templates are directly selectable from the Send node; Tag nodes operate against the central contact management.