What custom actions can I add to flash sale chats?

A flash sale creates a surge of customer questions that need instant resolution. Chatref's custom actions let your AI agent collect key details (like email or size preference) and trigger real-world outcomes - such as applying a coupon, starting a return, or subscribing a shopper to back-in-stock alerts - right inside the chat. Because the agent is grounded in your product information, it understands the context of a flash sale and can present the right action at the right moment without manual effort.

Speed is everything when a sale is live. Custom actions in flash sales remove the manual work behind common requests:

• Discount code application: The agent applies a promo code and shows the updated price, no code-typing needed.
• VIP email capture: Collect customer emails to grant early access or send post-sale follow-ups.
• Cart reservation: Let shoppers hold a limited-quantity item for a few minutes so they can complete the purchase.
• Order status lookups: Pull real-time shipping or payment details from your backend without switching to another app.

Each action runs as part of the same conversation, so customers never wait for a human response.

Here are specific custom actions you can build in Chatref to handle the peak demand of a flash sale:

• Apply a one-click discount - "Apply code FLASH20" triggers a 20% price reduction and displays the new cart total.
• Reserve inventory - "Hold this dress in size M for 10 minutes" locks an item during checkout.
• Instant stock alerts - "Email me when the midnight blue tee is back" subscribes the customer to a notification.
• Initiate a return or exchange - "Start a return for order #4523" captures the reason and generates a return label link.
• Direct checkout link - "Send the link to buy this now" pops the exact product page into the chat.

These actions keep the sale flowing and reduce cart abandonment.

1. Open your Chatref agent's settings and navigate to Custom Actions.
2. Define a trigger phrase - for example, "apply discount" or "reserve item".
3. Specify what data to collect - email, discount code, size, or order number.
4. Connect the action to your tool - Chatref can send the collected data to your ecommerce platform or CRM via a webhook, so the action executes immediately.
5. Craft the agent's reply - a confirmation message that shows the result (e.g., "20% discount applied. Your new total is $32.").

Once live, your AI agent handles these tasks across every flash sale chat, 24/7, without extra configuration.

What tasks can I automate during a flash sale?
You can automate discount code application, email capture for exclusive deals, stock reservation requests, order lookups, and sending checkout links for items left in cart. The AI agent collects the needed details and triggers the action in real time - no manual handoff needed.

How do custom actions improve the customer experience?
Custom actions keep shoppers inside the chat instead of bouncing between emails or pages. They get instant answers, personalized offers, and immediate issue resolution, which reduces friction and cart abandonment during high-pressure sales. Every action is handled seamlessly, so the conversation never leaves the widget.

What are some examples of useful custom actions?
Useful examples include: applying a discount code (e.g., "Apply code FLASH20" updates the cart total instantly), reserving an item for a short time, checking order status by pulling data from your backend, and subscribing a customer to back-in-stock alerts. Custom actions are included in every Chatref account at no extra cost, and you can create as many as your flash sale needs require.