> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://knowledge.bitbybit.studio/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set up AI follow-up in AI Studio

> Configure the AI Follow-up skill in AI Studio to automatically re-engage WhatsApp customers who go quiet, and understand how the timer and message work.

The **Follow-up** skill lets your AI agent automatically send one follow-up message to a customer who stops responding, so quiet conversations get a second nudge without an agent watching the inbox. This page shows how to turn on Follow-up in **AI Studio**, set the wait time and message, and understand when the follow-up does and does not send.

Follow-up lives in the **Engagement** group on the **Skills** tab, alongside the related **Auto-resolve** skill. The two are independent — you can enable either one on its own.

## Prerequisites

* You created an AI agent in **AI Studio**. If not, start with [Set up your AI agent in AI Studio](/ai-studio/how-to-setup-ai-agent-in-ai-studio).
* WhatsApp is connected and the conversation is handled by the AI agent.
* You know the [Skills tab](/ai-studio/how-to-setup-skillset-in-ai-studio) basics (adding a skill and using its card).

## Step 1: Open the Follow-up skill

* Go to **AI Studio** and open the AI agent you want to configure.
* Open the **Skills** tab.
* In the **Engagement** section, add **Follow-up** if it is not there yet (**Add skill** → **Follow-up** → **Add**).
* Use the switch on the **Follow-up** card to turn the skill on.
* Open the card to configure its settings.

## Step 2: Set the wait time

The **Follow up customer after** field controls how long the agent waits with no reply before it sends the follow-up.

* Enter a number, then choose the unit: **Minutes** or **Hours**.
* The minimum value is `1`, and the number must be positive.
* The default is `2` **Hours**.

<Note>
  The unit options are **Minutes** and **Hours** only — there is no day or week option. To wait roughly a day, use a value in hours (for example, `12 Hours`). Also see [Stay within WhatsApp's 24-hour window](#stay-within-whatsapps-24-hour-window) before choosing a long wait.
</Note>

## Step 3: Write the follow-up message

The **Follow up message** field is the exact text the customer receives. This message is required when Follow-up is on.

* Type the message you want to send (for example, "Hi, do you have any other questions?").
* Keep it short and specific so it reads as a genuine check-in.

The agent sends this message as written. It is not rewritten or generated by AI, so what you type is what the customer sees.

## Step 4: Save the skill

* After any change, an **Unsaved skillset** banner appears at the top of the page.
* Click **Save skillset** to apply your settings, or **Discard skillset** to revert.

<Check>
  Follow-up is active once the switch is on and your settings are saved.
</Check>

## How AI follow-up works

Once Follow-up is on, the agent tracks how long the customer has been quiet:

* The wait time counts from the customer's **last message**.
* If the customer replies again, the timer **resets** and counts from the new message.
* When the wait time passes with no new customer message — and the conversation is still handled by the AI agent — the agent sends your follow-up message **once**.
* Only one follow-up is sent per quiet period. The timer starts over the next time the customer replies and then goes quiet again.

The pending follow-up is **cancelled** if the conversation changes state before the timer elapses, including when:

* The ticket is resolved manually.
* The ticket is closed by the [Auto-resolve](/ai-studio/how-to-setup-skillset-in-ai-studio) skill.
* The conversation is handed off to a human agent.

## Stay within WhatsApp's 24-hour window

WhatsApp lets businesses send free-form (non-template) messages only within **24 hours** of the customer's last message — this is Meta's customer care window. The follow-up message is a free-form message, so it follows the same rule.

* If your wait time pushes the send moment **past** the 24-hour window, WhatsApp does not deliver the free-form follow-up and it is skipped.
* Keep the **Follow up customer after** value well under 24 hours (a few hours works well) so the follow-up lands inside the window.

This is a Meta platform policy and can change. For the current rules, see the [WhatsApp Business Policy](https://business.whatsapp.com/policy). **Check latest Meta docs** if you rely on long delays.

## Use Follow-up with Auto-resolve

Follow-up and **Auto-resolve** are separate skills. A common setup uses both: nudge the customer first, then close the ticket if they still do not reply.

* Set the **Auto-resolve** wait **longer** than the **Follow-up** wait. This gives the follow-up time to send before the ticket closes.
* When a ticket auto-resolves, any pending follow-up is cancelled, so the customer never gets a follow-up after the conversation has already closed.

To configure Auto-resolve, see [Add and manage skills in AI Studio](/ai-studio/how-to-setup-skillset-in-ai-studio).

## FAQ

**Is the follow-up message written by AI?**
No. The agent sends the exact **Follow up message** you saved. It is not generated or rewritten by AI.

**How many follow-ups does one customer get?**
One per quiet period. The timer resets every time the customer replies, so a customer who goes quiet again later can receive another follow-up.

**Why didn't my follow-up send?**
The most common reasons are: the customer replied and reset the timer, the ticket was resolved or handed to a human agent, or the wait time exceeded WhatsApp's 24-hour window.

**Can I set the wait in days?**
No. The unit options are **Minutes** and **Hours**. Use hours for longer waits, but stay under 24 hours so the message can be delivered.

**What is the default wait time?**
`2` **Hours**, with the message required before you can save.

## Related articles

* [Add and manage skills in AI Studio](/ai-studio/how-to-setup-skillset-in-ai-studio)
* [Get started with AI Studio](/ai-studio/getting-started-with-your-ai-agent)
* [Set up your AI agent in AI Studio](/ai-studio/how-to-setup-ai-agent-in-ai-studio)
* [Test your AI agent in the Playground](/ai-studio/test-your-ai-agent-in-playground)