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What Are Starting Actions?

Starting Actions are pre-configured prompt chips that appear in the chat UI before the user sends their first message. They sit below the agent’s greeting and let users start common tasks with one click instead of typing. Admins define each action with a name, icon, prompt template, and optional variables.

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Where They Appear

Starting Actions render as clickable chips in the agent chat interface, directly under the agent’s opening message. After the user sends their first message, the chips are no longer shown for that conversation.

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Admin Configuration

Configure Starting Actions in Agent Configuration. Per-action settings:
  • Name – Label shown on the chip
  • Icon – Icon for the chip
  • Prompt template – The text sent when the user clicks the action; can include {{variableName}} placeholders
  • Enabled – Toggle to show or hide the action
  • Display order – Order of chips; reorder via drag-and-drop
Actions can be reordered with drag-and-drop and individually enabled or disabled.

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Variable Support

Use {{variableName}} in the prompt template to collect input before sending.
  • Placeholders are auto-detected from the template and can be configured.
  • Variable types: Text, Number, Dropdown.
  • Validation: Optional rules such as pattern, min/max length, and custom error messages.
When the user clicks an action that has variables, an inline form appears to collect those values before the prompt is sent. Actions with no variables send the prompt immediately.

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Runtime Behavior

Action typeBehavior
No variablesClicking the chip sends the prompt immediately.
With variablesClicking the chip expands an inline form; after the user fills it, the prompt is sent with the values substituted.
Chips disappear after the user sends their first message (whether from a Starting Action or by typing).
  • Building Agents – Agent creation, configuration, and chat experience, including Starting Actions in the UI.