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Who can use this?
  • Gallabox users setting up templates, bot flows, or sequences.
  • Roles: Owners and Admins (and roles with the relevant permission) for configuring variables; Agent role uses variables in compose box.
Variables are placeholders that get replaced with actual values when a message is sent. They let you personalise messages with each contact’s specific information — their name, company, order number, appointment date, and more.

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Plan Availability

Available on all Gallabox plans.

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What are Variables?

Variables are placeholders in message templates that Gallabox replaces with actual values when the message is sent. Instead of writing “Hi customer” in your broadcast, you write {{contact.name}} — and Gallabox replaces it with each contact’s actual name (“Hi Sarah”, “Hi John”, etc.). Variables are used in:
  • WhatsApp template messages — personalise template content
  • Bot flow messages — dynamic responses based on contact data
  • Sequence messages — personalised drip campaign content
  • Broadcast messages — personalised mass outreach

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System Variables

System variables are built-in values that Gallabox provides automatically. You can use them in any message.

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Contact Variables

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User Variables

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Company Variables

Type {{ in any supported text field to open the variable picker — it always shows the exact, current list of variables available on your account, including your custom fields.

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Custom Contact Field Variables

In addition to system variables, you can use any custom contact field you’ve created. Contact fields are set up in Contacts → Contact Fields.

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Default Contact Fields

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Custom Contact and Company Fields

Custom fields use the contact.field.<field_name> / company.field.<field_name> syntax: The variable name uses the field’s internal name, which may differ from its display label. Don’t type these by hand — type {{ in the message editor and pick from the list to get the exact variable.

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How to Use Variables

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In WhatsApp Templates

1

Go to WhatsApp Templates

Go to WhatsApp Templates in the left navigation.
2

Open or create a template

Open an existing template or create a new one.
3

Insert a variable

In the message body, type {{ to see available variables.
4

Select the variable

Select the variable you want to use.
5

Fill in values when sending

Fill in the variable values when sending the template.
Example:
“Hi {{contact.name}}! Your order #{{order_number}} is confirmed for delivery on {{delivery_date}}. Track it here: {{tracking_link}}“

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In Bot Flow Messages

In any message node’s text, type {{ to insert a variable — see Flow Builder.

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In Sequence Messages

1

Open Sequences

Go to Sequences in the left navigation.
2

Create or open a sequence

Create or open a sequence.
3

Insert a variable

In the message step, type {{ to see available variables.
4

Select the variable

Select the variable — it will be inserted into the message.
Pro tip: Check your contact data before sending — if a contact has no value for a variable, the message renders with a blank in its place (“Hi !”). For broadcasts, filter your segment to contacts that have the fields your template uses, or fill default values when sending.

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Example

Scenario: You run a fitness studio and want to send a personalised appointment reminder via WhatsApp. The message should include the customer’s name, appointment date, class name, and trainer name. Here’s how you’d set up the template:
1

Create a template

Go to WhatsApp Templates → Create Template.
2

Select a category

Select Utility category.
3

Name the template

Name the template: appointment_reminder
4

Write the message body

Write the message body:
“Hi {{contact.name}}! Reminder: Your {{class_name}} class with {{trainer_name}} is tomorrow, {{appointment_date}} at {{appointment_time}}. See you there! 💪”
5

Submit for approval

Submit for Meta’s approval.
6

Fill in the values when sending

When sending via broadcast or sequence, fill in the values for class_name, trainer_name, appointment_date, and appointment_time.

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FAQs

The contact doesn’t have a value for that field. For example, if {{company.name}} is blank, the contact was added without a linked company. Check that: (1) the field exists in Contacts → Contact Fields, (2) the contact has a value for that field, (3) the variable name is spelled correctly (check Contacts → Contact Fields for the exact name).
Yes. In the bot flow builder, you can use variables in conditions — e.g., “If {{contact.field.plan}} equals ‘Enterprise’”. This lets you create dynamic flows that behave differently based on contact data.
Custom fields use the contact.field.<name> syntax (e.g., {{contact.field.plan}}), not contact.<name>. The <name> is the field’s internal name, which can differ from its display label. Type {{ in the editor and pick the variable from the list instead of typing it by hand.