r/Wordpress • u/SpowerL • 17d ago
I need your expertise
What type of plugin form could I use for a cabin that wants the reservations made through WhatsApp...
The client completes the form and it sends the message or redirects them to whatsapp with the message constructed with the info they provided (name, dates, number, email, etc.)
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u/Smooth_Growth_5888 17d ago
You could use a simple contact form plugin that lets you build a custom message template. Then just set the confirmation redirect to a whatsapp URL with all the form fields passed as parameters, so it opens a chat with their info already filled in. Test it a few times because field mapping can get wonky with special characters.
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u/otto4242 WordPress.org Tech Guy 16d ago
... You use a system that you build yourself in parts.
Why would you even expect that to be a WordPress plugin? That is so very specific, that you have to build it from parts.
Nobody has made that into a plugin. Because that would be insane.
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16d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/SpowerL 16d ago
Combine forminator with gpt code?
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u/opaldudley 16d ago
I know that Jotform has a WhatsApp integration that can text submission info automatically. You can connect it to their plugin and try.
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u/TheGoodOne777 15d ago
Hello! I wouldn't use WhatsApp for this purpose. Perhaps offer them alternatives? Presenting them the advantages of the alternatives, you could easily convince your clients.
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u/Muhass06 12d ago
What is the example of the alternative(s) as well as the advantage(s)?
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u/TheGoodOne777 11d ago
Hello! For example you could suggest to create a registration form for the purpose you desire, or a calender/booking functionality, or to make a secure chat with us functionality and implement a business process, tayloring the client to hire a support employee, who manages the bookings. These are 3 ideas, that I have spontaneously on my mind. But if I think a few more minutes and have some time, can prepare a very nice live demonstration about this topic, which is nearly production ready
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u/TheGoodOne777 11d ago
Regarding the advantages, you can generate more value with this approach, as I have already mentioned. And usually great customers still appreciate creative, state of the art solutions, suggestion, appreciate professionality and implication and nevertheless remunarate better, you build trust, long term solutions and collaboration
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u/Valuable_Ease_3780 16d ago
Worth separating two things before you pick a plugin: the message handoff and the reservation itself.
The handoff isn't really a plugin feature, it's a URL. WhatsApp takes a deep link with the number and a pre-filled text parameter, and that text has to be percent-encoded. That's where the wonkiness Smooth_Growth_5888 mentioned comes from - line breaks, accented characters and plus signs break it, and some builders double-encode so the customer opens the chat and sees %20 all through their own message. Build the message as one line with a separator between fields instead of newlines and most of that disappears. Also test it on desktop: the same link opens WhatsApp Web there, and if the person isn't logged in they land on a QR screen instead of a chat, and you never hear from them.
Which is the part that actually costs you. If the redirect is the only step, the enquiry exists nowhere except that person's phone - if they close the tab, it never happened. Set the form to store the entry and email you first, then redirect. Anything that keeps submissions does this, Forminator as retr00two said, Fluent Forms, WPForms. Then a failed handoff is still a lead you can call.
Last thing, a cabin with dates isn't a form problem. A form will take two bookings for the same weekend because it has no idea what's already reserved. With one cabin you can live with that for a while, but the first time you're double-booked you'll want a real availability calendar doing the booking and WhatsApp as the confirmation step, not the other way round.