With Boulevard's Auto-Responses, you can stay engaged, even when you're away with automatic replies that keep clients informed. Whether you’re off the clock or closed, ensure clients always get a text back. Usage rates apply, and a dedicated phone number is required to use auto-responses.
Away Status in Messages
Busy? Out for lunch? Away messages reply to clients when you’re temporarily offline.
Set your Messages status to Away, customize the away message, and set a duration.
Ready to return? Set your status back to Active, or click "End now".
Note: "Set away status & messages" permission is required to view or edit your location's Messages status. By default, admins and location managers have access.
Manage access in Manage business > Permission Groups > Group Name > Messages.
After-hours responses
After-hours responses ensure clients always get a reply, even outside business hours. Set up a custom after-hours message in Client Notifications>Auto-responses.
Customize your after-hours text. Automatic replies will send to clients who text you outside of the hours you've set up in in Manage Location > Details > Location Hours.
If after-hours responses are turned on, and it's closing time, your Messages status will change to indicate After-hours status. Once you're in After-hours, this status can't be changed, and will expire when you re-open.
FAQ
What's the difference between away messages and after-hours responses?
Away status/Away messages are temporary, intended for your day-to-day. They'll expire based on the custom duration you set.
After-hours responses are ongoing, automated replies that will send daily, anytime your business is closed (so long as you've got them turned on in Client Notifications).
Can I use both away messages and after-hours responses?
Yes! You can use one or the other, or better yet, use them in tandem to ensure clients always get a text back.
How do I know what time after-hours messages will be sent?
They'll send based on the location's business hours you've set up in Manage Location > Details > Location Hours. If you don't have location hours set up, you won't be able to turn on after-hours responses.
If I have after-hours turned on, and I also enable an away message, will both get sent?
No. Away messages take priority—then, once your away status duration is up, after-hours responses will take over if you've got those enabled.
Will automated away or after-hours responses be sent when clients just reply "Yes" to confirm their appointment?
No.
What phone number do auto-responses come from?
They'll be sent from your location's dedicated phone number.
Can I change the default auto-response messages?
Yes. While we've pre-populated a default text message for you (in both away and after-hours responses)—you can customize this to fit your brand.
Can I change my status back to Active once I'm in After-hours?
No. Once after-hours responses are turned on, this will be reflected as "After hours" in your Messages status. This status can't be changed, but will expire once your business has re-opened (based on your location hours).
What's the cost of auto-response texts?
Usage rates apply. Pay based on text segments sent and received, similarly to Boulevard's other custom client notifications or two-way texting.