Setting up fields for contact information

In Watermelon, you can decide which information you want to collect from end users. This is done using Fields. In this article, you’ll learn what a field is and how to create and edit one.

What is a Field?

A field is a piece of information linked to a Contact. There are various types of fields you can collect, such as:

• First name
• Last name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Company name
• Order number

You can define these fields yourself.

Default fields

We’ve already created some key default fields for you. These are listed under Default fields:

• First name
• Last name
• Email address
• Phone number

Custom fields

Via Custom fields, you can create a new field by following these steps:

1. Click Create custom field in the top right corner.
2. Under Custom field name, provide a clear description of the information you want to collect. For example, if you want to collect an order number, enter “Order Number”.
3. Under Format, choose the type of data you want to collect. You can choose from the following formats:
   • Short text: Use this for names, company names, or addresses.
   • Numbers: Only numeric values can be entered.
   • Email: Only valid email addresses can be entered (must include an @).
   • Phone: Only phone numbers can be entered.
   • Currency: You can select the currency; only amounts with two decimal places are allowed.
   • Date: Only dates can be entered in a day/month/year or day-month-year format.
4. Under Unique, indicate whether the field should contain a unique value. Unique fields help differentiate between individual contacts. Marking a field as unique—like a case number, customer ID, email address, or phone number—prevents duplicate contacts. If you don’t use unique fields, you may end up with duplicates in your contact overview, which you want to avoid.
5. Review your settings and click Create.

Editing a Custom field

To edit a custom field, simply select the created field. A pop-up will appear, allowing you to make changes.

Deleting a Custom field

Once a custom field is created, you can delete it using the trash bin icon.

(Automatic) Data per Channel

The way contact details are collected depends on the channel through which the conversation takes place:

• Chat widget: Conversations via the chat widget typically appear as ‘Anonymous’. This means that name, email address, or other details are not automatically available. You can manually fill in this information, for example, when someone shares their details during the conversation.
• WhatsApp: The first name and phone number are automatically filled in.
• Facebook Messenger and Instagram: The user’s name is automatically added to the contact.