This tutorial will show you how to use OpenClaw to build an automated customer support system. You'll learn to create FAQ responses, handle common inquiries, manage support tickets, and provide 24/7 AI-powered customer service. Estimated time: 30-40 minutes.

What You'll Build

By the end of this tutorial, you'll have:

  • Automated FAQ response system
  • Intelligent customer inquiry handling
  • Support ticket management workflow
  • Multi-channel support (WhatsApp, Telegram, WebChat)
  • Knowledge base integration

Prerequisites

Before starting:

  • OpenClaw installed and running - Complete Getting Started Tutorial
  • Support channels connected - Follow Channel Setup Tutorial
  • FAQ content - Prepare common questions and answers
  • Support documentation - Product docs, policies, procedures

Step 1: Create Support Knowledge Base

Start by creating a knowledge base that OpenClaw can reference:

Create FAQ File

Create FAQ
# Create FAQ directory
mkdir -p ~/clawd/support

# Create FAQ file
cat > ~/clawd/support/faq.md << 'EOF'
# Customer Support FAQ

## Product Information
Q: What are your business hours?
A: We're open Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 6 PM EST.

Q: How do I reset my password?
A: Visit our website and click "Forgot Password" on the login page.

## Billing
Q: What payment methods do you accept?
A: We accept credit cards, PayPal, and bank transfers.

Q: Can I get a refund?
A: Yes, we offer 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.
EOF

Add Product Documentation

Add Documentation
# Copy product documentation to support directory
cp ~/Documents/product-docs/* ~/clawd/support/

# Or ask OpenClaw to organize documentation
You: "Read all files in ~/Documents/product-docs and create 
     a summary knowledge base in ~/clawd/support/knowledge-base.md"

Step 2: Create Support Skill

Create a dedicated support skill that handles customer inquiries:

Basic Support Skill

Create Support Skill
You: "Create a customer support skill that:
     1. Answers questions from the FAQ file
     2. References product documentation when needed
     3. Escalates complex issues to human support
     4. Maintains a friendly, professional tone
     5. Logs all interactions for review"

OpenClaw: [Creates support skill with these capabilities]

Skill Structure

The skill should include:

  • FAQ lookup functionality
  • Documentation search
  • Escalation logic for complex issues
  • Interaction logging
  • Response templates

Step 3: Configure Support Channels

Set up OpenClaw to handle support across multiple channels:

WhatsApp Support

WhatsApp Setup
# Follow channel setup tutorial
# Configure WhatsApp for support number
# Set up automated responses for business hours

You: "Configure this WhatsApp channel for customer support. 
     Use the support skill for all incoming messages"

WebChat Support

WebChat Setup
# Enable WebChat channel
# Configure for support use case
# Set welcome message and support hours

You: "Set up WebChat for customer support with a welcome message 
     explaining we're here to help"

Telegram Support

Telegram Setup
# Configure Telegram bot for support
# Set up command handlers (/help, /faq, /contact)
# Configure automated responses

Step 4: Implement FAQ Responses

Set up intelligent FAQ handling:

FAQ Lookup

FAQ Response
You: "When a customer asks a question:
     1. Search the FAQ file for matching answers
     2. If found, provide the answer
     3. If not found, search product documentation
     4. If still not found, ask clarifying questions
     5. Log the interaction for review"

OpenClaw: [Implements FAQ lookup logic]

Example Interactions

Example FAQ
Customer: "What are your business hours?"
OpenClaw: "We're open Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 6 PM EST. 
           How else can I help you today?"

Customer: "How do I reset my password?"
OpenClaw: "You can reset your password by visiting our website 
           and clicking 'Forgot Password' on the login page. 
           Need help with anything else?"

Step 5: Set Up Ticket Management

Create a system for managing support tickets:

Create Ticket System

Ticket System
You: "Create a ticket management system:
     1. Generate unique ticket numbers for each issue
     2. Store tickets in ~/clawd/support/tickets/
     3. Track ticket status (open, in-progress, resolved)
     4. Send ticket confirmation to customer
     5. Notify support team of new tickets"

OpenClaw: [Creates ticket management system]

Ticket Workflow

Ticket Workflow
Customer: "I need help with my account"
OpenClaw: "I've created ticket #12345 for your issue. 
           Our team will review it and respond within 24 hours. 
           Can you provide more details about the problem?"

# Ticket is logged to ~/clawd/support/tickets/12345.md
# Support team is notified

Step 6: Implement Escalation Logic

Set up rules for when to escalate to human support:

Escalation Rules

Escalation Logic
You: "Set up escalation rules:
     - Escalate if customer says 'speak to human' or 'agent'
     - Escalate if issue is about billing or refunds
     - Escalate if customer is frustrated (detect tone)
     - Escalate if question can't be answered after 3 attempts
     - Create ticket and notify support team when escalating"

OpenClaw: [Implements escalation logic]

Escalation Message

Escalation Response
OpenClaw: "I understand you'd like to speak with a human agent. 
           I've created ticket #12346 and our support team will 
           contact you within 2 hours. Is there anything else 
           I can help with in the meantime?"

Step 7: Set Up Support Analytics

Track and analyze support interactions:

Interaction Logging

Log Interactions
You: "Log all customer support interactions:
     1. Save each conversation to ~/clawd/support/logs/
     2. Include timestamp, channel, customer ID
     3. Track resolution status
     4. Generate daily summary reports"

OpenClaw: [Implements logging system]

Analytics Reports

Generate Reports
You: "Generate a weekly support report:
     - Total inquiries
     - Most common questions
     - Resolution rate
     - Average response time
     - Escalation rate
     - Customer satisfaction (if tracked)"

OpenClaw: [Generates analytics report]

Step 8: Automate Support Workflows

Set up automated workflows for common support tasks:

Business Hours Handling

Business Hours
You: "Set up business hours handling:
     - During business hours: Provide full support
     - Outside business hours: Create tickets, send auto-response
     - Include business hours in all responses"

OpenClaw: [Configures business hours logic]

Follow-Up Automation

Follow-Up
You: "Set up automated follow-ups:
     - After 24 hours, check if ticket is resolved
     - Send satisfaction survey after resolution
     - Follow up on unresolved tickets after 48 hours"

OpenClaw: [Creates follow-up automation]

Real-World Examples

E-commerce Support

E-commerce Example
You: "Set up support for an e-commerce store:
     - Handle order status inquiries
     - Process return requests
     - Answer shipping questions
     - Escalate payment issues
     - Provide product recommendations"

SaaS Support

SaaS Example
You: "Set up support for a SaaS product:
     - Answer technical questions
     - Help with account setup
     - Troubleshoot common issues
     - Provide API documentation
     - Escalate billing questions"

Multi-Language Support

Multi-Language Example
You: "Configure support to handle multiple languages:
     - Detect customer language
     - Respond in their preferred language
     - Translate FAQ and documentation
     - Maintain language-specific knowledge bases"

Best Practices

  • Keep Knowledge Base Updated: Regularly update FAQ and documentation
  • Monitor Interactions: Review logs to improve responses
  • Set Clear Escalation Rules: Know when to involve humans
  • Maintain Professional Tone: Ensure consistent, friendly communication
  • Track Metrics: Monitor resolution rates and customer satisfaction
  • Test Regularly: Test support system with sample questions
  • Privacy & Security: Protect customer data and comply with regulations

Troubleshooting

Incorrect Responses

  • Review and update FAQ content
  • Improve documentation clarity
  • Add more examples to knowledge base
  • Fine-tune skill instructions

Escalation Issues

  • Review escalation rules
  • Ensure support team notifications work
  • Check ticket creation process

Channel Problems

  • Verify channel connectivity
  • Check message delivery
  • Test across all configured channels

Next Steps

Now that you have customer support automation: