How can I fix the issue with form submission and data capture on a Webflow site when using OTP verification through WhatsApp?
TL;DR
- Use a backend service (like Twilio or MessageBird) to generate, send, and validate OTPs via WhatsApp.
- In Webflow, use JavaScript to override form submission, send phone number to backend, show an OTP input, then validate OTP before capturing or submitting user data.
Webflow forms don't natively support OTP flows, especially when integrating external services like WhatsApp for verification. To fix submission and data capture issues involving OTP via WhatsApp, you need to combine Webflow with third-party tools through custom scripting and APIs.
1. Use a Backend to Handle WhatsApp and OTP
- Webflow forms do not support sending OTP messages directly to WhatsApp.
- Use a backend service like Twilio with WhatsApp API, MessageBird, or 360dialog to generate/send OTP codes and verify users.
- The backend should:
- Accept a phone number,
- Generate and send an OTP through WhatsApp,
- Store or validate that OTP temporarily.
2. Connect Webflow Form to Backend via Custom Code
- In Webflow, create two separate UI forms or states:
- Form 1: Accepts the user’s name and phone number.
- Form 2: OTP input field that appears after submission of Form 1.
- Use JavaScript and Webflow form overrides to:
- Prevent the default submission of Form 1.
- Send the phone number to your backend via AJAX (fetch) to trigger an OTP.
- Show the OTP form on success.
3. Validate OTP Before Data Capture
- After the user enters the OTP, use JavaScript to:
- Send the OTP and phone number back to the backend.
- If the OTP is valid, proceed to capture user data.
- You can either:
- Trigger another backend submission of user data, or
- Re-submit the Webflow form using JavaScript to store it in Webflow's form submissions.
4. Optional: Use Hidden Fields for Later Submission
- If you plan to use Webflow’s native form submissions and email notifications, store validated info (e.g. name, phone) in hidden fields.
- On successful OTP validation, prepend the form’s hidden inputs with user data, then trigger the native submit event.
5. Debug Common Issues
- Ensure backend server has proper CORS headers to accept requests from your Webflow domain.
- If using fetch, check for status codes like 400 or 500 indicating API failures.
- Be sure your backend integrates WhatsApp Business API Sandbox or production account, as this isn’t available for personal use.
Summary
To fix form submission issues involving WhatsApp OTP, integrate Webflow with a backend service that handles OTP sending/verification via WhatsApp. Use JavaScript to control form behavior, validate the OTP before final submission, and optionally capture data using hidden fields or API-based storage.