Primary vs. Non-Primary Conversation AI Bots in Sparkforge

By Sparkforge Support Team ·Last reviewed May 3, 2026

The primary Conversation AI bot answers every inbound message not claimed by a workflow. Non-primary bots are workflow-specific and only respond when the workflow triggers them.

Conversation AI in Sparkforge runs two types of bots: a single primary bot for general inbound messages, and any number of non-primary bots that only respond inside specific workflows. Channel assignments determine which bot answers what.

Primary Conversation AI bot

The primary bot manages every inbound conversation that isn't claimed by a workflow. It's the default responder across the channels you assign to it.

How it works

General conversations — replies automatically to messages outside any workflow automation.
Channel-dependent — only responds on the channels you assign (SMS, Facebook, live chat, etc.).
One per sub-account — only one bot can hold primary status at a time.

Set a bot as primary

Go to Settings > Conversation AI.
Create a new bot or open an existing one.
Click Set as Primary.
Click Save.

You can switch primary bots at any time. The configurations of both bots stay intact, but you'll need to reassign any channels missing on the new primary so coverage doesn't drop.

Channel assignment

The primary bot can only respond on the channels listed in its settings. If SMS isn't assigned, SMS messages go unanswered. Add every channel you want the bot to cover.

Non-primary Conversation AI bots

Non-primary bots only respond inside workflows. They handle specific tasks — appointment booking, follow-up, qualification — and stay quiet outside those workflows.

How they work

Workflow-triggered — only respond when a workflow step activates them. Conversations can be transferred between bots at different steps, but only one bot runs at a time.
Channel-dependent — must be configured for the same channels the workflow uses.
Specialized — ideal for booking, recovery, or industry-specific support.

Match bot channels to workflow channels

Example setup for a Facebook and Instagram lead nurture flow:

Non-primary bot has Facebook and Instagram assigned as channels.
Workflow triggers on Facebook and Instagram messages.
Bot is added to that workflow as an action.

If a workflow includes Facebook and SMS but the bot only has Facebook assigned, SMS steps will go unanswered. Either configure the bot for both channels or use separate bots per channel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have more than one primary bot?

No. Only one bot can hold primary status per sub-account at a time. You can switch which bot is primary, but you'll need to reassign channels to the new primary so coverage doesn't drop.

Can a non-primary bot reply to general inbound messages?

No. Non-primary bots only respond inside workflows they've been added to. General inbound messages always go to the primary bot.

What happens if my primary bot is missing a channel?

Messages on that channel go unanswered by the bot. Always assign every customer-facing channel — SMS, Facebook, Instagram, live chat — to the primary bot to avoid gaps.

Can I run multiple non-primary bots in one workflow?

Yes. You can use one bot for booking and another for support inside the same workflow, transferring the conversation between them at different steps. Only one bot runs at a time.

What if I change a non-primary bot's channels after adding it to a workflow?

The bot keeps running, but check every workflow that uses it — the new channel config has to match the workflow's channels or steps will go unanswered.