How To Enable Conversational Data Collection

Last Updated 23/05/2025

Before Neexa can start building your contact Database, data collection needs to be enabled. This allows your AI agent to automatically capture and store lead information from conversations across your connected channels — like your website, Instagram, email, or WhatsApp.

This article walks you through exactly how to enable data collection in just a few steps.

Step-by-Step: Turning On Data Collection

Step 1: Log in to your Neexa account and head to Your “Neexa Dashboard” > Click “Settings Icon”

Step 2: Select the “Automations” > Click “Database” on the left side panel and toggle it ON > Click “Save“

Step 3: Set a Condition

Decide when the AI should start collecting user data. You can choose between:

• User Message Count – e.g., after the user has sent 3 messages
• AI Response Count – e.g., after the AI has replied 2 times

Step 4: Then, set the condition value (the exact number that triggers data collection).

Step 5: Choose Data Collection Style

• Data First – The AI collects the required information before continuing the conversation.
• Smart Assist – The AI responds helpfully while collecting the data during the conversation.

Step 6: Customize What Data Is Collected

Tell the AI what kind of customer data you want to collect.

• Phone Number
• Email
• Address
• Text ( i.e. name, business, country etc.)
• Numeric
• Date
• Select (Create your own options from a dropdown)

Understanding Each Field Setting in Data Collection

When setting up custom fields for your AI to collect (like Name, Email, Phone Number, etc.), you’ll see three options: Description, Validation, and Required.

Here’s what each one means and how to use it effectively:

Description

This is a short note to help you (and your team) understand what the field is meant to collect.

For example:

• If the field is “Name,” the description might be: “This is the user’s name”
• For “Email,” the description could be: “This is the User’s E-mail.”

Validation

This tells the AI what kind of input is acceptable. In other words, it helps the AI know whether the user gave a valid response or not.

Examples:

• For an email field, the validation should check if the input looks like a real email (e.g., someone@example.com)
• For a phone number, it might check for correct number length or digits only

⚠️ Without validation, the AI may accept incorrect or incomplete responses (like “yes” as an email).

Required

This setting decides whether the field is mandatory or optional.

• If Required is ON ✅:
  The AI will insist on collecting that field before continuing the conversation.
• If Required is OFF ❌:
  The AI will ask for the field, but it won’t push or follow up if the user skips it.

Use it wisely

Pro Tip:

Keep the conversation smooth. Only mark what you really need as required, so the AI doesn’t come across as pushy or repetitive.

Step 7: Click “Save Changes”

That’s it! Your AI agent will now begin collecting contact data from all qualifying conversations.

How It Works Behind the Scenes

Once enabled:

• Neexa will detect when a user shares contact information in a chat.
• That data is automatically stored in your Database, along with the conversation context and source.
• You can monitor, filter, or export these entries anytime.

⚠️ Important Note

If data collection is disabled, your AI will still chat with users, but none of their contact information will be saved for future follow-up or analysis.

Make sure it’s turned on if you want your CRM, follow-ups, and reporting to work correctly.