Workflow: How to create a condition in the bot builder to check when no agents are available

In this workflow, you'll learn how to create a conditional flow that checks if agents are available. While the bot builder can verify if a message arrived during business hours, it doesn't automatically detect agent availability. To achieve this, you need to create an API connection that detects the number of online agents.

This article describes functionality available only to customers who had a drafted or published AI agent as of February 2, 2025. For information about equivalent functionality in the AI agents - Advanced add-on, see Building dialogues for AI agents - Advanced.

The workflow includes the steps below.

Step 1: Create a bearer token

Step 2: Create an API connection

Step 3: Create a conditional statement in the bot builder

Step 1: Create a bearer token

Create a bearer token for the Zendesk Chat API. See Chat API tutorial: Generating an OAuth token.

Step 2: Create an API connection

Create an API connection:

In Admin Center, navigate to Apps and integrations > Connections and click Create connection

Select the Bearer token authentication type and enter the token created in Step 1

Enter the allowed domain value rtm.zopim.com

Step 3: Create a conditional statement in the bot builder

In Admin Center, navigate to AI > AI agents and select your bot

Go to the Intents tab

In the bot builder, add the Make API call step with the below API details:

In the Request method, select GET

Enter the Endpoint URL:https://rtm.zopim.com/stream/agents/agents_online

In the Authentication field, select the connection created in Step 2

Click Make API call to test the call and return status code 200

Under the Variables tab in the Key column, expand Content then Data

Find agents_online and click Save

The Add variable popup appears. Click Save to create the agents_online variable.

Under API call successful, add a Branch by condition step with the If this and Else options

Open the If this branch and rename it to Online, then click Add condition

Add the condition, Variables > agents_online | Is not | 0

You successfully created a condition that checks if there are live agents in Chat. Complete the flow with your desired steps and publish the bot.

Note: The real-time API used above is available to Enterprise plans.