How replies are detected

The moment a lead replies, Funkel does two things at once: it cancels every remaining workflow step for that lead, and it lands the message in your inbox so you can take it from there.

What counts as a reply

Any incoming LinkedIn message from a lead Funkel has reached out to. Connection acceptance is not counted as a reply, it’s a separate event that simply unblocks the next workflow step.

How fast is detection

Funkel listens for incoming messages on a webhook from the LinkedIn integration, so reply detection is near-instant for most accounts (typically under a minute). A polling fallback runs in the background to catch anything the webhook misses.

What happens automatically on reply

• All scheduled later steps in this lead’s workflow are canceled.
• The lead is marked as replied.
• The conversation surfaces at the top of your inbox.
• If you have a reply.received webhook subscription, it fires.
• If Slack is connected, a notification posts to your channel.

What doesn’t happen

Funkel never auto-replies. The conversation is handed back to you the moment a human shows up, which is usually the whole point of running outbound in the first place.

Edge cases

• Out-of-office replies. Funkel treats these as replies and pauses follow-ups. If you’d rather follow up after their OOO ends, send a manual note from the inbox a few days later.
• Auto-decline of connection. Not a reply, no inbox event: the lead simply moves to declined and their workflow ends.
• Conversations from before Funkel was installed. If a lead messages you on LinkedIn before they entered a campaign, that conversation appears in the inbox but it’s not tied to any campaign or workflow.