Salesforce has been transitioning away from its legacy chat system, pushing users toward Messaging for In-App and Web (MIAW), a modern, flexible alternative for customer engagement. If you're currently using a Standard Einstein Bot in the Legacy Chat channel, you might be wondering: Can I reuse that bot in MIAW? The short answer is not directly, but with a few tweaks, you can clone and convert it into an Enhanced Bot.

This guide is tailored for Salesforce Service Cloud Admins who want to future-proof their chatbot strategy while preserving the work they’ve already done with Standard Bots.

Standard vs. Enhanced Einstein Bot: What’s the Difference?

Standard Einstein Bot

• Supported Channel: Only works with Live Agent Chat (web-based only)
• Use Case: Simpler setup, great for basic automation via web
• Backend Objects:
  • LiveChatTranscript
  • LiveChatVisitor
  • LiveChatTranscriptEvent

Enhanced Einstein Bot

• Supported Channels: MIAW, SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger
• Backend Objects:
  • MessagingSession
  • ConversationEntry
  • ConversationContext
  • FlowInterview integration
  • Messaging Components 

Why You Need to Switch to Enhanced Bot for MIAW

MIAW does not support Standard Einstein Bots. If your organization is planning to implement or already using Messaging for In-App and Web, you'll need to upgrade to the Enhanced Einstein Bot framework. Instead of building a new bot from scratch, you can clone your existing Standard Bot and adjust it for compatibility with MIAW. Here's how.

How to Clone a Standard Einstein Bot into an Enhanced Bot

The following steps combine official Salesforce documentation with real-world experience:

Step 1: Choose the Bot Version

• Open the Standard Einstein Bot you want to reuse.
• Identify its latest active version (e.g., version 19).
• Clone that version to create a new one (e.g., version 20).

Step 2: Clean Up Unsupported Actions

• Go to any "Transfer to Agent" dialog or any routing dialog.
• Remove the “Transfer” action—it’s not supported in Enhanced Bots and will cause the cloning to fail.

Step 3: Make Version 20 Active

• Activate version 20 once it’s cleaned and prepped.

Step 4: Clone to Create an Enhanced Bot

• Click the dropdown next to your bot name and select “Clone”.
• This creates an entirely new bot, not just a new version.
• Set a new Display Name for your Enhanced Bot. This name is visible to customers during chats.

Step 5: Finalize and Save

• Review the Salesforce notes that appear.
• Click Save to complete the process.
• The cloning may take a few minutes depending on the complexity of your original bot.

Pro Tips for a Smooth Migration

• Use consistent naming conventions to distinguish Standard and Enhanced bots.
• Test your Enhanced Bot thoroughly in a sandbox or lower environment before going live.
• Update routing configurations and ensure compatibility with Flow and Omni-Channel if used.

Conclusion: Future-Proof Your Salesforce Chat Strategy

Switching to Messaging for In-App and Web is inevitable and a good thing. By migrating your existing Standard Einstein Bots into Enhanced Bots, you not only stay ahead of Salesforce updates but also unlock new possibilities for omnichannel support.

Don’t start from scratch. Clone smart, adapt fast, and deliver better service. 

FAQ: Enhanced Bot and MIAW Migration

Q: Can I use my Standard Einstein Bot directly in MIAW?
A: No, MIAW only supports Enhanced Bots. You need to clone and modify your bot.

Q: Will my original bot be deleted during cloning?
A: No, the Standard Bot remains intact. You’re simply creating a new Enhanced Bot based on it.

Q: What happens to reports and analytics after switching?
A: Reporting objects differ, so you may need to update dashboards or integrations.