Hello Mautic Team,
Description:
Currently, in Mautic, it is possible to define default values for custom fields. However, when an anonymous contact is created, these default values are automatically applied. This behaviour may not always be desired as the concept of a “default value” implies a pre-filled value for known contacts rather than anonymous visitors.
Proposed Solution:
Introduce a configuration option that allows users to specify whether default field values should be applied to anonymous contacts. For example:
Apply defaults to anonymous contacts: Yes / No
If set to “No,” default values would only be applied when the contact becomes identified (e.g., after form submission or tracking).
Benefits:
* Greater flexibility in handling anonymous contacts.
* Prevents inaccurate or misleading default data from being associated with anonymous users which can cause undesirable segment memberships.
* Aligns the behaviour of default values with their intended purpose.
Optional Considerations:
* Allow per-field configuration in addition to a global setting, for even more granular control.
* Clearly document the behaviour in the UI so users understand how defaults interact with anonymous vs. identified contacts.
Thank you for considering this improvement and for your continued work on making Mautic more flexible and user-friendly.