Your customers already message you on WhatsApp. The problem is that messages arrive at 11 pm, during the lunch rush and while your one salesperson is on another call. A WhatsApp AI chatbot answers in seconds, every time, in Hindi or English, and hands over to a human when needed. Here is what that involves.
What a WhatsApp AI chatbot actually does
- Answers questions about prices, timings, availability and services from documents you approve.
- Shares catalogues, brochures, location pins and payment links inside the chat.
- Qualifies leads by asking the two or three questions your sales team always asks, then alerts a human.
- Books appointments or demos into your calendar or software.
- Sends reminders, order updates and follow-ups automatically.
Official API or unofficial tools?
Many cheap tools run on unofficial WhatsApp connections. They work until Meta bans the number, which happens without warning and takes your customer history with it. The official WhatsApp Business API costs a little more per conversation but is stable, supports the green tick, broadcasts to opted-in customers and is the only option a serious business should use.
What it costs
- Setup: from Rs 14,999 for a rules-plus-AI bot; Rs 40,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh for an AI assistant trained on your data with CRM and payment integration.
- Meta conversation charges: billed at cost, typically under one rupee for service conversations and a few rupees for marketing templates.
- AI usage: usually a few paise per reply; a busy clinic spends a few hundred rupees a month.
- Care plan: optional monthly plan for improvements and monitoring.
What to prepare before the build
Your top 30 customer questions with answers, your price list or catalogue, business hours and locations, the questions you ask to qualify a lead, and the person who should receive hand-offs. The better this material, the better the bot.
Five use cases that pay back fastest
- Clinics and labs: appointment booking, report availability, pre-visit instructions.
- Schools and coaching: admission enquiries, fee reminders, timetable and holiday queries.
- Real estate: project details, site-visit booking, EMI calculators.
- Restaurants and cloud kitchens: menu, ordering, delivery status, feedback.
- Service businesses: quotes, slot booking, invoice and payment links.
A 15-day launch plan
Days 1 to 3: business verification on Meta and content collection. Days 4 to 9: bot design, training and integrations. Days 10 to 12: testing with your team in Hindi, English and Hinglish. Days 13 to 15: go live, train staff on hand-offs and set up reports. Ready to start? See our AI chatbot service or message us on WhatsApp, which is, after all, the point.