Most Indian shops and D2C brands already sell on WhatsApp. The question is when the free app stops being enough.
The WhatsApp Business app (free)
- Business profile, catalog, labels, quick replies, greeting and away messages.
- One number, a handful of linked devices.
- Good for: up to a few dozen conversations a day handled by one or two people.
- Limit: no real automation - an away message doesn't answer "price?" or take an order.
The WhatsApp Business Platform (API)
- Accessed through Meta's Cloud API or a Business Solution Provider.
- Many agents on one number, chatbots and AI replies, integration with your store, order and payment systems, broadcast campaigns with approved templates.
- Pricing: Meta charges per message/conversation by category (marketing, utility, authentication), varying by country; service replies within the customer's 24-hour window are generally cheaper or free under current rules - check Meta's current pricing.
- Needs a verified business and a number not active on the app.
Avoid getting blocked
- Message only people who opted in.
- Use approved templates outside the 24-hour window.
- Don't blast cold lists; high block rates lower your number's quality rating and limits.
What an AI sales agent adds
Instant replies in Hindi, English or Hinglish, answers from your catalog and policies (COD, delivery time, returns), order capture, UPI payment links, and hand-off to a human for anything unusual.
Pre-order the AI sales agent for your store.