Most local businesses lose enquiries because they cannot reply to WhatsApp messages fast enough. A restaurant gets a table booking request at 8pm when the owner is busy. A salon gets a pricing enquiry on Sunday. No reply means no booking.

WhatsApp Business solves this for free. Here is how.

What WhatsApp Business Gives You (All Free)

  • Away messages: automatic reply when you are offline
  • Greeting messages: automatic welcome to first-time contacts
  • Quick replies: saved responses you send with one tap
  • Labels: organise contacts by New Customer, Regular, VIP, Pending Payment
  • Business profile: hours, address, website, catalogue

Setup 1: Greeting Message

Go to WhatsApp Business Settings, then Business Tools, then Greeting Message. Turn it on. Write something like:

Hello and welcome. Thank you for contacting [Business Name]. We typically reply within 1 hour during business hours. Type MENU to see our services and prices, or describe what you need and we will get back to you shortly.

Every new contact gets this automatically. You look responsive even when you are not available.

Setup 2: Away Message

Turn on Away Message for outside business hours. Include your opening times and a reassurance that you will reply the next morning. Customers stop sending follow-up messages because they already know when to expect a reply.

Setup 3: Quick Replies for Pricing

Create Quick Replies for your 5 most common questions: your price list, your location, your opening hours, how to book, and your payment methods. When a customer asks a common question, you tap one button and the full answer sends in seconds.

The Advanced Level: Connecting a Chatbot

For businesses that want 24/7 fully automated replies, the next step is connecting a chatbot through the WhatsApp Business API using tools like Typebot or Botpress. These handle enquiries, collect customer details, and even take bookings without any human involvement.

This is exactly the type of system our students build and sell to local businesses in Phase 5 of the Astronova AI Labs programme for Rs.5,000 to Rs.15,000 per setup.