Services
WhatsApp chatbot development and automation
Your customers are already on WhatsApp. We connect your number to the official WhatsApp Business Platform and build what answers there: an assistant that books, takes orders, sends reminders and receipts, and brings in a person when needed.
How much does a WhatsApp chatbot cost in India?
With Infovion Technologies, a menu-based WhatsApp chatbot on the official WhatsApp Business Platform typically costs ₹40,000 to ₹1.2 lakh, and an AI assistant that understands free text and is connected to your CRM, ERP or booking system ₹1.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh. Running costs are Meta's per-message charges for template messages, which vary by category and country, and language model usage for AI replies. Infovion sets up the WhatsApp Business account in the client's name, builds the conversation flows and integrations, and provides a shared inbox for staff.
Updated 11 November 2026 by Infovion Technologies, Pune.
Scope
What we deliver
WhatsApp Business API setup
Meta Business verification, number registration on the Cloud API, display name, message templates and opt-in collection, in accounts you own.
AI assistants on WhatsApp
Replies to free text and voice notes in English, Hindi, Marathi and other languages, answering from your own information.
Bookings and orders
Appointments, table and service bookings, catalogue browsing, order taking and order status, written straight into your system.
Reminders, receipts and payments
Payment links, fee and EMI reminders, invoices, delivery updates and renewal notices sent automatically as approved templates.
Lead capture and follow-up
Click-to-WhatsApp ads, website and portal leads answered in a minute, qualified and assigned, with follow-ups until they reply.
Shared team inbox
Several staff answering from one number, with assignment, notes, labels and the assistant's conversation history.
WhatsApp Business app or WhatsApp Business API?
- The free Business app suits one or two people replying by hand from a phone
- The Business Platform (API) is for automation: chatbots, system-triggered messages and many staff on one number
- API messages you start, such as reminders and offers, must use templates approved by Meta
- Replies inside 24 hours of the customer's last message can be free-form
- Customers must opt in before you send them business-initiated messages
- A verified badge is optional and granted by Meta; it is not needed to use the API
What it costs to run
Meta charges per delivered template message, with different rates for marketing, utility and authentication messages and for each country. Rates and free allowances change, so we estimate your monthly cost from Meta's current rate card and your volumes before you commit. If you use a business solution provider's platform, its subscription is extra; connecting directly to Meta's Cloud API avoids that fee.
Where a WhatsApp assistant pays for itself
- Clinics and hospitals: appointments, reminders and reports
- Schools and coaching classes: fee reminders, attendance and notices
- Retail and jewellery: order status, scheme instalments and offers
- Real estate: instant lead replies and site-visit booking
- Service businesses: job booking, technician updates and feedback
- Distributors: dealer orders, dispatch updates and outstanding reminders
Rules to follow
- Use the official API; unofficial tools risk the number being banned
- Record opt-in, and honour STOP and opt-out requests at once
- Keep marketing messages relevant and infrequent; quality ratings affect your sending limits
- Collect only the personal data you need, as the DPDP Act, 2023 requires
- Say clearly when the customer is talking to an automated assistant
Sources: Meta: WhatsApp Business Platform documentation · Meta: WhatsApp Business Platform pricing · WhatsApp Business messaging policy
Deliverables
- WhatsApp Business account and number set up in your name
- Approved message templates
- Conversation flows or AI assistant, tested with real questions
- Integration with your CRM, ERP, billing or booking system
- Shared inbox for staff, with hand-over from the assistant
- Monthly report: messages, costs, bookings or orders
Typical clients
- Clinics, hospitals and diagnostic labs
- Schools, colleges and coaching institutes
- Retailers, jewellers and D2C brands
- Real estate developers and brokers
- Service and repair businesses
- Distributors with dealer networks
Technologies
WhatsApp Cloud API, WhatsApp Flows, Claude API, Node.js, PostgreSQL, Razorpay payment links, Webhooks, CRM and ERP APIs
Cost and timeline
Cost of a WhatsApp chatbot in India
Infovion's indicative build prices for 2026. Meta's message charges and any model usage are billed at cost and estimated from your volumes beforehand.
| Project type | Typical budget |
|---|---|
| WhatsApp Business API setup with templates | ₹15,000 – 40,000 |
| Menu-based chatbot with a few flows | ₹40,000 – 1.2 lakh |
| AI assistant integrated with your systems | ₹1.5 – 5 lakh |
| Clients outside India | $600 – 6,000 by scope |
Timeline. One to two weeks for API setup and a simple bot, including Meta's verification; four to eight weeks for an integrated AI assistant.
Factors that affect cost
- Number of conversation flows and languages
- Menu-based or AI replies
- Systems to integrate: CRM, ERP, booking, payments
- Shared inbox and number of staff
- Message volume
Process
How the project is delivered
01Week 1
Discovery
An initial consultation, followed by a requirements workshop for larger projects, to understand processes, users and objectives.
02Within 2 business days
Proposal
A written scope, milestone plan and fixed-price proposal, so cost and timeline are agreed before work begins.
031–3 weeks
Design
Wireframes and a clickable prototype reviewed with your team before development starts.
042-week sprints
Development
Fortnightly releases to a staging environment, with a review at the end of each sprint.
051–2 weeks
Testing and launch
Functional and security testing, user acceptance testing, data migration, training and go-live.
06Ongoing
Support
Thirty days of post-launch support, followed by an optional maintenance contract.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much does a WhatsApp chatbot cost in India?
A menu-based chatbot on the WhatsApp Business Platform typically costs ₹40,000 to ₹1.2 lakh to build, and an AI assistant integrated with your CRM, ERP or booking system ₹1.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh. Meta's per-message charges and any AI model usage are running costs on top.
Is the WhatsApp Business API free?
Access to Meta's Cloud API is free, but Meta charges for template messages your business sends, at rates that depend on the message category and the recipient's country. Check Meta's current rate card; we estimate the monthly cost for your volumes before the build.
Can a WhatsApp chatbot use AI like ChatGPT or Claude?
Yes. The assistant passes the customer's message to a language model with your business information and replies in natural language, in the customer's own language. It can also call your systems to book, check status or create an order.
Can we keep our existing WhatsApp number?
Usually, yes. A number used on the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app can be moved to the Business Platform, and Meta offers ways to keep using the Business app alongside the API in supported countries. We check what applies to your number before starting.
Do we need a BSP such as Interakt, AiSensy or Wati?
Not necessarily. Those platforms are convenient for broadcasts and a ready-made inbox, for a monthly fee. For custom automation tied to your own software, we connect directly to Meta's Cloud API, so you pay Meta's message charges only.
Can WhatsApp messages be sent automatically from our software?
Yes. Your ERP, billing or school software triggers an approved template, such as a receipt, reminder or delivery update, through the API.
Will our number get banned?
Not if you use the official API, message only people who opted in, and keep quality high. Bans mostly follow unofficial bulk-sending tools and unsolicited promotions.
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Further reading
Guides on this topic
Discuss a WhatsApp chatbot for your business
Share a brief description of your project. We respond within one business day with questions, an approach and a fixed-price proposal where the scope allows.