WhatsApp has billions of active users across 150+ countries. When integrated into your website, users can interact with the WhatsApp bot directly from the site. They land on your page, where the bot offers assistance by answering questions, providing information, or guiding them through processes like placing orders or scheduling appointments. 

This direct interaction enhances user experience and facilitates seamless assistance right where they need 

A WhatsApp bot also helps businesses by answering questions instantly, taking orders, and handling common queries 24/7. It saves time, keeps customers happy, and helps manage tasks like scheduling and tracking orders automatically.

What are WhatsApp chatbots?

WhatsApp chatbots are automated software applications that mimic human interaction. They use the latest technologies, like artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing, to understand and answer user questions, perform tasks, and provide services.

Natural Language Processing (NLP) extracts content from the user’s text, allowing the chatbot to identify targets and important content. According to this analysis, the chatbot makes the first intervention or provides data through API integration. Machine learning also allows some chatbots to learn and improve their responses over time based on user interactions.

Benefits of Using WhatsApp Chatbots

Businesses are turning to AI chatbots to transform customer interactions. Since WhatsApp is the best platform in this digital era, this section highlights the many benefits of using a WhatsApp chatbot for business. 

Learn how they can help your business thrive by improving communication, increasing profitability, and ensuring long-term customer satisfaction. This virtual assistant comes with many benefits that increase customer satisfaction.

24/7 Availability

WhatsApp Business Chatbot can work every day and at any time. It can help customers whenever they need it. This constant presence is especially beneficial for businesses with international customers across different time zones.

Reduced Wait Times

AI chatbots on WhatsApp can answer questions instantly, reduce wait times, and improve the customer experience. Fast and efficient support is always appreciated by customers. It is also helpful in countries like India, which have several regional languages.

Flexibility

These virtual assistants can handle multiple interactions simultaneously, providing flexibility as your business grows. They can interact with multiple users without degrading the quality of service.

Personalized Experience

Using this information, businesses can improve interactions such as providing personalized recommendations, improving the customer experience, and building loyalty. Customers feel valued when their needs are met.

Increased ROI

By analyzing and collecting feedback, chatbots can help businesses identify areas for improvement and measure satisfaction. By collecting relevant information from users, these chatbots can help identify potential customers and direct them to the appropriate sales pipeline.

What do you need before you start building your WhatsApp chatbot?

To build a WhatsApp chatbot, you need a WhatsApp business account that fits your business. Once it’s set up, you can make your chatbot better by teaching it to answer more questions, do tasks, and match your business’s style.

• A WhatsApp phone number & a SIM card
• Whatsapp business account
• Access to a handset (for convenience at later stages)

What are the different types of WhatsApp chatbots?

1. Scripted/Quick Reply

These chatbots work on pre-defined commands and knowledge, responding only to specific queries in a programmed language.

5. Social Messaging Chatbots

When integrated into platforms like Messenger and WhatsApp, they allow seamless communication between businesses and customers.

2. Linguistics-Based (Rule-Based Chatbots)

Perfect for predictable queries, these bots use if/then logic to automate responses on platforms like WhatsApp, with conditions set to evaluate words, synonyms, and more.

3. Voice-enabled chatbots

Think Alexa and Siri—these bots understand and respond to voice commands, providing personalized experiences and performing various tasks.

4. Machine-learning-powered chatbots

Contextual chatbots go beyond keyword recognition, using ML and AI to learn from user interactions and improve over time. They remember user preferences and streamline processes based on past interactions.

6. Natural Language Processing (NLP) Chatbots

These bots map user input to intents, categorize messages, and generate response variables without the need for rigid commands.

Different Platforms for Creating WhatsApp Chatbots

Explore the world of WhatsApp chatbots beyond traditional programming languages. WhatsApp chatbots can be created for a wider audience through the various platforms and tools available. Using these platforms, you can speed up the development process and create complex chatbots with ease. Join us to explore various aspects of building WhatsApp chatbots across multiple platforms and unlock the potential of automated conversations.

Here are the top 5 platforms that we have selected based on market research, customer feedback, and their popularity

Top 5 No Code Platforms for Building WhatsApp Chatbots

Platform Name	Website	Rating	Free Trial
Wati	https://www.wati.io/	4.6	Yes
Interakt	https://www.interakt.shop/	4.4	Yes
Helpwise	https://helpwise.io/	4.7	Yes
Freshdesk	https://www.freshworks.com/freshdesk/	4.4	Yes
Zoko	https://www.zoko.io/	4.3	No

Wati 

Wati offers a robust suite for managing WhatsApp communication, including AI-powered chatbots and CRM integrations. However, businesses with predictable wait times can benefit from a simpler, more cost-effective solution: Wait Wizard. This rule-based approach eliminates the need for complex AI training, making it a breeze to set up and manage.

Customers initiate a chat with a designated keyword, triggering Wait Wizard to deliver pre-defined wait times based on their reason for waiting (e.g., delivery or service). For an extra layer of transparency, Wait Wizard can optionally integrate with your existing systems (with permission) to provide real-time updates. Imagine customers receiving notifications about delays or their position in line directly within the WhatsApp chat – all without ever leaving the platform they already use and love.

This fast and easy-to-set-up solution empowers you to keep your customers informed and queues under control, all without the complexities and costs associated with AI chatbots.  Wait Wizard ensures a smooth and efficient waiting experience, fostering customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Check out the free trial here

Interakt

Interakt makes it easy to create chatbots with drag-and-drop tools and pre-built templates. Perfect for businesses new to chatbots, it allows you to create conversations with ease. Integrate the platform with your WhatsApp Business API and start engaging with customers directly on WhatsApp. You can upload photos, videos, and documents to increase engagement. Gain valuable insights by analyzing and reporting chatbot performance. 

Manage WhatsApp, email, and web chat inquiries from a single integrated platform. Empower your agents to resolve complex issues by creating automated responses to resolve issues as they arise.

Check out the free trial here

Helpwise

Helpwise improves the customer experience by making collaboration between agents easier. Monitor agent performance and customer satisfaction with integrated analytics. There is a working WhatsApp chatbot. Solving queries with automated responses when sending complex questions to human agents. Try to engage customers with the latest news and special offers to keep them informed and engaged.

Check out the free trial here 

Freshdesk

Freshdesk integrates with other Freshworks products, such as CRM, to ensure optimal customer engagement. Evaluate chatbot usage and effectiveness with comprehensive metrics. No coding is needed! Create chatbots that respond to keywords and user input. Sends rich text messages and information to enhance communication. It integrates seamlessly with your WhatsApp Business API to get you started quickly. 

Monitor chatbot performance and customer engagement using built-in analytics. and empower your chatbot to solve complex, open-ended conversations.

Check out the free trial here

Zoko

Zoko integrates with back-end systems, allowing you to capture information and personal interactions. It has multilingual support in over 100 languages, making it ideal for international businesses. Check chatbot usage and customer satisfaction to improve your bot regularly. Create multiple applications, including WhatsApp chatbots. Send and receive messages with Twilio’s programmable WhatsApp API, so you have full control over your chatbot’s role.

No trial provided 

How do I create a chatbot using these chatbot platforms?

The chatbot development platform is the best choice for creating your own virtual assistant to help the users. This intuitive tool helps anyone, regardless of background, create chatbots that transform customer interactions. 

Some platforms offer free trials to get familiar with them while others while for some you need to select the right plan to start exploring the platform.  Get ready to improve communication, answer frequently asked questions, and provide exceptional customer service with the help of your own chatbot development platform.

• Define your goals: What do you want your chatbot to achieve? Answering frequently asked questions, writing customer feedback, or increasing sales are some of the goals. This includes a welcome message, answers to user questions, and links to various events.
• Consider factors such as ease of use, available features, and cost. This involves downloading and installing pre-packaged items.
• Review articles and discussions based on the test results.
• Track key metrics like user engagement, issue resolution, and customer satisfaction.
• Continue improving your chatbot based on the data you collect.

How to create a WhatsApp chatbot using a programming language? 

WhatsApp chatbots revolutionize user interaction on the popular social media platform. Dive into our comprehensive guide, where we explore the streamlined process of crafting your very own WhatsApp chatbot using Python. From the fundamental setup of your development environment to mastering the nuances of the WhatsApp Business API, we’ll provide a step-by-step roadmap.  Delve into crafting intelligent chatbot logic and flawlessly implement it through Python scripting. Our rigorous testing methodologies ensure your chatbot functions impeccably.

This blog will empower you to not only build your chatbot but also to refine and optimize it over time. You can use it to monitor user interactions, analyze performance data, and continuously enhance your chatbot’s effectiveness. 

Through ongoing improvements, your WhatsApp chatbot will become a powerful tool that streamlines communication, strengthens customer satisfaction, and elevates your brand presence within the world’s most popular messaging platform.

Setting Up Your Development Environment

The power of Python: Make sure you have Python 3.9 or higher installed. It is a popular and versatile language for chatbot development. 

Libraries: You will also need libraries to interact with the WhatsApp API (the exact name depends on the API provider you choose). 

Twilio Business Account: This will provide credentials such as the account SID and authentication token for verfication. 

Create a chatbot using Flask

Flask Application: Create a new Python file (e.g., app.py) and configure a Flask app. 

Webhooks: Define methods in the Flask app. This method will be the final method that will receive WhatsApp messages from Twilio.

Message Processing: The study uses the Twilio library as a content aggregation point and data reference.

Chatbot Logic Implementation

In the current market driven by AI, NLP provides an advantage for more human-like answers by the chatbot. Furthermore, you can choose if you want to implement AI or create custom rules where you define terms or phrases that trigger certain responses. For example, if a user enters “order status,” your chatbot might respond with a pre-written message explaining how to follow up on that order (or use logic to respond with related words, actions, or food choices). 

Decision Making

This may include directing users to a specific page, providing contact information, or providing troubleshooting steps. 

Data Storage (Optional)

This allows for a more personalized experience, as the chatbot can greet users by name or reference previous interactions.

Testing & Deployment

Local Testing Rigorously tests your chatbot’s functionality using various user inputs to ensure it works as intended.

Deployment Wizard: Deploys a Flask application to a hosting platform accessible via a public URL. Configure Twilio webhooks to point to this URL to ensure seamless communication. 

Conclusion

Remember that creating an engaging chatbot goes beyond coding. You need to carefully analyze your requirements to make the right choice when it comes to the right technology and platform. Moreover, you can also choose to go for an easy no-code option or build your chatbot using powerful programming languages like Python, its framework Flask, and others! 

The best part is the flexibility! The option you choose depends on your technical expertise, desired level of customization, and the complexity of your chatbot's functionalities. 

So if you are also planning to create a chatbot above, we hope that the guide above will made building one easier for you.