Guide for Indian small businesses
WhatsApp business automation
WhatsApp business automation means letting software handle repeatable customer conversations and order tasks, while you stay in charge of prices, payments and exceptions. Start with the work you repeat every day—not a mass-message campaign.
What should a small shop automate first?
Customer replies
Prepare accurate answers about products, pack sizes, prices and delivery. Mitra, Chirbirey’s assistant, answers in English or Hindi using your business information. A customer can ask to talk to a human, and you can take over a conversation in the inbox.
Orders and UPI links
Use your catalog rather than asking AI to invent a total. Mitra prices orders from your saved products, records the sale and sends a UPI link using your business’s UPI ID. Check payment receipt before treating a bill as paid: sending a link is not proof of payment.
Follow-ups you can review
On Growth and Pro, unpaid bills and customers who are late to reorder can be highlighted for follow-up. You can send a reminder or check-in from the dashboard. Availability depends on WhatsApp’s messaging rules and approved templates; it is not permission to send unsolicited promotions.
Example: a water distributor
Suppose your catalog lists a 20-litre refill at ₹80. A customer asks for two refills: the catalog-based total is ₹160. A new jar may have a different price, so keep “refill” and “new jar with water” as separate products. Confirm the quantity and delivery details, send the payment link, then check the payment and delivery status.
Customers can send voice-note orders on Starter. Growth and Pro also support photo and PDF orders. Keep a person available when an order is unclear or needs a special arrangement.
Connection and customer permission matter
Chirbirey uses Meta’s official WhatsApp connection, not unofficial QR pairing. Connecting a business number depends on Meta’s eligibility and approvals. While Chirbirey’s Meta review is pending, you can join early access, skip WhatsApp connection and prepare your catalog; automation cannot answer customers on an unconnected number.
WhatsApp allows free-form replies within 24 hours of a customer’s last message. Outside that window, business-initiated messages require approved templates and the appropriate customer permission. Chirbirey shows reminder actions when the chat window closes; a suitable approved template must be available for your business.
Prepare your business in four steps
- Create your Chirbirey workspace. You can skip the WhatsApp connection and still access your dashboard.
- Add products, units, pack sizes and real INR prices. Include clear delivery and payment instructions.
- When connection is available, connect your number and test a price question, an order and a human handover.
- Review orders and unpaid bills regularly. Enable an evening WhatsApp summary once your connection and plan support it.
Choose a plan for your workload
- Starter · ₹499/month: up to 300 customer chats, voice orders, bills, UPI links, daily summaries and 4 Instagram photo posts.
- Growth · ₹1,499/month: up to 1,500 customer chats, photo/PDF orders, payment reminders, reorder check-ins, Instagram DM support and 15 photo/carousel posts.
- Pro · ₹3,999/month: unlimited customer chats, daily Instagram content preparation and up to 20 AI Reels a month.
There is no setup fee. Eligible businesses receive a 14-day trial on their first subscription. Instagram content and messaging require the relevant connection and permissions; Mitra’s photo posts wait for your approval. Automation supports your work—it does not guarantee sales or replace owner oversight.