How to reply automatically on WhatsApp Business (3 levels)
26 October 2026 · 4 min read
“How can I reply to my customers automatically on WhatsApp?” It is one of the questions shop owners ask most. There are three levels, from the simplest to the most powerful.
Level 1: the away and greeting message
The WhatsApp Business app lets you schedule a greeting for new contacts and an away message outside your hours. It is free and quick. However, it is always the same text, whatever the question.
Level 2: quick replies
You save short texts (address, hours, payment methods) and call them with a shortcut. It is not automatic: you still have to be there to send them.
Level 3: an AI agent
An AI agent reads the customer's question and answers from your information: website, catalogue, documents. It replies at any hour, in the customer's language, and passes you the cases it cannot handle. It requires the official API.
Mistakes to avoid
- An automatic message that is too long: the customer does not read it.
- Promising a reply “within 5 minutes” when nobody is available.
- Not planning a handover to a human for complaints.