For an Indian e-commerce or D2C brand, the most useful WhatsApp automation software is one that connects directly to your store and handles three jobs automatically: abandoned cart recovery, cash-on-delivery (COD) order confirmation and order and shipping updates. Gallabox, Wati, AiSensy and Interakt all run on the official WhatsApp Business API and are widely used in India. On official pricing, Wati starts at ₹1,875 a month billed annually, Interakt's Growth plan is ₹2,799 a month, and Gallabox Basic is ₹2,399 a month billed annually. On top of the subscription, you pay Meta's per-message charges.
We have already compared the core platforms head to head in Wati vs Interakt vs AiSensy. This guide focuses on e-commerce use cases, and adds Gallabox and other options.
Why WhatsApp matters for Indian e-commerce
Indian shoppers already use WhatsApp every day, so messages there are more likely to be seen than email. For online stores, that helps with three expensive problems:
- Abandoned carts: visitors add products and leave before paying.
- COD returns (RTO): customers refuse cash-on-delivery parcels, and you pay shipping both ways.
- "Where is my order?" queries that overload your support team.
Automating these on WhatsApp can directly protect margin. How much it helps depends on your products, audience and message quality, so measure your own results rather than relying on industry averages.
E-commerce WhatsApp flows to set up first
1. Abandoned cart recovery
When a shopper with a known phone number leaves checkout, send a reminder with the product image and a direct link back to the cart. Common practice is:
- First reminder within an hour
- A second reminder later, sometimes with free shipping or a small discount
- Stop once the order is placed
The customer needs to have given consent (for example, by entering their number at checkout with a clear WhatsApp opt-in). Marketing-type messages cost more than utility messages under Meta's pricing, so keep the sequence short.
2. COD order confirmation
Immediately after a COD order, send a message with Confirm and Cancel buttons. Then:
- Confirmed orders are tagged and shipped.
- Cancelled orders are stopped before dispatch, which saves forward and return shipping.
- Unanswered orders get a reminder or a call before dispatch.
Some brands also offer a small incentive to switch from COD to prepaid via a UPI payment link in the same chat.
3. Order, shipping and delivery updates
Send order-placed, shipped (with tracking link), out-for-delivery and delivered messages. Connect your shipping software, such as Shiprocket, so updates fire automatically when the status changes.
4. Post-purchase and repeat sales
- Review requests a few days after delivery
- Reorder reminders for consumables
- Back-in-stock alerts
- Broadcasts to opted-in customers for new launches or sales
5. Catalogue and chat commerce
Share your WhatsApp catalogue, answer product questions with a chatbot or AI agent, and hand complex queries to a human in a shared team inbox.
Comparison: WhatsApp tools for e-commerce in India
| Tool | E-commerce strengths | Starting price (official, INR, ex-GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Gallabox | Catalogue, payments, chatbot flows, AI agents, drip campaigns, CRM integrations | Basic ₹2,399/month billed annually (₹2,999 quarterly billing) |
| Wati | Shared inbox, broadcasts, chatbot builder, store integrations | Growth ₹1,875/month billed annually (₹2,499 monthly) |
| Interakt | Shopify-focused automations, catalogue, Instagram add-on | Growth ₹2,799/month; Starter free (message charges apply) |
| AiSensy | Broadcasts, chatbot builder, AI agent add-on | Chatbot builder ₹2,500/month (₹2,250/month billed yearly); AI Agent Builder from ₹1,350/month |
| LimeChat | AI chat and WhatsApp commerce for D2C brands | Quote-based |
| DoubleTick | Team inbox and sales on WhatsApp | See vendor site |
| Gupshup WhatsApp | Large-scale messaging via API | See vendor site |
Meta's conversation or message charges are billed separately on every platform and vary by message category (marketing, utility, authentication).
Gallabox pricing and plans
Gallabox's official India pricing page lists four plans:
- Basic: ₹2,999 a month on quarterly billing, or ₹2,399 a month billed annually. Includes 3 users (hard cap), 500 AI credits a month, one WhatsApp, Instagram and web widget channel each, catalogue, payments, chatbot flows and 20+ integrations.
- Essential: ₹6,999 a month quarterly, or ₹5,599 a month annually. Includes 6 users (extra users ₹1,200 each a month), 2,000 AI credits, AI agents on WhatsApp and Instagram, drip campaigns, ads attribution, full API and two-way CRM integrations.
- Advanced: ₹16,999 a month quarterly, or ₹13,599 a month annually. Includes 10 users (extra users ₹1,500 each a month), 8,000 AI credits, AI voice, lead pipelines, appointment booking and custom roles.
- Enterprise: custom pricing, with SSO, custom AI credits, dedicated CSM and data-residency options.
For a small D2C brand, Basic covers catalogue, payments and flows. The 3-user cap is the main limit to watch if several people handle support.
Wati pricing
Wati's official pricing page lists Growth at ₹2,499 a month (₹1,875 a month billed annually), Pro at ₹4,999 a month (₹3,749 annually) and Business at ₹9,999 a month (₹7,499 annually). It also lists a pay-as-you-go single-user option for a one-time ₹999, which includes ₹999 of message credits and is valid for three months. For a feature-by-feature comparison with Interakt and AiSensy, see our comparison.
Interakt and AiSensy pricing
- Interakt lists a free Starter plan for its Marketing & Support Hub, Growth at ₹2,799 a month and Advanced at ₹3,799 a month (plus taxes), with discounts for quarterly and yearly billing. Its WhatsApp AI Agents add-on costs ₹3,000.
- AiSensy lists its Drag & Drop WhatsApp Chatbot Builder at ₹2,500 a month for five chatbots (₹2,250 a month billed yearly) and its WhatsApp AI Agent Builder at ₹1,350 a month including 1,000 AI messages.
How to choose WhatsApp automation software for your store
- Check the store integration. Confirm a native connector for your platform, whether that is Shopify, WooCommerce or another e-commerce platform, and test that abandoned-cart and COD triggers work.
- Count your users. Per-user caps and extra-seat charges can change the real cost.
- Estimate message costs. Multiply expected monthly messages by Meta's rate for each category, then add the subscription.
- Check shipping integration for automatic tracking updates.
- Try the flow builder yourself during a trial: can your team edit a flow without a developer?
- Look at reporting. You should be able to see recovered revenue and COD confirmation rates.
- Review opt-in and template approval support, so your number's quality rating stays healthy.
Mistakes to avoid
- Messaging people who have not opted in, which leads to blocks and a lower quality rating.
- Sending too many promotional broadcasts.
- Using marketing templates where a utility template would do.
- Not handing conversations to a human when a bot cannot help.
FAQs
What is the best WhatsApp automation software for e-commerce in India?
Gallabox, Wati, Interakt and AiSensy are the most commonly shortlisted, with LimeChat for AI-led D2C support. Choose based on your store integration, number of users, and whether you need abandoned-cart and COD flows ready-made.
How much does Gallabox cost?
Gallabox's official pricing lists Basic at ₹2,399 a month billed annually (₹2,999 on quarterly billing), Essential at ₹5,599 a month annually, Advanced at ₹13,599 a month annually and custom Enterprise pricing. WhatsApp message charges are extra.
How does WhatsApp COD confirmation work?
After a COD order, an automated message asks the customer to confirm or cancel using buttons. Cancelled orders are stopped before dispatch, which reduces return shipping costs.
Can I recover abandoned carts on WhatsApp?
Yes, if the shopper entered their phone number and opted in to WhatsApp messages. Your WhatsApp tool sends a reminder with a link back to the cart, usually within an hour.
Are WhatsApp message charges included in the plan price?
Generally no. Platforms charge a subscription, and Meta's per-message fees for marketing, utility and authentication messages are billed on top, often from a prepaid wallet.
