WhatsApp Launches AI Business Tool for Small Enterprises in India

Small and medium businesses in India will soon be able to automate customer communication around the clock through a new feature called "Business Intelligence," which WhatsApp has launched within its WhatsApp Business app. The tool, powered by artificial intelligence, is designed to handle inquiries about products, prices, offers, shipping, and appointments without requiring additional software installations or external tools.

The feature supports all local Indian languages, marking a push by Meta to expand AI usage among small business owners. Companies can customize the AI assistant using their own data, such as product catalogs and business profile information, making responses more accurate and relevant to their specific operations.

Manual Override and UPI Payments

Businesses will retain the option to manually intervene when needed, particularly for complex cases or situations requiring direct human interaction with customers. Meta confirmed that the feature will soon integrate UPI payment support within WhatsApp chats, allowing users to complete transactions directly during conversations without leaving the app.

According to a 2025 study by Kantar, 91% of internet users in India engage with businesses weekly through messaging apps, underscoring WhatsApp's role as a key platform for customer service and digital commerce.

The new technology will help small businesses not miss any customer inquiries outside working hours, while also improving their ability to keep up with growing demand,

said Ravi Garg, a Meta executive.

The feature is expected to begin rolling out to eligible businesses in India in the coming weeks through the "Tools" section within the WhatsApp Business app. Companies will also have the ability to modify the AI's behavior or disable it entirely at a later stage.