How to set up automatic messages on WhatsApp (and when AI is worth it)
Automatic WhatsApp messages keep a client from being left without a reply. Here's how to set them up and where they fall short of an AI agent.
An automatic message is the difference between a client feeling attended to or ignored when you can't reply right away. WhatsApp Business includes basic tools for this — here's how to use them, and how far they go.
What automatic messages WhatsApp Business includes
- Greeting message: sent automatically when someone messages you for the first time.
- Away message: replies outside your business hours.
- Quick replies: saved texts you send with a shortcut.
How to set them up
In the WhatsApp Business app go to Settings → Business tools. There you turn on the greeting and away messages, set the text and the schedule. Quick replies are created with a shortcut (for example /pricing) so you can send them instantly.
Where they fall short
These messages are fixed: they always say the same thing, no matter what the client asked. They don't understand, don't book and don't follow up. They're good for “I saw you,” but not for solving. If the client asks something specific after hours, the automatic message doesn't really help them.
When it's worth jumping to AI
When you want the message to not just acknowledge, but solve. An AI agent like Lidia understands what the client is asking, replies with real information, offers times and books — automatic, but without sounding like a template. It's the difference between “I'll reply when I'm back” and “your appointment is set.”
An automatic message says you'll be back. An AI agent solves while you're away.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you set up automatic messages on WhatsApp?
- In the WhatsApp Business app go to Settings → Business tools. There you turn on the greeting message (sent when someone messages you for the first time) and the away message (replies outside your hours), and set the text and schedule. Quick replies are created with a shortcut, e.g. /pricing, to send them instantly.
- What automatic messages does WhatsApp Business include?
- It includes three: the greeting message, the away message and quick replies. They're useful to signal “I saw you,” but they're fixed: they always say the same thing, don't understand what the client asked, don't book and don't follow up.
- What is the difference between an automatic message and an AI agent?
- An automatic message is a fixed text that only acknowledges; it always replies the same regardless of the question. An AI agent understands what the client is asking, replies with real information, offers times and books. It's the difference between “I'll reply when I'm back” and “your appointment is set.”
- When should you move from automatic messages to AI?
- When you want the message to not just acknowledge, but solve. If your clients ask specific things after hours and a fixed text doesn't help them, an AI agent like Lidia replies, offers times and books automatically, without sounding like a template.