Marketing Automation That Actually Works for SA
Marketing Engine is South Africa's complete marketing automation platform for SMEs. WhatsApp Business API, email campaigns, SMS marketing, and social media scheduling all in one system. From R499/month add-on (or FREE with Business plan). Official Meta WhatsApp Partner, local SMS gateways, POPIA compliant. 30-day free trial.
You Shouldn't Need 10 Different Tools to Market Your Business
South African small businesses waste time and money juggling disconnected marketing tools. There's a better way.
There's a better way. One platform. Built for South Africa.
One Marketing Engine. Every Channel. Completely Automated.
The Marketing Engine connects to your POPIA-compliant CRM with Sage integration and automates your entire marketing workflow. From first contact to loyal customer, all in one platform. See how much you can save with our pricing calculator.
WhatsApp Marketing
Bulk campaigns, automation, WABA compliant
98% open rate
Email Marketing
Drag-and-drop builder, A/B testing, automation
42:1 ROI
Multi-Channel
SMS, social media, Facebook ads
All channels unified
From Setup to Sales in 3 Simple Steps
Connect Your Channels
One-Click Integrations
- •WhatsApp Business API (we help you get approved)
- •Gmail or Outlook for email sending
- •Facebook & Instagram Business accounts
- •SMS gateway (we recommend local providers)
- •Your Smart CRM (already connected)
No coding required. Our team helps you set everything up.
Build Your Campaigns
Drag-and-Drop Simplicity
- •Welcome sequences: Automatically greet new customers
- •Abandoned cart: Recover lost sales with WhatsApp reminders
- •Birthday campaigns: Send special offers on customer birthdays
- •Review requests: Auto-ask for reviews 7 days after purchase
- •Re-engagement: Win back customers who haven't bought in 90 days
Or build your own workflows with our visual automation builder.
Let Automation Work
Set It and Forget It
- •Triggers fire based on customer behavior
- •Messages send at optimal times (AI-powered)
- •Leads are scored and prioritized in CRM
- •Analytics track what's working
- •You get weekly performance reports
Focus on running your business. Let the Marketing Engine handle the follow-up.
WhatsApp Marketing Done Right (and Legally)
246,000 South Africans search "WhatsApp Business" every month. Your customers are already there. Meet them where they are with our WhatsApp Business API automation.
WhatsApp Business API Integration
- Unlimited agents can send messages from one number
- Bulk broadcasting to segmented lists (WABA compliant)
- Message templates pre-approved by Meta
- Rich media - send images, videos, PDFs, location pins
- Interactive buttons - "Book Now", "Call Us", "Visit Website"
- Automated responses - instant replies to FAQs
- Smart CRM sync - every conversation auto-logged
Compliant Bulk Messaging
We help you stay compliant with WhatsApp's Business API policies:
- Opt-in required: Customers must consent to messages (we provide opt-in forms)
- Template approval: Pre-approved message templates for promotions, updates, reminders
- 24-hour window: Send any message within 24hrs of customer reply
- Quality rating: We monitor your account to maintain green status
Use Cases:
WhatsApp Business API Setup Made Easy
Getting approved for WhatsApp Business API (WABA) can be complicated. As an official Meta WhatsApp Business Partner, BizAI handles the entire process for South African businesses. Here's how we get you up and running in 5-7 business days:
Phone Number Setup
You need a dedicated phone number for WhatsApp Business API (can't use your personal WhatsApp number).
- Get new SA mobile number from Vodacom, MTN, or Cell C
- Or port existing business number to API
- Virtual numbers also work (e.g., 087 numbers)
- We help you choose the best option for your business
Business Verification
Meta requires proof that you're a legitimate South African business.
- Registered company name (CIPC registration)
- Business address and website
- Facebook Business Manager account
- Valid ID of authorized representative
Go Live
Once approved by Meta (typically 3-5 business days), we activate your account.
- Import your customer contacts from CRM
- Create message templates (we provide 20+ pre-approved)
- Set up automated workflows
- Train your team on WhatsApp best practices
WhatsApp Marketing Costs for South African Businesses
WhatsApp Business API pricing is transparent and affordable for SMEs. Here's the complete cost breakdown:
Meta's Per-Message Fees
Promotional content, special offers
Order confirmations, appointment reminders
OTP codes, password resets
Replies to customer inquiries
BizAI Platform Fees
Marketing Engine add-on (or FREE with Business plan)
- Unlimited WhatsApp conversations
- Automated campaign builder
- CRM integration included
- Multi-agent inbox
Example: Monthly Cost for 1,000 Marketing Messages
WhatsApp Marketing Automation Workflows
Create sophisticated customer journeys with our visual automation builder. These pre-built workflows can be customized for any South African business:
Welcome New Customers
When contact is added to CRM
- 1.Send welcome WhatsApp with company intro
- 2.Wait 2 days → Send product catalog
- 3.Wait 5 days → Offer first-time discount
Appointment Reminders
When appointment is booked
- 1.Send confirmation WhatsApp immediately
- 2.24 hours before → Send reminder with location pin
- 3.1 hour before → Final reminder with "I'm on my way" button
Abandoned Cart Recovery
When cart is abandoned on website
- 1.Wait 1 hour → WhatsApp reminder with cart link
- 2.Wait 24 hours → Offer 10% discount code
- 3.Wait 3 days → Last chance message
Birthday Campaign
Customer birthday (from CRM)
- 1.Send birthday WhatsApp with special offer
- 2.Include unique discount code valid for 7 days
- 3.After purchase → Thank you message
Review Request
7 days after purchase/service
- 1.Send WhatsApp asking for feedback
- 2.If positive → Request Google review
- 3.If negative → Offer to resolve issue
Re-engagement Campaign
No purchase in 90 days
- 1.Send "We miss you" WhatsApp with special offer
- 2.Wait 5 days → Showcase new products/services
- 3.Wait 10 days → Exclusive comeback discount
Combine WhatsApp Marketing with Voice Valet
Supercharge your customer communication by connecting WhatsApp campaigns to your AI Receptionist (Voice Valet). Create seamless multi-channel experiences:
Missed Call Follow-Up
When Voice Valet can't reach you, it automatically sends a WhatsApp message to the caller with your availability and booking link. Never lose a lead again.
Appointment Confirmed
When a customer books via phone with Voice Valet, they instantly receive WhatsApp confirmation with calendar invite and location pin.
Smart Call Routing
Voice Valet detects VIP customers (from CRM) and sends you a WhatsApp alert before transferring the call, so you're always prepared.
After-Hours Marketing
When Voice Valet handles after-hours calls, it adds callers to WhatsApp nurture campaign automatically. Follow up when you're back in the office.
Email Marketing That Converts
Email isn't dead—it's still the highest-ROI marketing channel. Our platform makes it easy to create, automate, and optimize campaigns that drive results.
Drag-and-Drop Builder
No coding needed. Build beautiful emails in minutes with our visual editor.
Automated Sequences
Set up welcome series, abandoned cart flows, and nurture campaigns that run on autopilot.
Smart Segmentation
Send the right message to the right people based on behavior, demographics, and purchase history.
A/B Testing
Test subject lines, content, and send times to optimize open and click rates.
Email Marketing by the Numbers
100+ SA-Specific Templates
Pre-designed email templates for every industry and occasion. Each template is optimized for South African audiences and complies with POPIA requirements.
- Welcome emails for new customers
- Promotional campaigns for sales and specials
- Newsletter templates
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Re-engagement campaigns
- Event invitations
- Birthday and anniversary emails
POPIA Compliant
All email templates include automatic unsubscribe links, physical address, and consent reminders to keep you compliant with South African data protection laws.
Mobile-First Design
70% of South Africans check email on mobile. Every template is optimized for small screens with responsive design and touch-friendly buttons.
Email Marketing Automation for South African SMEs
Set up sophisticated drip campaigns that nurture leads automatically, convert prospects into customers, and turn one-time buyers into loyal advocates—all while you focus on running your business.
Pre-Built Drip Campaigns
Launch proven email sequences in minutes with our library of ready-to-use automation workflows:
- Welcome Series5-email sequence introducing new subscribers to your brand and products
- Lead NurtureEducational content drip that moves prospects through your sales funnel
- Abandoned Cart3-email recovery sequence with escalating incentives to complete purchase
- Post-PurchaseThank you, product tips, cross-sell recommendations, and review requests
- Re-engagementWin back inactive customers with special offers and "We miss you" messages
Smart List Segmentation
Send targeted messages to the right people at the right time. Our segmentation engine lets you create hyper-focused lists based on:
- Purchase HistoryCustomers who bought Product A but not Product B
- Engagement LevelSubscribers who opened last 3 emails vs. inactive readers
- DemographicsFilter by location, age, industry, company size
- Behavior TriggersVisited pricing page but didn't sign up for trial
- CRM DataPipeline stage, deal value, lead score from Smart CRM
- Website ActivityDownloaded whitepaper, watched demo video, browsed specific product pages
Email Deliverability Best Practices for South Africa
Getting your emails into inboxes (not spam folders) is critical. BizAI's Marketing Engine uses enterprise-grade infrastructure and South African best practices to ensure maximum deliverability:
Local Email Infrastructure
- South African email servers for faster delivery
- Dedicated IP addresses for high-volume senders
- SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication included
- Automatic bounce and complaint handling
List Hygiene & Compliance
- Automatic removal of bounced addresses
- Double opt-in confirmation (POPIA requirement)
- Easy unsubscribe links in every email
- Suppression list management for opt-outs
Engagement Optimization
- Send time optimization (AI picks best time)
- Sunset policies for inactive subscribers
- Re-engagement campaigns before removing contacts
- Spam score checker before sending
Seamless Integration with Smart CRM
Email marketing works best when it's connected to your customer data. BizAI's Marketing Engine syncs automatically with your Smart CRM, giving you powerful capabilities:
- Sync email opens/clicks back to CRM contact records
- Trigger campaigns based on CRM pipeline stage changes
- Personalize emails with CRM data (name, company, deal value)
- Score leads based on email engagement
- Notify sales reps when hot leads engage with emails
- Track full customer journey from first email to closed deal
Example: Automated Sales Handoff
When a lead clicks "Request Demo" in your email campaign, the Marketing Engine automatically: 1) Creates a new deal in CRM, 2) Assigns to sales rep, 3) Sends WhatsApp notification to rep, 4) Adds lead to "Hot Prospects" drip sequence. All without lifting a finger.
Connect with Support Desk
Link your email marketing to the Support Desk module. Customers who submit support tickets automatically get added to nurture sequences, while satisfied customers receive review request emails after their tickets are resolved.
Be Everywhere Your Customers Are
Your customers don't live on just one platform. Reach them on SMS, social media, and paid ads—all managed from one dashboard.
SMS Campaigns
- Bulk SMS with local gateways (Clickatell, BulkSMS)
- Two-way SMS conversations
- Delivery confirmations
- Link tracking and shortening
- Scheduled sending
Social Media
- Schedule posts to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
- Cross-post to multiple platforms at once
- Best time to post AI recommendations
- Content calendar view
- Social inbox (reply from one place)
Facebook & Instagram Ads
- Create and manage ad campaigns
- Lead ads sync directly to CRM
- Retargeting pixel integration
- Audience building from customer lists
- Performance tracking
Cross-Channel Automation
Create sophisticated marketing workflows that use multiple channels automatically:
- New lead comes in:Send WhatsApp welcome → Email with resources → SMS reminder 3 days later
- Customer abandons cart:WhatsApp reminder after 1 hour → Email with discount after 24 hours → SMS last chance after 3 days
- Customer makes purchase:WhatsApp order confirmation → Email with tracking → SMS delivery alert → WhatsApp review request 7 days later
Smart Channel Selection
Our AI learns which channels each customer prefers. If they always ignore emails but respond to WhatsApp, the system automatically adjusts.
Optimal Timing
Send messages when customers are most likely to engage. AI analyzes past behavior to find the perfect send time for each person.
SMS Marketing Campaigns for South African Businesses
SMS campaigns deliver a 98% open rate and are perfect for time-sensitive promotions, appointment reminders, and delivery notifications. BizAI integrates with South Africa's leading SMS gateways to ensure reliable delivery at competitive rates.
Local SMS Gateway Integration
We integrate with South Africa's top SMS providers. Bring your own SMS credits (we don't mark them up) and send directly from the Marketing Engine:
Clickatell
From ~R0.15 per SMS- Global reach with SA optimizations
- Delivery reports included
- Two-way SMS conversations
- Link tracking
BulkSMS South Africa
From ~R0.13 per SMS- SA-focused provider
- Excellent local delivery rates
- Premium and standard routes
- Unicode support
Twilio (via BizAI)
From ~R0.18 per SMS- Global infrastructure
- Programmable SMS
- Short code support
- MMS support
Custom Gateway
Your current pricing- Already have an SMS provider?
- We integrate via API
- No need to switch providers
- Keep your existing rates
SMS Campaign Best Practices
Get the most out of your SMS marketing with these proven strategies for South African audiences:
Keep Messages Short & Clear
- Max 160 characters to avoid split messages
- Include brand name in every message
- Clear call-to-action with short links
- Avoid special characters that waste space
Perfect Timing for SA Market
- Best send times: 9-11am and 2-4pm weekdays
- Avoid early mornings (before 8am) and late evenings
- Saturday mornings work well for retail promotions
- Sunday messaging typically has lower engagement
Compliance & Opt-Out
- Include opt-out instructions (e.g., "Reply STOP to unsubscribe")
- POPIA compliance: Get explicit consent before sending
- Maintain do-not-contact suppression list
- Honor opt-out requests immediately
Link Shortening & Tracking
- Automatically shorten URLs to save characters
- Track click-through rates in real-time
- Use UTM parameters for Google Analytics
- Mobile-optimized landing pages essential
SMS Marketing Use Cases for South African SMEs
Healthcare / Medical Practices
- •Appointment reminders 24 hours before
- •Prescription ready notifications
- •Annual check-up reminders
- •Health tips and wellness advice
Retail & E-Commerce
- •Flash sale alerts (limited time offers)
- •Order shipped and delivery notifications
- •Back-in-stock alerts for waitlisted products
- •Birthday specials with discount codes
Restaurants & Hospitality
- •Table reservation confirmations
- •Daily specials and menu updates
- •Loyalty program points balance
- •Last-minute cancellation discounts
Automotive Services
- •Service due reminders (based on mileage/date)
- •Vehicle ready for collection alerts
- •Seasonal service specials
- •MOT/roadworthy test reminders
Professional Services
- •Meeting confirmations and reminders
- •Document ready for collection
- •Payment reminders for overdue invoices
- •Appointment rescheduling notifications
Real Estate
- •New listing alerts matching criteria
- •Open house reminders
- •Viewing appointment confirmations
- •Property price drop notifications
Two-Way SMS Conversations
Unlike traditional SMS blasts, BizAI's Marketing Engine supports full two-way SMS conversations. Customers can reply to your messages, and your team responds from a unified inbox:
- Reply-to-book: "Reply YES to confirm your appointment"
- Customer service via SMS: Answer questions without phone calls
- Feedback collection: "Rate your experience 1-5"
- Automated responses: Set up keyword triggers (e.g., HOURS, MENU, LOCATION)
- Escalation to WhatsApp: Seamlessly move conversations to richer channel
- CRM sync: All SMS conversations logged in customer timeline
Example: Restaurant Reservation
Keyword Auto-Responses
Set up smart auto-replies for common keywords. Customers get instant answers without waiting for your team:
Multi-Channel Marketing ROI for SA Businesses
See how BizAI's Marketing Engine compares to hiring a dedicated marketing person or using multiple platforms separately:
Marketing Employee
- •Salary (R25k-R40k/month)
- •Benefits & leave
- •Office space and equipment
- •Training and upskilling
- •Limited to work hours only
Multiple SaaS Tools
- •Mailchimp: R1,200/month
- •Hootsuite: R1,500/month
- •SMS gateway: R500/month
- •Separate WhatsApp tool: R800/month
- •Data silos (no CRM integration)
BizAI Marketing Engine
- •Complete platform: R499/month
- •WhatsApp, Email, SMS, Social
- •Automated workflows
- •CRM integration built-in
- •Works 24/7 on autopilot
Data-Driven Decisions. Better Results.
Stop guessing what's working. Get clear, actionable insights into every aspect of your marketing with real-time analytics and automated reporting.
Campaign Performance
Track opens, clicks, conversions, and revenue for every campaign across all channels.
Attribution Tracking
Know exactly which marketing efforts led to sales. Multi-touch attribution shows the full customer journey.
ROI Dashboard
See your return on investment in real-time. Track cost per lead, customer acquisition cost, and lifetime value.
Audience Insights
Understand your customers with demographic breakdowns, behavior patterns, and engagement scores.
Automated Reports
Get insights delivered to your inbox without lifting a finger. Schedule reports to be sent daily, weekly, or monthly.
- Weekly performance summaries (auto-emailed)
- Campaign comparison reports
- Channel effectiveness analysis
- Customer lifetime value reports
- Trend analysis and forecasting
- Custom report builder
Predictive Analytics
AI-powered forecasting shows you where your marketing is headed. Spot trends before they become problems and double down on what's working.
Real-Time Alerts
Get notified when campaigns hit goals, when performance drops, or when opportunities arise. Stay on top of your marketing without constant monitoring.
No spreadsheets. No guesswork. Just results.
Real SA Businesses. Real Results.
See how South African small businesses are using the Marketing Engine to automate their marketing and grow faster.
"Before BizAI, I was spending 20+ hours a week on marketing. Now it's automated. WhatsApp campaigns alone recovered R45,000 in abandoned carts last month."
"The multi-channel automation is game-changing. One campaign goes out on WhatsApp, email, and SMS automatically. Our customer retention improved by 35%."
"I was drowning in subscriptions—Mailchimp, Hootsuite, WhatsApp tools. BizAI replaced all of them for less money and 10x better results. ROI is incredible."
Marketing Engine Impact
Trusted by businesses across South Africa
Questions? We've Got Answers.
Everything you need to know about the Marketing Engine. Still have questions? Chat with our team.
Still have questions?
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Join 2,400+ South African businesses using BizAI to automate WhatsApp, email, SMS, and social media marketing. Works seamlessly with our Smart CRM. Start your free 30-day trial today or see all pricing options.
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