AI-Powered WhatsApp Chatbotfor South African Businesses
Let AI handle customer enquiries on WhatsApp 24/7 — powered by your knowledge base. Manage every channel from one inbox.
Quick answer
A WhatsApp chatbot on BizAI starts with any BizAI plan from R999/mo ex VAT (shared API inbox, CRM, 3 users, 1 number). Turn on AI auto-replies with AI Credits (R299 / R399 / R799). The bot answers from your knowledge base and hands over to your team in the same inbox when a human is needed.
Why SA Businesses Lose Customers on WhatsApp
Without the WhatsApp Business API in South Africa, manual message management costs you leads every day.
The same pricing, hours, and booking questions arrive on WhatsApp every day. Staff copy-paste answers instead of doing higher-value work.
When messages sit on one phone, nobody owns follow-up. Customers move on while your team is busy elsewhere.
Messages that arrive outside office hours often wait until the next morning — with no shared inbox to pick them up.
AI Chatbot + Human Handover in One Inbox
When AI is switched on, WhatsApp replies draw from your knowledge base. Your team sees every thread, can jump in instantly, and keeps labels, tasks, and history on Comms Platform.
Interface shown with sample data. Actual customer data is protected under POPIA.
Unified Inbox
WhatsApp, Email, Instagram and social media messages in one place.
Smart Labeling
Auto-categorises incoming messages so nothing slips through.
Priority Views
"Needs reply" and "Needs follow-up" queues at a glance.
Task Assignment
Turn any message into a task and assign it to the right team member.
Custom Labels
Create your own label system for message types that matter to you.
Cross-Channel Reply
Reply from the inbox and it goes out via WhatsApp, email, or Instagram.
How It Works
Three steps to manage all your WhatsApp conversations professionally.
Connect WhatsApp on Comms Platform
Start on any BizAI plan (from R999/mo ex VAT). Our team connects your WhatsApp Business API number (R850/hour ex VAT, typically under an hour).
Add AI Credits & your knowledge base
Buy AI Credits (R299 / R399 / R799). Upload FAQs, pricing, and policies so the bot can answer routine questions in natural language.
Bot replies — humans take over
The chatbot handles first-line queries 24/7. Complex or sensitive chats escalate to your team in the same inbox with full context.
Optional: Add AI Agent
Want AI to reply automatically using your knowledge base? Switch on AI with AI Credits (R299 / R399 / R799, full value) — one purchase unlocks all AI features. Handles common questions, escalates complex ones to your team.
Want AI to Reply For You?
Add the AI Agent to your WhatsApp plan. It learns from your knowledge base and replies to customers automatically. Complex queries get handed off to your team.
- AI auto-replies using your knowledge base
- Unlocks all AI features across BizAI
- Works across WhatsApp, email, and social
- Hands off to humans for complex queries
- Usage-based credits, no monthly commitment
Make and Receive Calls from Your Inbox
Full VoIP PABX system built into the WhatsApp Comms Platform. Call customers directly from any conversation, record calls, and let AI analyse them for actionable insights.
Built for Every Industry
WhatsApp is how South Africa does business. Here is how different industries use BizAI.
Medical Practices
Patients message for appointments. Your team replies from the inbox, confirms the slot, and the reminder goes out automatically.
Fewer missed appointment slotsReal Estate
Buyer enquires about a listing. Message is labelled "Hot Lead", assigned to the agent, and tracked in the inbox.
Faster lead handoff to agentsBeauty & Wellness
Client asks about availability. Your team checks the calendar, confirms the booking, sends care instructions.
Fill your calendar without phone tagLegal Firms
Prospect asks about consultation fees. Team responds from the inbox, qualifies the lead, schedules a call.
Professional first impression 24/7Retail & E-commerce
Customer asks about stock or delivery. Your team responds instantly from the inbox with accurate info.
Convert browsing into buyingAutomotive
Driver needs a service quote. Message captured, vehicle details logged, service advisor follows up from the inbox.
Never lose a service bookingHow BizAI Comms Platform compares
Rand pricing, shared WhatsApp inbox, and local support — for SA teams that outgrow the free WhatsApp app. CRM is included on every plan.
WhatsApp AI Chatbot for Your City
After-hours FAQs, quote requests, and booking questions — answered by AI, with your team in the loop.
Johannesburg
Gauteng
24/7 FAQ bots for clinics, garages, and agencies
Cape Town
Western Cape
Tourism enquiries, guest-house availability, AI + human handover
Durban
KwaZulu-Natal
Hospitality chatbots, trades quote capture overnight
Pretoria
Gauteng
Legal intake bots with escalation to a consultant
Port Elizabeth
Eastern Cape
Service-booking bots with team takeover in inbox
Bloemfontein
Free State
Education and medical FAQ auto-replies
East London
Eastern Cape
Retail product Q&A from your catalogue / KB
Polokwane
Limpopo
Agri and retail after-hours WhatsApp chatbots
Not listed? BizAI works for any South African business -- Nelspruit, Kimberley, Rustenburg, Pietermaritzburg, Stellenbosch, and everywhere in between.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does human handover work when the bot cannot answer?
Every WhatsApp thread stays in Comms Platform. When AI is unsure or the customer asks for a person, the chat is flagged in the inbox and your team replies with full history. You control when AI is on, which topics it may answer, and who picks up escalations.
How much does a WhatsApp chatbot cost?
A WhatsApp chatbot on BizAI runs on the Comms Platform, included in every plan from R999/mo ex VAT for 3 users, with your first WhatsApp number and the full CRM. Meta message fees apply on top, billed by Meta, not marked up. They are not a BizAI bundle. See Meta’s WhatsApp Business Platform pricing (https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/pricing/, checked 10 November 2026) and our 2026 comparison (https://www.bizai.co.za/blog/best-whatsapp-chatbot-south-africa-2026) for the current SA USD card. From 1 October 2026 each business number gets 1,000 free service messages per month. Do not treat those dollars as Rand. AI auto-replies are optional. AI Credits are R299 / R399 / R799 (full value). Extra user R280/mo on Starter (R220/mo on bigger plans). Extra number R50/mo. Number connection is R850/hour ex VAT (our team does it; typically under an hour). 14-day free trial with R20 AI credit. No credit card. Nothing auto-bills.
How to activate a WhatsApp chatbot?
You need a South African number, Meta verification, and a Business API connection. We connect it. 1. Start the 14-day trial on BizAI Comms Platform. No credit card. 2. Use a number that can take an SMS or call for Meta’s code. You can keep your current WhatsApp Business number. It cannot sit on the free app and the API at the same time. 3. Meta has to verify the business and the number. That is a Meta step, not a software install. 4. Our team connects the number for R850/hour ex VAT, typically under an hour. 5. Messages land in the shared inbox. Your team can reply from there. Switch on AI auto-replies later with AI Credits if you want. WhatsApp us on 065 669 9650 if you want us to walk you through it.
Which WhatsApp chatbot is the best?
There isn’t one “best” for every shop. Be honest about what you are buying. Wati, Twilio, Infobip, Karabo, Etesi and Clickatell all play in this market. Twilio and Infobip are strong API pipes. Wati publishes Growth at US$59/month billed annually (wati.io/pricing, checked 10 November 2026). Karabo, Swiftsell and CM.com: check their site for current pricing. Etesi builds custom bots. Clickatell is an SA-born provider that quotes; it does not publish a starter price. BizAI is an Official Meta Business Partner — Meta only grants WhatsApp Business API access through approved partners like us. BizAI Comms Platform is the better fit for an SA SME when you want: a Rand price you can see (from R999/mo ex VAT for 3 users, shared WhatsApp inbox and full CRM on every plan); POPIA-ready language and a local team (010 001 7606); WhatsApp Business API access through that partnership. We do not win on being the cheapest API pipe. If you only need raw message sending, Twilio or another API host may be the right tool. Check their site for their price.
Is there a chatbot on WhatsApp?
Yes. A real chatbot runs on the WhatsApp Business API, not on the free WhatsApp Business app. The free app is one phone, one person, quick replies. Fine for a solo trader. The API lets a team share one number, use approved templates, and (if you switch it on) let a bot answer from your knowledge base. That is what BizAI Comms Platform connects. Every BizAI plan (from R999/mo ex VAT for 3 users) includes the shared inbox. The chatbot itself is optional AI Credits (R299 / R399 / R799, full value).
Is there a free trial?
Yes. 14 days with R20 AI credit. No credit card. If you do nothing on day 14, the trial ends and the account pauses. Nothing auto-bills. You can connect the number, receive chats, and reply from the inbox. Outbound templates still incur Meta’s own fees, billed by Meta.
Is BizAI POPIA-ready?
BizAI is designed for South Africa and uses on-site POPIA-ready language. Opt-in capture and deletion requests are part of the product. We do not claim SOC 2 or ISO. Ask us for a data processing agreement if your Information Officer needs one.
What do extra users and extra WhatsApp numbers cost?
Every plan includes users (3 on Starter) and your first WhatsApp number. Extra user: R280/mo on Starter (R220/mo on bigger plans). Extra number: R50/mo. Meta still bills its message fees per number, on top.
Are AI auto-replies included in the plan price?
No. Every plan includes the shared inbox, labels, tasks, templates, the customers page and the full CRM. AI auto-replies are optional. Buy AI Credits at R299 / R399 / R799 (full value — what you pay is what you spend). Credits are consumed for AI-generated replies inside BizAI; they do not pay Meta WhatsApp message or delivery fees (Meta bills those separately). One purchase switches on AI across BizAI, including WhatsApp. Complex chats still go to your team.
Ready to Stop Losing Customers on WhatsApp?
Join 83+ South African businesses managing WhatsApp professionally with BizAI Comms Platform.