In 2026, the inbox is the new storefront. With over 500 million users in India, WhatsApp has moved far beyond a “chat app”—it is now a full-funnel commerce engine. At Adisthan Global, we’re helping brands move away from “blasting” messages to building intelligent, automated shopping journeys.
The 2026 Shift: From Bulk SMS to “WhatsApp Flows”
The old way was sending 10,000 spammy messages and hoping for a reply. The new way is Interactive Flows:
- In-Chat Catalogs: Let customers browse your products without ever leaving the app.
- Automated Payments: Integration with UPI and Credit Cards directly inside the chat window means zero friction.
- Task-Specific AI: Following Meta’s 2026 policy, we build task-focused bots (tracking orders, booking appointments, or sizing help) that provide instant utility.
Why Your Brand Needs a “WhatsApp-First” Strategy
- 98% Open Rates: Compare that to the 20% average of email. Your message will be seen.
- Trust-Based Selling: In India, business is personal. A WhatsApp chat feels like a conversation with a local shopkeeper, but at a massive scale.
- Reduced RTO (Return to Origin): Using WhatsApp to confirm Cash on Delivery (COD) orders via automated bots can reduce your returns by up to 30%.