A WhatsApp AI agent is a software-based assistant that uses a large language model to handle WhatsApp Business conversations on behalf of a company, answering questions, qualifying leads, recovering carts, and booking meetings, 24/7, in multiple languages
Expanded Explanation:
Template messages exist because Meta wants to protect users from spam. Businesses cannot send arbitrary outbound WhatsApp messages they must submit each template to Meta for approval, specifying the category (marketing, utility, or authentication) and the exact wording with placeholders for personalization. Once approved, the template can be sent to customers who have opted in.
Templates can include text, media (images, videos, documents), quick-reply buttons, and call-to-action buttons. Once a customer replies to a template, a 24-hour session opens during which the business can send any messages freely this is when AI agents do most of their conversational work.
Why It Matters for MENA Businesses:
Strong template libraries in Arabic, including approved templates for cart recovery, order confirmations, and appointment reminders — are a meaningful differentiator between BSPs serving the MENA region.
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