AI Chatbots / WhatsApp
WhatsApp Chatbot Development in Sri Lanka
We build enterprise WhatsApp chatbots in Colombo on the official WhatsApp Business API — powered by large language models, fluent in Sinhala, Singlish, and Tamil, integrated with your CRM and order systems, and live 24/7 on the channel your customers already use.
What we build
Enterprise WhatsApp chatbots for Sri Lankan businesses
In Sri Lanka, WhatsApp isn't just a messaging app — it's the primary way customers contact businesses. They use it to ask about prices, check orders, book services, raise complaints, and request quotes. A WhatsApp chatbot lets your business respond to all of that automatically, instantly, and in the language each customer chooses.
CognasisAI builds WhatsApp chatbots on the official WhatsApp Business API — not unofficial wrappers — so your messaging is reliable, compliant, and eligible for verified sender status. Each chatbot is integrated with your existing systems: CRMs, e-commerce platforms, helpdesks, internal databases, anything with an API.
Looking at chatbots more broadly? See our full AI chatbot development services. Or read how Sri Lankan businesses are automating customer service on WhatsApp.
For small and medium businesses that don't need a fully custom build, try Sello — CognasisAI's self-serve WhatsApp AI chatbot. Sinhala, Tamil, Singlish, and English. Live in 10 minutes, no code, at www.heysello.com.
Benefits
Why Sri Lankan businesses choose WhatsApp chatbots
Meet customers where they already are
Most Sri Lankans message businesses on WhatsApp before they call or email. A WhatsApp chatbot lets you respond instantly on the channel they already trust.
Answer 24/7 — no overtime
Your WhatsApp bot handles enquiries at 3am, on Sundays, and during Poya weeks. Customers don't wait until your team logs in.
Cut response cost dramatically
Automate 70–90% of routine messages — order status, stock checks, pricing, FAQs — and free your team for high-value conversations.
Official, secure, and compliant
We build on the official WhatsApp Business API with proper sender verification, message templates, and audit logging — suitable for banks and regulated industries.
Features
Built on the official WhatsApp Business API
We use the official WhatsApp Business API via Meta's authorised Business Solution Providers. That means your chatbot is reliable, compliant with Meta's policies, and eligible for verified sender status — not a fragile setup that gets banned the moment Meta tightens enforcement.
- Built on the official WhatsApp Business API (not unofficial wrappers)
- LLM-powered understanding of Sinhala, Singlish, Tamil, and English
- Multi-turn conversations with full context across the chat
- Rich messages: buttons, lists, images, documents, and location
- Approved template messages for proactive customer outreach
- Seamless handoff to human agents with full conversation history
- Integration with your CRM, ERP, e-commerce, and helpdesk systems
- Analytics, conversation logs, and resolution-rate dashboards
- Sender display name verification and green-tick eligibility support
- Data residency and encryption options for regulated industries
Use cases
WhatsApp chatbot use cases by industry
We've built WhatsApp chatbots across every major industry in Sri Lanka. Here's where they make the biggest difference.
Retail & e-commerce
Stock checks, order placement, delivery tracking, returns, and abandoned-cart recovery — all on WhatsApp.
Banking & finance
Account balance, branch hours, loan eligibility, card activation, and onboarding KYC — within CBSL guidelines.
Healthcare
Appointment booking, prescription reminders, test result notifications, and patient FAQs in Sinhala and Tamil.
Travel & hospitality
Room availability, reservations, booking confirmations, concierge support, and check-in instructions on WhatsApp.
Education
Admissions enquiries, fee reminders, exam schedules, and parent communications — all from one WhatsApp number.
Professional services
Client intake, appointment scheduling, document collection, and status updates routed to the right team.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about WhatsApp chatbots
What is a WhatsApp chatbot?
A WhatsApp chatbot is an automated conversational system that runs on a verified WhatsApp Business account and responds to customer messages automatically. The chatbots we build at CognasisAI are powered by large language models (LLMs), which means they understand natural language — including Sinhala, Singlish, and Tamil — rather than following a rigid script like older rule-based bots.
Do I need WhatsApp Business or WhatsApp Business API?
The free WhatsApp Business app is fine for very small businesses with a single user. For chatbots, automation, multiple agents, and integration with your CRM or other systems, you need the WhatsApp Business API. We help you onboard onto the API through Meta's official Business Solution Providers and handle the verification process end-to-end.
How much does a WhatsApp chatbot cost in Sri Lanka?
Cost depends on scope — language coverage, integrations, message volume, and compliance requirements. There are also Meta conversation fees that depend on the message category and country (Sri Lanka is in the standard pricing tier). For most Sri Lankan businesses, the chatbot pays back its development cost within 3–6 months through staff time saved and increased conversions. Contact us for a tailored quote.
How long does it take to build a WhatsApp chatbot?
A standard WhatsApp chatbot takes 4–8 weeks from kick-off to launch — including API onboarding, conversation design, integration work, testing, and Meta template approvals. More complex enterprise deployments with deep CRM/ERP integrations and compliance reviews can take 3–6 months. We always work in defined phases with clear milestones.
Can the WhatsApp chatbot speak Sinhala and Tamil?
Yes. We build on large language models with strong multilingual capabilities and specifically train, tune, and test for Sinhala (script), Singlish (transliterated and code-mixed), and Tamil. Real Sri Lankan customer messages — like "mama eka room book karanna one" or messages that switch between English and Sinhala mid-sentence — are handled naturally.
Can the WhatsApp chatbot integrate with my CRM or order system?
Yes. Integration is core to what we build. We connect WhatsApp chatbots to Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, Microsoft Dynamics, custom CRMs, ERP systems, e-commerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, custom), and helpdesk tools. The bot can look up orders, check inventory, create tickets, and update records in real time.
How do template messages and the 24-hour window work?
WhatsApp lets your business reply freely for 24 hours after a customer messages you. Outside that window, you can only send pre-approved "template" messages (e.g., delivery updates, appointment reminders). We design template strategies that fit Meta's rules and your business cadence, and we handle template submission and approval as part of every deployment.
What happens when the bot can't answer?
Every WhatsApp chatbot we build includes intelligent escalation. When the bot encounters something outside its scope, it routes the conversation to a human agent — with the full chat history, the customer's profile, and any data already collected. The handoff is seamless; the customer doesn't notice the transition.
Ready to launch a WhatsApp chatbot?
Built on the official API. Sinhala, Singlish, Tamil. Integrated with your systems.