Posted by Cold calling, emails & SMS are few traditional methods which businesses have been using for many years. However with expansion of internet , one channel has been a clear winner for businesses across world and specially in India. If you want to connect with customers in India, WhatsApp is the best place to start. Here’s why.
WhatsApp in India: Big Numbers, Big Reach
- India has the highest number of WhatsApp users in the world—over 850 million people use WhatsApp in India.
- WhatsApp is used in almost every city and village. People of all ages, from students to grandparents, use it for chatting every day.
WhatsApp Business: Changing How Companies Connect
Businesses can use a special app called WhatsApp Business. This app helps shops, services, and big brands talk to customers, send updates, answer questions, and much more.
Key stats for WhatsApp Business in 2025:
- Over 50 million businesses worldwide are on WhatsApp Business.
- WhatsApp Business can increase sales by up to 127% for some companies.
- The average open rate for WhatsApp messages is 98%, and click-through rates (people tapping a link or offer) can reach 45–60%, much higher than email or SMS.
- India leads the world in WhatsApp Business users, with over 480 million downloads of the business app
- Business catalogs (online shop windows) are viewed 40 million times each month.
Why WhatsApp Should Be Your First Choice
1. Everyone Uses It
- Most Indians prefer WhatsApp over other ways of communication. It’s fast, easy, and works even in areas with slow internet.
2. People Actually See Your Messages
- On WhatsApp, 98 out of 100 people will open and see your message. For email, that number is only about 20 out of 100!
3. Higher Conversions, More Sales
- WhatsApp marketing shows conversion rates of 45%–60%, which means more people act on your message—like buying a product or clicking an offer—compared to cold calls (only about 2% succeed)14.
4. Easy for Customers
- Customers can reply instantly, ask questions, or even place orders, all in their favorite app.
5. Builds Trust
- Verified business profiles (the green tick) help people feel safe when chatting with businesses.
6. Time-saving & Cost-effective
- Automation tools and chatbots help businesses answer basic questions all day, every day, saving time and money.
Simple Comparison Table
| Feature | Phone Calls | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Users in India | 850M+ | <1B (all phones) | Limited |
| Message Open Rate | 98% | 28% (call answered) | ~20% |
| Marketing Conversion Rate | 45%–60% | 2%–2.3% | 2.6%–10.3% |
| Customer Preference | Very High | Low | Medium |
| Cost to Business | Low | High | Low/Medium |
| 24×7 Availability | Yes (chatbots) | No | Yes |
Use cases for different business models
Whatsapp is a preferred channel for all types of business models. Be it B2B or D2C. Few industries where its usability is very high are automotive, logistic, banking, real-estate, ecommerce & manufacturing. Whatsapp also act as a great tool for followups specially when combined with AI capabilties.
Automotive:
- Sending discounts/offers on vehicles
- New model launched notifications
- Scheduling test drive or service appointments
- Post sales followup(PSF)
Logistic/Rider platforms
- Payment reminders
- Rider onboarding, KYC & document collection
BfSI
- Payment reminders
- KYC/Onboarding
- Pre sales AI agents
Ecommerce
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Order status updates
- Sale/Offer/Discounts
Final Thoughts
If you want your business to grow in India, using WhatsApp is a smart move. It’s where your customers are. It’s simple, cost-effective, and helps your messages reach more people instantly. With WhatsApp Business tools, you can make your customer experience personal, faster, and better than ever.
Ready to sell more with Whatsapp ?
If you are a business owner or decision maker wants to explore how whatsapp can make your customer communication smooth & help you increase your sales then book your demo now here.
With Vaayu , you get an inbuilt CRM + Whatsapp Business API + Marketing tool
To learn more on who to increase sales with whatsapp & AI , read our blog HERE