TL;DR
Yes. A Vendschat AI Agent can answer WhatsApp after hours, then hand off to a human. Train it as a receptionist — hours, booking, parking, insurance list — never symptoms or diagnosis.
This walkthrough uses Metro Clinics as an illustrative example (not a customer). The same path works for any small shop. The bot is a receptionist: hours, booking, parking, insurance list — never symptoms or diagnosis.
This is a customer AI Agent. It talks to people on your channels. AI Workspace Co-Admin is different: it helps your team run Vendschat and never sends customer messages.
Quotable facts: same agent covers WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. Pause it during desk hours. Paid plans from $20/mo; first 100 customers get 80% off. Co-Admin never sends customer messages.
Why do WhatsApp chats pile up after hours?
Front desks close. WhatsApp does not. Metro Clinics’ three locations share one number. After 6 PM the pile is the same three asks: “Are you open Saturday?”, “Can I book North?”, “Do you take my insurance?” A bot can clear those. A doctor cannot hide inside the bot.
How do you create a WhatsApp AI Agent in Vendschat?
- Go to AI Agents in the left nav.
- Click Browse templates. Pick Receptionist — scheduling and common questions, not a sales pitch.
- On Train AI Agent, name it something the team will recognise — Metro Clinics uses Metro Reception.
- Write instructions as policy, not poetry. Role, hours, what to never do, when to hand off. Example lines Metro Reception would keep:
- You are the after-hours front desk for Metro Clinics. You do not diagnose or interpret results.
- Answer hours, locations, parking, and the published insurance list from knowledge only.
- For booking, collect preferred location and day, then say a team member will confirm in business hours.
- If they describe symptoms or ask what a result means: “A team member will follow up during business hours.”
Never put clinical content in knowledge. Hours PDF, parking, accepted insurance — that’s it. Automated replies must not give medical advice.
Actions — leave most off
Each toggle is something the bot may do in a live thread. For a night receptionist, keep it tight. Assign to agent or team is the useful one: route billing or angry chats to a person. Do not turn on Close conversation until you have tested it.
Knowledge, then test
Scroll to Knowledge Sources. Add a website or upload a document. Metro Reception would get hours, parking, and the insurance list — not lab guides.
Save, then open the agent. The right-hand Test AI Agent panel is a sandbox. Ask: Saturday hours. Ask a symptom question and confirm it refuses. Ask insurance and confirm it only quotes the list you uploaded.
When should the WhatsApp AI Agent be Active?
Keep the agent Active after 6 PM and weekends. Pause it when the front desk is staffed so humans own the thread. Assign it to unassigned WhatsApp threads — not to conversations a person already has.
The same agent can sit on Messenger and Instagram. You do not train a second bot for those channels.
Follow-up is live: labels, reminder templates, and Sunday broadcasts — https://vendschat.com/blog/whatsapp-appointment-reminders
FAQ
Can a WhatsApp AI agent answer after hours?
Yes. In Vendschat you train a customer AI Agent, keep it Active after close, and Pause it when the desk is staffed. It answers only from knowledge you upload, then hands off.
What is the difference between a Vendschat AI Agent and Co-Admin?
An AI Agent talks to customers on WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. AI Workspace Co-Admin helps your team run Vendschat and never sends customer messages.
Can one agent cover Instagram and Messenger too?
Yes. The same Vendschat AI Agent can sit on WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. You do not train a second bot per channel.
Can a clinic use a WhatsApp chatbot for medical questions?
No for diagnosis or lab results. Use it as a receptionist: hours, parking, insurance list, booking intake. Clinical questions wait for a human in business hours.
How much does Vendschat cost?
Paid plans start at $20/mo. The first 100 customers get 80% off, with first months free. No card to sign up.
Ready to cover the night?
- Sign up at vendschat.com — no card needed
- Connect WhatsApp (Messenger and Instagram if you use them)
- Open AI Agents → Browse templates → Receptionist
- Add logistics knowledge, test the sandbox, then pause it during desk hours
Paid plans start at $20/mo. First 100 customers get 80% off, first months free.
