# WhatsApp bot and chatbot development for businesses in Iraq

> A chatbot replies to your customers automatically on WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Instagram or your website: it answers repeat questions, takes orders and bookings, tracks shipments and hands off to staff when needed. Al-Arjan builds Arabic bots connected to your systems — from simple menu bots to AI bots that understand Iraqi dialect.

Source: https://www.al-arjan.com/en/services/chatbots · العربية: https://www.al-arjan.com/ar/services/chatbots.md

## Why WhatsApp first in Iraq?

**Because most of your customers already reach you on WhatsApp. A bot meets them where they are, instead of asking them to download a new app or fill in a form.**

At many Iraqi companies most enquiries arrive on WhatsApp and one or two staff answer by hand, so replies lag in the evening and on holidays, and orders get lost between chats. A bot replies instantly at any hour, logs every request in your system, and leaves staff the conversations that need a human.

## What’s the difference between the WhatsApp Business app and the API?

**The app is free and run by hand from one phone with simple quick replies. The API is the official route to a real bot: automated replies, multiple staff on one number, system integration and automatic messages such as order confirmations.**

- Requires verifying your business with Meta via an approved provider.
- Business-initiated messages use pre-approved templates.
- After a customer messages you, a service window allows free-form replies per Meta’s policies.
- Fees may apply by message type under Meta’s and the provider’s policies.
- Messaging people who haven’t opted in is not allowed.

## Menu bot or AI bot?

**A menu bot (“press 1 for prices”) is cheap, fast and fine for simple services. An AI bot understands free-form questions and dialect and searches your data. Many projects succeed with a mix: menus for common paths, AI for everything else.**

## What does the bot connect to inside your company?

**To the systems that hold the answers: stock and prices, bookings and appointments, orders and shipping, the CRM, and sometimes accounting for statements.**

- Check item availability and price
- Create a booking in the real calendar
- Log an order or complaint with a tracking number
- Send shipment status by order number
- Create a CRM lead with a conversation summary

## What happens when the bot doesn’t know?

**It hands the conversation to a staff member with a summary, so the customer doesn’t repeat themselves. Customers can ask for a human at any moment with one word.**

## Features

- **Every channel**: WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Instagram, website and app.
- **Official verified number**: WhatsApp via the official API, not unofficial hacks that get numbers banned.
- **Understands dialect**: AI that understands free-form Iraqi-dialect questions.
- **Shared inbox**: Your team answers from one panel on the same number.
- **Automatic messages**: Order confirmations, appointment reminders, shipping updates.
- **Conversation reports**: Top questions, resolution and handoff rates, peak times.

### Bot channels compared
| Channel | Best for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp | Customer service, orders and bookings | Most widely used; needs the official API |
| Telegram | Notifications, communities, internal teams | Easy and free to create bots |
| Messenger & Instagram | Enquiries from ads | Tied to Meta pages |
| Website | Google visitors and new customers | Captures leads directly |

## Technology

WhatsApp Business API, Telegram Bot API, Messenger, Instagram, Node.js, Python, Claude, Gemini, n8n, PostgreSQL, Redis

## Frequently asked questions

### Can we use our current number?

Usually yes after migrating it to the API, but it then won’t work in the regular app the same way; we plan the move with you.

### Do numbers get banned because of bots?

Bans usually come from unofficial tools or bulk-messaging people who didn’t opt in. We use the official API and follow Meta’s policies.

### How long does a WhatsApp bot take?

A simple menu bot can take around two weeks after verification completes; an AI bot connected to your systems 3 to 6 weeks for a pilot.

### Can we broadcast offers to all customers?

Only to opted-in customers and via approved templates; anything else risks restrictions on the number.

### Does the bot store conversations?

Yes, in your system, with retention and permissions you define, linked to the customer record.

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Contact Al-Arjan: +964 773 545 2792 (phone & WhatsApp, 24/7) — [Request a quote](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/quote)