WhatsApp use case

Catalogue sales on WhatsApp

Show products in the chat, let customers build a cart and send the order to your team, with payment and confirmation in the same thread.

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Browsing without leaving the chat
Orders arrive structured
Works for small and assisted sales

WhatsApp chat where a customer sends a cart of two kurtas from a store catalogue and receives an order confirmation with a Pay now button

How do you sell products with a WhatsApp catalogue?

To sell with a WhatsApp catalogue, a business uploads products with images, prices and descriptions to a catalogue linked to its WhatsApp number. Agents or a bot share single products or multi-product messages of up to 30 items in chat, customers add items to a cart and send it, and the business confirms the order and shares a payment link.

Updated 15 Nov 2026

Why use WhatsApp for catalogue sales?

Browsing without leaving the chatCustomers who prefer to talk before they buy see photos and prices inside WhatsApp, and ask about size or colour in the same place.

Orders arrive structuredA sent cart lists product IDs and quantities, so the team does not have to decode messages like the blue one, 2 pieces.

Works for small and assisted salesShops without a website, and stores selling through staff advice, can sell online without building a full store.

How do you set up catalogue sales with WhatsApp?

Build the catalogueAdd products in Meta Commerce Manager with images, prices, descriptions and retailer IDs that match your stock codes.
Share products in chatAgents send a product or a multi-product message from the inbox; a bot can send sections such as Kurtas, Dupattas or Combos.
The customer sends a cartItems and quantities arrive as an order message; your team or system checks stock and delivery.
Confirm, collect, shipA confirmation with total and payment link follows, and the order is pushed to your order system by webhook.

WhatsApp templates for catalogue sales

Copy, edit and use these as a starting point.

Product launch with catalogueMarketing

Hi {{1}}, our {{2}} collection is live. Tap below to browse it in WhatsApp and send your cart directly to us. Reply STOP to opt out.
[View catalogue]

Cart receivedUtility

Hi {{1}}, we received your order {{2}} for {{3}} items, total ₹{{4}}. Pay using the link below to confirm. Delivery in {{5}} days.
[Pay now] [Edit order]

Back in stockMarketing

Hi {{1}}, {{2}} that you asked about is back in stock at ₹{{3}}. Limited pieces. Reply STOP to opt out.
[View product] [Order now]

Submit each template to Meta for approval in your MsgClub panel. {{1}}, {{2}} are variables.

Which industries use WhatsApp for catalogue sales?

Retail storesHow do retail stores use WhatsApp Business API?See how

D2C and e-commerce brandsHow do D2C brands use WhatsApp Business API?See how

Restaurants and cloud kitchensHow do restaurants take orders on WhatsApp?See how

FMCG distributors and dealer networksHow do distributors use WhatsApp Business API?See how

Small and medium businessesIs WhatsApp Business API useful for small businesses?See how

What are the best practices for catalogue sales?

Do this

Use your stock codes as retailer IDs so carts map to inventory without manual work
Group products into sections; long unsorted lists overwhelm mobile screens
Keep prices and stock in the catalogue updated daily, or sync them from your inventory system
Check Meta's commerce policy before listing; medicines, alcohol and some regulated goods are not allowed

What to measure

Carts received per 100 catalogue shares
Cart-to-paid conversion rate
Average order value from WhatsApp versus other channels

Connect results to your CRM with the WhatsApp API and webhooks. See how pricing works.

Questions about WhatsApp catalogue sales

How many products can a WhatsApp catalogue hold?

A catalogue linked to the WhatsApp Business API can hold a large number of products, and a single multi-product message can show up to 30 items in up to 10 sections. For big inventories, share curated sections in chat rather than the whole catalogue.

Can customers pay inside the WhatsApp catalogue?

The catalogue itself handles browsing and the cart. Most businesses then send a payment link from their gateway in the chat to collect payment by UPI, card or net banking. Meta offers in-chat payment options in India for some businesses; ask our team what fits yours.

What products cannot be sold on a WhatsApp catalogue?

Meta's commerce policy prohibits items such as drugs and medical products, alcohol and tobacco, weapons, animals, adult products and real-money gambling, among others. Listings that break the policy are rejected and repeated violations can restrict the account, so check the policy for your category first.

Can I sync my WhatsApp catalogue with my inventory?

Yes. Products live in Meta Commerce Manager, which accepts data feeds and API updates, so your inventory or store system can update prices and stock automatically. Use the same retailer IDs as your stock codes so incoming carts map to your inventory.

How is catalogue selling different from WhatsApp marketing broadcasts?

Broadcasts announce offers to opted-in customers; catalogue selling is about the conversation once they are interested, where products, carts and payment happen in chat. A launch template with a View catalogue button often connects the two. The marketing page covers broadcasts and carousels in detail.

Can a bot take catalogue orders without staff?

Yes, for simple products. The bot can send catalogue sections, receive the cart, check stock through a webhook lookup and reply with the total and payment link. Orders with custom sizes, bulk quantities or questions are better handed to an agent in the inbox.

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