This guide is fantastic—so many great insights!

How to Set Up Automatic Replies for Inbound WhatsApp Messages 📱
Setting up automatic replies on WhatsApp can save time and help you stay responsive when you're unavailable. Whether you're managing customer inquiries or just want to set up an out-of-office message, automatic replies are a valuable feature. Here's how to set them up on WhatsApp Business (which is required for automatic replies).

🔹 Step 1: Download WhatsApp Business
If you haven't already, you'll need to use WhatsApp Business, which is designed for businesses and offers features like automatic replies.

Download WhatsApp Business from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android).
Set Up Your WhatsApp Business Account: Follow the prompts to set up your business profile, including adding your business name, logo, and contact information.
🔹 Step 2: Set Up Automatic Replies (Using "Away Message")
WhatsApp Business allows you to set up automatic "Away Messages", which will automatically respond to messages when you're not available. You can use this feature to send a default response to customers when you're out of the office, on vacation, or outside business hours.

How to Set Up Away Message:
Open WhatsApp Business: Open the app on your phone.

Go to Settings: Tap the three dots in the top-right corner (Android) or the Settings icon (iPhone).

Select "Business Tools": In the settings menu, tap on Business Tools or Business Settings.

Tap on "Away Message": Under Messaging Tools, select Away Message.

Enable Away Message: Toggle the switch to "On" to activate the away message feature.

Customize Your Away Message:

You can write your custom away message in the text box. For example:
"Thank you for your message. I am currently out of the office and will get back to you as soon as possible."
Or "Thank you for reaching out! Our business hours are 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday."
Set a Schedule: You can set the schedule for when the away message should be active:

Always Send: This will send an automatic reply for every message you receive, regardless of time.
Custom Schedule: Set specific days and times when the automatic reply will be active (e.g., after hours or during weekends).
Outside Business Hours: Automatically send replies when you're outside business hours.
Save Your Settings: Tap Save to activate the message.

Now, anyone who messages you during the set schedule will receive the automatic away message you created.

🔹 Step 3: Set Up "Quick Replies" for Frequently Asked Questions
In addition to away messages, WhatsApp Business lets you create Quick Replies for frequently asked questions (FAQs). These replies can be triggered by typing a keyword (e.g., "Hi" or "Info").

How to Set Up Quick Replies:
Go to Business Settings: Open WhatsApp Business and tap the three dots (Android) or Settings (iPhone) to access settings.
Tap on "Business Tools": Then select Quick Replies.
Add New Quick Replies: Tap the "+" button to create a new quick reply.
Write the Response: In the message field, type your common response (e.g., "Thank you for reaching out! We'll get back to you soon").
Add Shortcuts: Add a shortcut for the reply (e.g., typing "/thankyou" will trigger this quick reply).
Save the Quick Reply: Once your reply and shortcut are set, tap Save.
Now, when you're chatting with someone, type the shortcut (e.g., "/thankyou") to quickly send your predefined message.

🔹 Step 4: Set Up "Out of Office" Message Using WhatsApp Web/Desktop
If you want to set up an out-of-office message on WhatsApp Web or Desktop:

Open WhatsApp Web/Desktop: Go to web.whatsapp.com or open the WhatsApp desktop app.
Go to Settings: Click on the three dots (Android) or Settings (iPhone) on the desktop screen.
Click on "Business Tools": Navigate to Business Settings.
Select "Away Message": Choose Away Message and follow the same steps as mentioned earlier for setting up your away message and schedule.
🔹 Step 5: Using Third-Party Automation Tools (Optional)
For businesses that want more complex automated replies or chatbots integrated with WhatsApp, third-party tools like Twilio or Chatbot integration services can help automate responses and actions beyond simple away messages. You can integrate these systems with WhatsApp Business API for a more customized experience.

🚀 Final Tips for Using Automatic Replies on WhatsApp:
Personalize Your Replies: While automatic replies can be convenient, always keep them polite and informative. Make sure customers know how to reach you for urgent matters.
Test Your Replies: After setting up automatic replies, send yourself test messages to ensure everything works as expected.
Monitor Your Responses: Even with automatic replies, ensure you follow up with customers as soon as you're available.
By setting up automatic replies on WhatsApp Business, you can ensure that your customers receive prompt responses, even when you're not available. Whether you're setting up an out-of-office message or using quick replies for FAQs, these features save time and improve customer communication.