Someone messages at 7:10 PM, in the dinner rush: a table for 6 at 8:30, and do you have high chairs. If nobody replies, they message the next business on the list.
An after-hours reply does not have to close the sale. It has to show a person will answer, and it has to collect the facts your team needs.
What the night reply should ask
- Time
- Number of guests
- Name for the booking
Same facts, every time, so the morning shift is not starting from a blank chat.
A reply you can copy
Hi! Thanks for messaging us. Please share the time, number of guests and the name for the booking. If we're in service we'll confirm as soon as a host is free.
More on this: WhatsApp auto-replies for business.
Team chat and campaigns on WaBot start at ₹840/month + GST. Meta’s message fees are separate, and WaBot does not add a markup. See plans.
Put an after-hours reply on your business number.
Frequently asked questions
Should restaurants and cafes reply at night?
Yes, with a short auto-reply that collects the details and says when a person will confirm. Silence sends the customer to someone else.
Does an auto-reply cost money?
The customer’s own message is free. Your first 1,000 replies each month, per number, are free in India. After that, replies are ₹0.115 each plus GST.
Can the whole team see that night message?
On a shared inbox, yes. The chat is on the business number, not on one person’s phone.
Final thoughts
The night message restaurants and cafes can send so a late enquiry is still there, with the details, in the morning.
