Frequently asked questions
Everything below is a real answer, not marketing copy — if something's missing, ask on the contact form.
How it works
What exactly does the assistant do on WhatsApp?
It answers customer questions from a knowledge base you provide, checks real availability against your calendar or sheet, captures lead details when someone's ready to book, and hands off to a human whenever it's asked to or uncertain.
Is this a generic chatbot builder, or something specific?
It's a configured assistant, not a DIY chatbot platform. We set up the persona, boundaries, knowledge base, and availability source for your specific business during onboarding — you don't build flows yourself.
Can it say something wrong to a customer?
It only answers from the knowledge base and availability data you provide — it never invents prices, availability, or advice. If it doesn't have an answer, it escalates rather than guessing.
Will customers know they're talking to a bot?
Always. Every assistant discloses that it's automated in the first message of a conversation — this isn't configurable.
WhatsApp & technical
Is this the official WhatsApp Business API, or a workaround?
Official WhatsApp Business Cloud API, connected directly to Meta — not an unofficial or grey-market integration that risks your number being banned.
How long does WhatsApp onboarding take?
Budget two weeks. That covers Business Manager verification, display-name review, and template approval through Meta — steps we handle, but Meta's own review timelines set the pace.
What's the 24-hour window I've heard about?
WhatsApp only allows free-form replies within 24 hours of a customer's last message. Outside that window, only pre-approved message templates can be sent — this is a WhatsApp platform rule, not a deskcrest limitation, and it's factored into how follow-ups are handled.
Can I see a demo before my own number is verified?
Yes — demos run on Meta's test number, which works immediately for up to five recipients, no verification needed.
Pricing & billing
What's included in the setup fee?
Configuring your assistant's persona, boundaries, and knowledge base, connecting your availability source, and WhatsApp onboarding. It's collected before build work starts.
Are WhatsApp message costs included in the monthly fee?
No — Meta charges per conversation, and those costs are passed through to you at cost, never marked up. This is stated explicitly in the agreement, not a hidden add-on.
What happens if I go over my plan's conversation limit?
Talk to us before that becomes a recurring problem — plans can be adjusted, and the Custom plan covers unlimited conversations.
Data & control
Where is conversation data stored, and for how long?
Message bodies are retained for 90 days for support and quality purposes, then purged; metadata like timestamps and counts is kept longer for reporting. Full detail is in the Privacy Policy.
Can I review or change what the assistant says before it goes live?
Yes — you approve the persona, boundaries, and knowledge base during setup, and can request changes at any time after.
What if I want a human to take over a specific conversation?
One takeover action pauses the assistant for that conversation and lets your team reply directly — the assistant won't respond again until it's handed back.