Two kinds of tool
General WhatsApp platforms
Built for any industry
A shared inbox, broadcasts and chatbot flows for any business.
Watch for: Rooms, rates, stay dates and follow ups are yours to build and maintain.
Hotel AI agents
Built for hotel enquiries
Built around hotel enquiries: stay dates, rooms, rates, availability, follow ups and handover to your reservations team.
Watch for: How each one charges, and which booking engines it reads.
Four questions that decide the real cost
Owners get caught by the same four things. Ask every vendor, in writing, before you sign.
Who pays for the AI?
Ask: Do I bring my own AI key, and is usage billed on top?
Innkraft: Innkraft manages the AI model, so you bring no key. Each plan includes a monthly allowance of AI replies.
Is there commission on bookings?
Ask: What percentage of each confirmed booking do you take, now and later?
Innkraft: 0%. Innkraft charges a plan fee, starting from ₹5,000 a month, and never a share of a booking.
Whose WhatsApp number is it?
Ask: Who owns the number and the account, and what does Meta charge on top?
Innkraft: Your hotel's own number on the official WhatsApp Business Platform. Meta sets its per message charges, not Innkraft.
What does customisation cost?
Ask: Is custom work quoted before it starts, and are integrations extra?
Innkraft: Quoted in writing, with scope and price, before any work starts. Booking engine integration is part of onboarding.
Side by side checklist
Seven checks to run in every demo. Each shows what to ask any vendor, beside how Innkraft answers.
- 1
Live availability and rates
Ask any vendorWhich engines, and can you search my dates live?
InnkraftYes, from Djubo, STAAH, Simplotel and ASR.
- 2
Creates a booking
Ask any vendorDoes it create a booking or only capture a lead?
InnkraftYes with EaseRoom, with a payment link in the chat.
- 3
Photos and PDFs on WhatsApp
Ask any vendorShow each message type in the demo.
InnkraftRoom carousel, menu and brochure PDFs, location pin.
- 4
Languages
Ask any vendorTest mixed language and spelling mistakes.
InnkraftReplies in the guest's language, including English, Hindi and Tamil.
- 5
Staff takeover
Ask any vendorWhat does the guest see when staff join?
InnkraftInstant. The AI stays silent while staff reply.
- 6
Follow ups
Ask any vendorIs it automatic, and how many are sent?
InnkraftOne automatic follow up, plus a check after confirmation.
- 7
Conversion reporting
Ask any vendorCan I see wins, losses and reasons?
Innkraft14 stage pipeline, lost lead reasons, executive summary.
Commission or plan fee
Vendors charge in one of two ways. Neither is wrong, but they behave very differently as your direct bookings grow. Innkraft takes 0% commission and charges a plan fee, starting from ₹5,000 a month.
How it charges
Commission: A share of each confirmed booking
Plan fee: A flat plan fee, with no share of bookings
As your bookings grow
Commission: The cost grows with them
Plan fee: The cost stays the same
Where it suits
Commission: Very low volume, where a flat fee is hard to justify
Plan fee: Steady or growing direct bookings
What to compare
Commission: Your last three months of direct bookings, multiplied by the percentage
Plan fee: The plan fee, plus what Meta charges for messages
How to test any vendor
Send the same five real enquiries to each vendor. Compare reply speed, accuracy, what happens when it does not know, and what your team receives at the end. Then compare the full cost for three months.
- 1A date and room question
- 2A family with children
- 3A group of six rooms
- 4A banquet enquiry
- 5A message in Tamil or Hindi
- We run these on your property in a demo
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between a general WhatsApp platform and a hotel AI agent?
- A general WhatsApp platform gives any business a shared inbox, broadcasts and chatbot flows, so room inventory, live rates, stay dates and follow ups have to be built by the hotel. A hotel AI agent arrives with that logic built in. Ask each vendor to show your own enquiry handled end to end.
- Which is the best AI chatbot for hotels in India?
- There is no single answer for every hotel. Use the checklist on this page and run each vendor on your own property. Innkraft is built for independent hotels, resorts and groups in India that take enquiries on WhatsApp.
- Is commission based pricing better than a subscription?
- It depends on your volume. A percentage of each confirmed booking grows with your revenue, while a plan fee stays flat. Innkraft takes 0% commission and charges a plan fee, starting from ₹5,000 a month. Work out both for your last three months of direct bookings before deciding.
- What should I ask before I sign with any vendor?
- Ask who pays for the AI, whether there is commission on bookings, who owns the WhatsApp number and what Meta charges, and how customisation is quoted. Get the answers in writing.
