WhatsApp Groups vs. 1:1 Chatbots for NGOs: Which Should You Use?
WhatsApp is already where your communities are. But as your programme grows, what’s the right way to engage them at scale?
Many NGOs start with manual WhatsApp Groups because they’re simple and familiar. But as the number of groups and participants grows, managing communication, reminders, questions, and engagement manually can become difficult.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to move to a 1:1 chatbot. Group Automation can help you scale what already works in Groups, while 1:1 chatbots can enable more personalised, automated interactions.
So, when should you use WhatsApp Groups, when can Group Automation help, when does a 1:1 chatbot make more sense, and when should you use a combination of these?
Join us for a practical panel discussion with Tejas Mahajan, Product Lead at Glific, where we’ll explore the different approaches and how NGOs can choose what works best for their programme.
What we'll explore
Manual Groups vs. Group Automation vs. 1:1 chatbots: What’s the difference, and what does each approach do well?
When do manual Groups work best? What can you achieve with a simple WhatsApp Group?
How can Group Automation help you scale? How can NGOs automate communication and engagement while continuing to use Groups?
When does a 1:1 chatbot make more sense? When are personalised interactions, automation, and individual journeys important?
Can you use them together? How can Groups, Group Automation, and 1:1 chatbots complement each other?
Real-world examples: See how NGOs are using these approaches across different programmes.
How do you decide? Take away a simple framework to choose the right approach based on your programme, audience, and goals.
What about costs? Understand how the different approaches compare.
What You'll Learn
By the end of this session, you’ll have a practical framework to answer:
"When should you use Group Automation, when does a 1:1 chatbot make more sense, and when should you use both?"
We’ll also have time for a live Q&A, so bring your questions and real programme use cases.
Who should attend?
NGO program leads, comms leads, and MEL staff who are either running manual outreach today and considering a chatbot, or already piloting WhatsApp and unsure how to scale it responsibly.
Come with your questions. Leave with a clearer idea of which WhatsApp approach could work for your programme.