How to Create a Product Catalog in WhatsApp with Shopping Cart

WhatsApp has established itself as the most powerful sales channel for businesses in Latin America. With more than 2 billion active users globally and message open rates above 90%, offering a product catalog directly on WhatsApp with the ability to add items to a shopping cart is no longer a futuristic option, but a competitive necessity for any business that wants to sell online effectively.

In this comprehensive guide we explore the different options for creating a product catalog on WhatsApp, how to configure each one, best practices for presenting your products, and how to implement a functional shopping cart that allows your customers to shop without leaving the conversation.

Options to Create a Product Catalog in WhatsApp

There are three main ways to offer a product catalog to your customers via WhatsApp. Each option has different levels of functionality, scalability and customization. Below we analyze each in detail.

Option 1: WhatsApp Business Native Catalog (Basic)

The free WhatsApp Business app includes a built-in catalog feature that allows small businesses to showcase their products directly on the account profile. Customers can access the catalog by tapping the store icon within the chat or by visiting the business profile.

How to configure it:

1. Open WhatsApp Business and go to Settings.
2. Select "Business Tools" and then "Catalog".
3. Tap "Add item" and upload a photo of the product.
4. Complete the name, price, description and optional link.
5. Save the item and repeat for each product.

Important limitations:

• Maximum of 500 products per catalog.
• It does not have an integrated shopping cart with automated checkout.
• It does not allow to proactively send the catalog in the conversation with interactive messages.
• It is not possible to connect to a real-time inventory.
• It only works on one device at a time (no real multi-user).
• No automation: every query about a product requires a manual response.
• It does not generate reports of most viewed products or products added to the cart.

This option works for very small businesses with less than 50 products and low volume of inquiries, but quickly falls short when the business grows or needs to serve multiple customers simultaneously.

Option 2: Catalog with WhatsApp Business API and Interactive Messaging

The WhatsApp Business API (also known as WhatsApp Cloud API) unlocks advanced features that are not available in the free app. Through the API it is possible to send interactive messages with product catalogs, radio buttons and item lists that customers can browse directly in the chat.

Types of interactive messages available:

• List messages: They show up to 10 options organized in sections that the customer can select with a touch.
• Messages with buttons: They feature up to 3 quick response buttons to guide the customer.
• Single Product Messages (SPM): They show a specific product from the catalog with image, description and price.
• Multiple Product Messaging (MPM): They present up to 30 products from the catalog in a single navigable interactive message.

Advantages of the API:

• Proactive sending of catalogs within the conversation.
• Real-time inventory connection.
• Native WhatsApp shopping cart (customer adds products and sends the cart).
• Multi-user and multi-agent without limitations.
• Full automation with chatbots and intelligent flows.
• Advanced product interaction metrics.

Prerequisite: To use the WhatsApp Business API you need an intermediary platform (BSP - Business Solution Provider) to manage the connection. This is where specialized platforms such as Aurora Inbox come in.

Option 3: Third Party Platform Catalogs Integrated with WhatsApp

The third option is to use an e-commerce or conversational CRM platform that offers its own catalog system with integration to WhatsApp. These platforms go beyond the native WhatsApp functionality and offer personalized shopping experiences within the chat.

Typical functionalities:

• Catalogs with categories, filters and intelligent keyword search.
• Persistent shopping cart that remembers customer items between conversations.
• Automatic calculation of shipping, taxes and discounts.
• Integrated payment gateways to close the sale within the chat.
• Real-time synchronized inventory management.
• Personalized product recommendations with artificial intelligence.
• One-click purchase and repurchase history.

This option is ideal for medium and large businesses that need a complete e-commerce experience without the customer leaving WhatsApp.

Step-by-Step Guide: Setting up a Catalog with Shopping Cart in WhatsApp

Below we detail the complete process to implement a professional catalog with functional shopping cart using the WhatsApp Business API through a platform such as Aurora Inbox.

Step 1: Prepare your WhatsApp Business API account

Before creating the catalog you need to have access to the WhatsApp Business API. With Aurora Inbox this process is considerably simplified:

1. Create your Aurora Inbox account.
2. Connect your WhatsApp number by following the configuration wizard.
3. Verify your business in Meta Business Suite (Meta requirement).
4. Once verified, your number is enabled to send interactive catalog messages.

Step 2: Create and organize your product catalog

With the platform connected, the next step is to upload your product catalog:

1. Access the catalog module in Aurora Inbox.
2. Create categories to organize your products (e.g. Clothing, Accessories, Footwear).
3. Add each product with its complete information: name, description, price, variants (sizes, colors), photos and availability.
4. Configure inventory rules so that products are automatically marked as out of stock when stock reaches zero.

Step 3: Configure the shopping cart

The shopping cart allows customers to add multiple products and make a single purchase:

1. Enable the shopping cart feature in your catalog settings.
2. Define the available shipping options and their costs.
3. Configure the accepted payment methods (bank transfer, credit card, cash on delivery).
4. Establish discount policies and promotions if applicable.
5. Customize the order confirmation message.

Step 4: Configure the conversational experience

This is where artificial intelligence makes a difference. Configure how the chatbot interacts with customers when they inquire about products:

1. Define catalog triggers: which keywords trigger the catalog display ("I want to see products", "catalog", "what do you have available").
2. Configure chatbot responses when a customer asks for a specific product.
3. Establish the checkout flow: how the order is confirmed, the address is collected and the payment is processed.
4. Activate order status notifications to keep the customer informed.

Step 5: Test and launch

Before activating the catalog with real customers:

1. Send test messages from another number to verify that the catalog is displayed correctly.
2. Add products to the cart and complete the trial purchase process.
3. Verify that the orders arrive correctly to the administration panel.
4. Confirm that the inventory is updated after each test purchase.
5. Once satisfied, activate the catalog for all your customers.

Best Practices for your Product Catalog on WhatsApp

The quality of your catalog directly determines your conversion rates. Here are the best practices for each element.

Photographs of products that sell

Photos are the most important element of your WhatsApp catalog. Customers can't touch or try the products, so images must compensate for that limitation.

• Use white or neutral background so that the product is the protagonist.
• Displays multiple angles of the product when possible.
• Includes context photos that show the product in use (a garment being worn, a piece of furniture in a room, a working appliance).
• Minimum resolution of 720×720 pixels to look sharp on any device.
• Square format (1:1) for better visualization in WhatsApp.
• Maximum weight of 5MB per image for fast charging.

Descriptions that inform and persuade

A good product description answers all the questions the customer would have before buying:

• First striking line: highlights the main benefit of the product.
• Technical specifications: materials, dimensions, weight, compatibility.
• Variants available: clear list of sizes, colors or options.
• Instructions for use or care when applicable.
• Ideal length: 150-300 characters. Enough to inform without overwhelming on a cell phone screen.

Effective pricing strategy

• Always show the price in your catalog. Unpriced catalogs generate more queries but fewer conversions.
• Includes price with and without discount when promotions are active, showing the savings.
• Indicates if the price includes shipping or if shipping is calculated at checkout.
• Uses psychological pricing ($199 instead of $200) that have been shown to improve conversions.
• Offers volume pricing if your business allows it ("3 x $500").

Catalog organization

• Clear and logical categories that reflect how your customers search.
• Best selling products first within each category.
• Maximum 8-10 main categories so as not to overwhelm.
• Descriptive product names that include the essential information ("Cotton V-Neck T-Shirt - Navy Blue").
• Constant updating: eliminates out-of-stock products and adds new products on a regular basis.

Benefits of a Catalog with Shopping Cart on WhatsApp

Implementing a professional catalog with shopping cart on WhatsApp transforms the way your customers shop and generates measurable benefits for your business.

Reduced friction in the purchasing process

The customer doesn't need to leave WhatsApp, open a browser, create an account on your web store or remember passwords. The entire discovery, selection and purchase process happens in the same conversation where they already feel comfortable. This reduction of steps can increase conversion rates by 30% to 50% compared to a traditional e-commerce.

Scalable personalized attention

With an intelligent chatbot connected to the catalog, each customer receives personalized attention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The chatbot can recommend products based on the customer's preferences, answer questions about availability in real time, and guide the entire buying process without human intervention. When the customer needs specialized attention, the conversation is transferred to a human agent with all previous context.

Increase in average ticket

The shopping cart allows multiple products to be added in a single transaction. Combined with intelligent suggestions ("Customers who bought this product also bought..."), the average purchase ticket can increase significantly. Complementary product recommendations within the conversation work like an expert salesperson who always suggests the right thing.

Recovery of abandoned carts

When a customer adds products to the cart but does not complete the purchase, the system can send automatic reminders by WhatsApp: "Hi, we noticed that you left items in your cart. They are still available, do you want to complete your purchase?". These reminders have much higher recovery rates than traditional abandoned cart emails.

Metrics and actionable data

A digital catalog on WhatsApp generates valuable data: most viewed products, conversion rates by category, peak shopping times, reasons for cart abandonment. This information allows you to continuously optimize your offer, prices and sales strategy.

The Aurora Inbox Shopping Cart Product Catalog

Aurora Inbox offers a complete product catalog solution with shopping cart designed specifically for the WhatsApp Business API. Unlike generic solutions, Aurora Inbox combines the power of artificial intelligence with a shopping experience optimized for chat conversations.

Intelligent catalog with AI

The Aurora Inbox chatbot understands the natural language of your customers. They don't need to type specific commands or follow rigid menus. If a customer types "I'm looking for something to give my mom for her birthday," the chatbot can suggest relevant products from your catalog based on purchase intent. This understanding capability transforms the experience from a static catalog to personalized shopping advice.

Persistent and flexible shopping cart

The Aurora Inbox shopping cart remembers the customer's items even if the conversation is interrupted. The customer can add a product today, return tomorrow and find their cart intact, ready to complete the purchase. In addition, they can change quantities, delete items or add new products at any time with simple text messages.

Real-time inventory integration

The Aurora Inbox catalog is synchronized with your inventory in real time. When a product is out of stock, it automatically stops being offered to customers. When new stock arrives, the product becomes available again without manual intervention. This eliminates the frustration of selling products you no longer have available.

Simplified checkout

The payment process is optimized to minimize friction. Aurora Inbox remembers customer data from previous purchases (address, preferred payment method), so repurchases are completed in seconds. For new customers, the chatbot prompts for each piece of information in a conversational and friendly way, without intimidating forms.

Multi-agent and multi-channel

Your sales team can view active customer carts, intervene when necessary to close complex sales and manage orders from a centralized dashboard. Multiple agents can attend simultaneously without conflict, with full visibility into each customer's history.

Frequent questions

Do I need technical knowledge to create a catalog in WhatsApp with Aurora Inbox?

No. Aurora Inbox is designed so that anyone can set up their product catalog without programming. The product upload process is visual and intuitive: you upload the photos, write the description, set the price and the product is ready. The integration with WhatsApp Business API is done through a guided wizard that does not require technical knowledge.

How many products can I have in my WhatsApp catalog?

With Aurora Inbox there is no practical limit to the number of products in your catalog. Unlike the native WhatsApp Business catalog that has a maximum of 500 products, the Aurora Inbox platform can handle catalogs of thousands of products organized into categories and subcategories. The chatbot with artificial intelligence is responsible for showing the customer only the relevant products according to their query, so an extensive catalog does not generate confusion but a better search experience.

How does the shopping cart work within WhatsApp?

The shopping cart works in a conversational way. When the customer sees a product that interests them, they can indicate that they want to add it to their cart with a simple message or button. The chatbot confirms the added item and asks if they want to continue shopping or proceed to checkout. At any time the customer can request to view the contents of his cart, modify quantities or delete products. When ready to checkout, the chatbot presents the order summary with the total, shipping options and available payment methods.

Is it possible to connect my WhatsApp catalog with my existing online store?

Yes, Aurora Inbox allows you to synchronize your WhatsApp catalog with existing e-commerce platforms. This means that products, prices and inventory are automatically kept up to date between your web store and your WhatsApp catalog. When you sell a product through either channel, the inventory is updated in both, avoiding overselling.

What payment methods can I offer my customers in the WhatsApp cart?

Aurora Inbox supports multiple payment methods that you can configure according to your market needs: bank transfers with automatic confirmation, credit and debit card payments through secure gateways, cash on delivery, and customized payment links. The chatbot guides the customer through the selected payment method and confirms receipt of payment automatically when possible, notifying your team to process the shipment.