For many businesses in Nepal, orders do not arrive through a website. They arrive as WhatsApp and Viber messages: a photo of a handwritten list, a voice note, or “same as last time but 20 more”. Someone then types each order into Excel, Google Sheets or Tally. It works, but it is slow, it happens after hours, and small typing mistakes become wrong invoices.
The good news is that this is one of the easiest processes to automate with AI, without replacing the tools you already use.
What the automated flow looks like
- The message arrives on your WhatsApp Business number or Viber, exactly as it does today.
- An AI agent reads it, including photos and Romanized Nepali, and works out the customer, the products and the quantities.
- It checks your data: product codes, the customer’s price list and current stock in your sheet or system.
- It drafts the order and, if needed, the invoice with VAT.
- A person approves with one tap. Anything unclear is flagged instead of guessed.
- Everything updates: the order is added to Excel, Google Sheets or your accounting software, the customer gets a confirmation, and your dashboard reflects the sale.
What you need before you start
- A WhatsApp Business account (or the Viber number you already use for orders).
- A product list with names, codes and prices, even if it is just a spreadsheet.
- Clarity on who approves orders and invoices, and when.
You do not need perfect data. Cleaning up the product list is usually part of the first week of work.
Excel, Google Sheets or Tally?
All three can be connected. Google Sheets is the simplest to automate. Excel works well when files live in OneDrive or SharePoint. Tally can be connected through its integration options or an export–import step, depending on your version and setup. We look at your setup and recommend the most reliable route.
Keeping people in control
Automation should not mean losing control. A good setup asks for approval before anything is sent to a customer, keeps a log of every step, and alerts you on WhatsApp if something fails. The AI handles the reading and typing; your team makes the decisions.
How long does it take?
For most businesses, a working pilot for order capture takes 2–4 weeks, starting with one channel and one type of order, then expanding once it is proven.