Cash on delivery is still how many Indian shoppers prefer to buy, but COD orders cost more: some are refused at the door, the courier charges for the return trip, and your cash arrives days later. WhatsApp gives you a cheap way to fix both problems before the parcel leaves.
Two flows that work together
1. COD confirmation
Right after a COD order is placed, send a utility template:
Hi {{1}}, thanks for your order #{{2}} of {{3}} (cash on delivery). Please confirm so we can ship it.
[Confirm order] [Cancel order]
- Confirmed orders go to dispatch.
- Cancelled orders are cancelled in Shopify or WooCommerce automatically, before you pay for shipping.
- No reply after a few hours: send one reminder, then hold the order or call.
This filters out impulse and fake orders at the cost of a utility message (₹0.115 in India).
2. COD-to-prepaid nudge
In the same chat, offer a reason to pay now:
Pay online now and get your order faster, plus ₹50 off. [Pay now]
The button opens a payment link. When the payment succeeds, the order is marked paid automatically.
Good incentives: a small flat discount, free shipping, priority dispatch, or a free sample. Test one at a time.
Keep the categories clean
The confirmation is a utility message. If you add a promotional offer to the same template, Meta may classify it as marketing, which costs more. Send the prepaid offer as a quick reply or follow-up inside the conversation the customer has just replied to.
What to measure
- Confirmation rate and cancellation rate of COD orders.
- Prepaid conversion rate: COD orders paid online ÷ COD orders.
- Return-to-origin (RTO) rate before and after you start.
Setting it up
Hello24 includes COD confirmation and COD-to-prepaid flows on every plan, for both Shopify and WooCommerce, with payment gateway integration. Book a 1:1 demo and we’ll set it up with you.