MAM
AnyMind Group extends AI customer service agent feature on AnyChat to WhatsApp
MUMBAI – AnyMind Group [TSE:5027], a BPaaS company for marketing, e-commerce and digital transformation, has announced that its AI customer service agent feature launched in March 2025 on its conversational commerce platform, AnyChat, is now connected to WhatsApp. This feature was previously available only for LINE.
In April 2025, Meta revealed that WhatsApp has more than 3 billion monthly active users globally. In addition, the Asia-Pacific region is home to three of the top five countries with the most WhatsApp Users: India, Indonesia and the Philippines. With the extension of the AI customer service agent feature on AnyChat, businesses and online merchants in markets such as India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, and any other region that has WhatsApp users, can now leverage AnyChat to automatically handle initial customer inquiries on WhatsApp by using LLMs to understand free-text messages.
For businesses and merchants serving customers on WhatsApp’s vast user base, especially those handling thousands of customer inquiries daily with only human operators, integrating AnyChat’s AI customer service agent into existing customer service workflows holds the potential to dramatically transform customer support. In a 3-month study, between March 2025 and June 2025, done with leading global water flosser brand, Waterpik, using AnyChat’s AI customer service agent feature on LINE, Waterpik was able to tap on AI to respond to a quarter of all customer inquiries.
Unlike typical chatbots, AnyChat’s AI customer service agents can understand questions in natural language and generate responses based on brand-approved guardrails and inputs, reducing operational workload and eliminating the risk of hallucinated answers.
It also collects key information such as order ID and customer name, allowing human customer service agents to take over seamlessly when needed. AnyChat also stores historical conversation data, helping businesses and online merchants to identify common inquiries and continuously improve response templates. In addition, product information (such as seasonal products) can be easily updated at any time, enabling businesses to always provide the most up-to-date information to customers.
On the extension of AnyChat’s AI customer service agent feature to WhatsApp, AnyMind Group managing director, growth markets; Co-MD, India and MENA, Aditya Aima said, “For most Indian consumers, WhatsApp is the first and often the only touchpoint with a brand. That’s why this integration matters. It’s not about adding another tool, but about helping businesses have faster, more meaningful conversations with their customers, without overloading their teams. It’s a small shift with the potential for real, lasting impact.”
MAM
India’s experience economy grows as live events market hits Rs 17,000 crore
EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow report finds 78 per cent Indians prefer experiences over products
MUMBAI: India’s live entertainment scene is no longer just about music, comedy or festivals. It is increasingly becoming a powerful stage for brands seeking deeper connections with consumers.
A new report titled Beyond Attention, Into Immersion by EY-Parthenon and BookMyShow suggests that India’s experience economy is entering a strong growth phase, driven by consumers who are choosing memorable moments over material purchases.
According to the study, the country’s live events ecosystem, which includes concerts, comedy tours, festivals and immersive exhibitions, is estimated to reach around Rs 17,000 crore in 2025. The growth reflects a broader cultural shift in how Indians spend their time and money.
The report finds that 78 per cent of Indian consumers now prefer spending on experiences rather than physical products. From attending concerts and festivals to participating in interactive brand installations, audiences are increasingly seeking engagement, community and shareable moments.
This change in consumer behaviour is particularly evident among younger audiences who want to participate rather than simply watch. Instead of passively consuming entertainment, many now look for experiences that allow them to interact, express themselves and connect with like minded communities.
For marketers, this shift has turned experiential marketing into a strategic priority rather than a promotional add on. Brands are moving away from interruption driven advertising and towards immersive formats that allow consumers to discover, test and emotionally connect with products.
The report suggests that experiential marketing now plays a role across the entire consumer journey. It can spark brand discovery, strengthen storytelling, encourage product trials and ultimately influence purchase decisions and loyalty.
The impact is already visible. Post event surveys conducted among 7,450 attendees at major events including Lollapalooza India and concerts by Ed Sheeran and Guns N’ Roses highlight the effectiveness of these experiences.
Around 59 per cent of attendees recalled brands they interacted with during the events, while 55 per cent said those interactions increased their likelihood of purchasing from the brand. A further 63 per cent reported that brand activations actually enhanced their event experience rather than distracting from it. Nearly 29 per cent also said the interaction improved their perception of the brand.
Brands are also changing the way they approach events. Instead of simply putting logos on stages or banners, companies are building experiences into the fabric of the event itself.
Financial services brands, for example, are offering early ticket access, exclusive lounges and curated event experiences for cardholders. Fashion and beauty companies are using festivals to showcase products through pop ups, interactive installations and social media friendly spaces that encourage visitors to share their experiences online.
The scope of experiential marketing now stretches far beyond live entertainment. Retailers are designing experiential stores where customers can explore products in lifelike environments. Entertainment platforms are extending popular intellectual properties into immersive exhibitions and fan events. Technology is also playing a growing role through augmented reality and virtual try on tools that blend digital discovery with physical interaction.
Cultural festivals remain one of the most powerful platforms for such engagement in India. Celebrations such as Navratri and Holi bring together large communities, emotional participation and heightened consumer spending. For brands, these moments offer an opportunity to become part of the celebration rather than simply advertise around it.
Despite the momentum, the report notes that some companies still hesitate to adopt experiential marketing at scale. Budget constraints, limited expertise and uncertainty around measuring return on investment remain common concerns.
However, the growing body of data around consumer engagement and brand impact is gradually addressing these challenges. More marketers are expected to allocate a larger share of their budgets to experiential formats over the coming years.
Taken together, the findings point to a clear trend. As consumers seek meaning, memories and moments worth sharing, live experiences are emerging as one of the most powerful ways for brands to stay relevant in a crowded media landscape.
