India, Feb. 10 -- For millions of Indians, social media and instant messaging dominate their daily lives. This is where the debates and discussions happen, and often buying decisions.

More than 655 Mn are active users of social media and messaging apps, and in contrast, only 30% of Indian internet users shop online. Clearly, there is a gap between how consumers use social media and how they shop online.

That's where Gupshup came in, looking to help brands engage with, acquire and retain customers through structured and targetted communication over social media and IM apps.

From starting as an SMS-based social network in 2004 to then moving on to WhatsApp and IM-based messaging for brands, and now adapting to conversational AI in 2024, ...