Quick Answer: After your 21-day WhatsApp AI pilot, you choose how much ongoing support you want. Self-managed (SGD 0/month) means the AI keeps running forever with email support. Managed (SGD 799/month) includes monthly optimization, knowledge updates, and priority support. Managed Pro (SGD 1,499/month) adds weekly calls, proactive improvements, and a dedicated account manager. There is no lock-in—switch or cancel anytime.
The pilot is over. Your AI is handling 60-70% of customer messages automatically. Customers are getting instant responses at 10pm. Your staff has reclaimed 15-20 hours per week.
Now comes the question: what happens next?
This guide explains your three options, when each makes sense, and how to decide based on your specific situation.
Understanding Your Options
The Three Paths
Post-Pilot Decision Tree:
Pilot Complete
│
▼
┌───────────────┼───────────────┐
│ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼
Self-Managed Managed Managed Pro
$0/month $799/month $1,499/month
│ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼
AI runs 24/7 Everything in Everything in
Email support Self-Managed + Managed +
You maintain Monthly review Weekly calls
Priority Slack Proactive AI
KB updates Account manager
Key Principle: The AI continues working forever regardless of which option you choose. The difference is how much help you get maintaining and improving it.
Option 1: Self-Managed ($0/month)
What You Get
Self-Managed Includes:
Ongoing Capabilities:
├── AI continues answering 24/7 ✓
├── WhatsApp automation active ✓
├── Instagram DM automation ✓
├── Web chat automation ✓
├── Help Portal live ✓
├── Full dashboard access ✓
└── Basic email support ✓
Your Responsibilities:
├── Knowledge base updates (when products/services change)
├── Response template adjustments
├── Monitoring automation performance
├── Handling escalation workflow
└── Troubleshooting issues
Support Level:
├── Email support: 24-48 hour response
├── Documentation access: Full
├── Community resources: Available
└── Urgent issues: Email priority based on severity
When Self-Managed Works
Ideal Business Profile:
Good Fit for Self-Managed:
Business Characteristics:
├── Stable product/service offering
├── Menu/pricing changes: Quarterly or less
├── Technical comfort: Moderate to high
├── Available staff time: 2-4 hours/month
└── Budget priority: Minimize ongoing costs
Industry Examples:
├── Professional services (consistent offerings)
├── Established restaurants (stable menu)
├── Service businesses (fixed pricing)
├── Retail with stable inventory
└── B2B with long sales cycles
Success Indicators:
├── Your team can navigate dashboards
├── You have someone who can update content
├── Changes to your business are infrequent
├── Email support response time is acceptable
└── You prefer hands-on control
Who Should Avoid Self-Managed:
Not Ideal For:
High-Change Businesses:
├── Frequent menu changes
├── Dynamic pricing
├── Seasonal variations
├── Rapid product launches
└── Regular promotional campaigns
Resource-Constrained:
├── No technical staff available
├── Owner handles everything
├── No time for maintenance
├── Prefer "set and forget"
└── Growth is the priority
Quality-Focused:
├── Need continuous optimization
├── Want proactive improvements
├── Require faster support
├── Competitive differentiation through service
└── Customer experience is key differentiator
Self-Managed Reality Check
Time Investment:
Monthly Time Requirements:
Minimum Maintenance:
├── Performance review: 30 min/month
├── Basic updates: 30 min/month
├── Issue handling: Variable
└── Total baseline: 1-2 hours/month
When Changes Occur:
├── Menu/service update: 1-2 hours
├── Pricing change: 30 min - 1 hour
├── New FAQ addition: 15-30 min
├── Response template edit: 30-60 min
└── Total with changes: 3-5 hours/month
Troubleshooting Time:
├── Minor issues: 15-30 min + email wait
├── Moderate issues: 1-2 hours + support
├── Complex issues: 2-4 hours
└── Unpredictable but manageable for most
True Cost Calculation:
Self-Managed "Free" Analysis:
Direct Costs:
├── Monthly fee: SGD 0
├── Meta conversation fees: Pay-as-you-go
└── Total platform cost: Near zero
Indirect Costs:
├── Staff time: 2-4 hours × SGD 30-50/hour
├── Monthly staff cost: SGD 60-200
├── Opportunity cost of not optimizing
├── Slower issue resolution
└── Potential suboptimal performance
True Monthly Cost: SGD 60-200 (staff time)
Best suited for: Budget-conscious, stable businesses
Option 2: Managed ($799/month)
What You Get
Managed Includes:
Everything in Self-Managed, plus:
Monthly Optimization:
├── Performance review meeting (30 min)
├── Automation rate analysis
├── Response quality audit
├── Improvement recommendations
└── Action item implementation
Priority Support:
├── Slack channel access (business hours)
├── 4-hour response time (business hours)
├── Priority email queue
├── Screen share assistance
└── Direct team access
Knowledge Maintenance:
├── Monthly KB updates included
├── Response template refinements
├── FAQ additions
├── Seasonal adjustments
└── Promotional updates
Reporting:
├── Monthly performance report
├── Trend analysis
├── Benchmark comparison
├── Optimization suggestions
└── ROI tracking
When Managed Works
Ideal Business Profile:
Good Fit for Managed:
Business Characteristics:
├── Growing business with regular changes
├── Menu/pricing changes: Monthly or more
├── Technical comfort: Low to moderate
├── Available staff time: Limited
└── Budget: Willing to invest for results
Industry Examples:
├── Restaurants with seasonal menus
├── Retail with new products monthly
├── Service businesses adding offerings
├── Growing e-commerce
└── Expanding professional services
Success Indicators:
├── You want improvements without doing them yourself
├── Faster support matters to your operations
├── You value expert optimization
├── Time is more valuable than money
└── Customer experience is important
Managed Value Analysis
What SGD 799 Gets You:
Managed Service Value Breakdown:
Monthly Optimization (Value: ~SGD 500):
├── Expert review and analysis
├── Performance improvements
├── Industry best practices applied
├── No learning curve for you
└── Proactive issue identification
Priority Support (Value: ~SGD 300):
├── Slack access vs email waiting
├── 4-hour vs 24-48 hour response
├── Direct expert contact
├── Screen share troubleshooting
└── Peace of mind
Knowledge Maintenance (Value: ~SGD 400):
├── Updates done for you
├── No staff time required
├── Professional content editing
├── Consistent quality maintained
└── Seasonal adjustments handled
Reporting (Value: ~SGD 200):
├── Performance visibility
├── Trend understanding
├── ROI documentation
├── Benchmark awareness
└── Strategic insights
Total Service Value: ~SGD 1,400
Your Investment: SGD 799
Value Ratio: 1.75x
ROI Justification:
Managed ROI Calculation:
Time Savings:
├── Your team hours saved: 8-12/month
├── Value at SGD 40/hour: SGD 320-480
└── Subtotal: SGD 320-480
Performance Improvement:
├── Expected automation lift: +5-10%
├── Value of captured inquiries: SGD 500-1,500
└── Subtotal: SGD 500-1,500
Risk Reduction:
├── Faster issue resolution
├── Prevented downtime
├── Maintained customer experience
└── Estimated value: SGD 200-400
Total Monthly Benefit: SGD 1,020-2,380
Investment: SGD 799
Net Benefit: SGD 221-1,581/month
Option 3: Managed Pro ($1,499/month)
What You Get
Managed Pro Includes:
Everything in Managed, plus:
Weekly Engagement:
├── Weekly performance calls (30 min)
├── Real-time optimization
├── Immediate issue resolution
├── Strategic planning discussions
└── Growth roadmapping
Proactive AI Improvements:
├── Continuous optimization (not just monthly)
├── A/B testing of responses
├── Conversion optimization
├── New feature implementation
├── Industry trend application
Dedicated Account Manager:
├── Single point of contact
├── Understanding of your business
├── Personalized recommendations
├── Priority escalation path
└── Quarterly business reviews
Custom Development:
├── Custom feature requests
├── Integration assistance
├── Workflow customization
├── Advanced automation logic
└── Special project support
When Managed Pro Works
Ideal Business Profile:
Good Fit for Managed Pro:
Business Characteristics:
├── High-volume operation (300+ msgs/day)
├── Rapid growth or expansion
├── Complex customer support needs
├── Multiple locations or brands
└── Customer experience as differentiator
Industry Examples:
├── Restaurant groups (5+ locations)
├── High-volume e-commerce
├── Multi-location service businesses
├── Growing franchise operations
└── Competitive industries
Success Indicators:
├── You want maximum automation performance
├── Strategic support has clear value
├── Growth speed is priority
├── Complex operations need expert help
└── Budget is available for premium service
Managed Pro Value Analysis
What SGD 1,499 Gets You:
Managed Pro Service Value:
Weekly Optimization (Value: ~SGD 1,200):
├── 4x monthly optimization
├── Real-time adjustments
├── Faster response to issues
├── Continuous improvement
└── Maximum performance extraction
Proactive Development (Value: ~SGD 800):
├── A/B testing resources
├── Custom feature development
├── Advanced automation logic
├── Integration work
└── Innovation application
Dedicated Manager (Value: ~SGD 600):
├── Business context understanding
├── Personalized recommendations
├── Single point of accountability
├── Priority treatment
└── Strategic partnership
Total Service Value: ~SGD 2,600
Your Investment: SGD 1,499
Value Ratio: 1.73x
Premium Tier Justification:
Managed Pro ROI Calculation:
Performance Uplift:
├── Expected additional automation: +10-15%
├── Revenue from captured opportunities: SGD 2,000-5,000
└── Subtotal: SGD 2,000-5,000
Strategic Value:
├── Growth roadmap clarity
├── Competitive advantage
├── Future-proofing
└── Estimated value: SGD 500-1,000
Time Savings:
├── Hours saved per month: 15-20
├── Value at SGD 50/hour: SGD 750-1,000
└── Subtotal: SGD 750-1,000
Total Monthly Benefit: SGD 3,250-7,000
Investment: SGD 1,499
Net Benefit: SGD 1,751-5,501/month
Best for: High-volume businesses where
1-2% automation improvement = SGD 1,000+ value
Decision Framework
Quick Decision Matrix
Choose Based on Primary Factor:
Budget is Primary Concern:
└── Choose: Self-Managed ($0/month)
Time is Primary Concern:
└── Choose: Managed ($799/month)
Growth is Primary Concern:
└── Choose: Managed Pro ($1,499/month)
Detailed Decision Checklist
Self-Managed If:
- You have 2-4 hours/month for maintenance
- Your business changes infrequently
- Email support response time is acceptable
- You have someone comfortable with dashboards
- Minimizing cost is top priority
- You prefer hands-on control
Managed If:
- You want improvements without doing them yourself
- Your business changes monthly or more
- Faster support (4-hour) matters
- You value expert optimization
- Time savings worth SGD 799/month
- Customer experience is important
Managed Pro If:
- You have 300+ messages/day
- You're in rapid growth mode
- You want maximum automation performance
- Strategic support has clear value
- Complex operations need expert help
- Budget available for premium service
Try Before Committing
Recommended Approach:
Month 1-2: Start with Self-Managed
├── Experience the actual work required
├── Understand your real time investment
├── See what questions you have
└── Evaluate if support would help
Month 3+: Upgrade if Needed
├── If time investment too high → Managed
├── If growth accelerating → Managed Pro
├── If comfortable → Stay Self-Managed
└── No penalty for changing
Switching Between Options
Flexibility Built In
Upgrade Path:
Self-Managed → Managed:
├── Effective immediately
├── Slack channel access within 24 hours
├── First monthly review scheduled
├── Pro-rated if mid-month
└── No setup fees
Managed → Managed Pro:
├── Effective immediately
├── Account manager assigned within 48 hours
├── Weekly calls scheduled
├── Pro-rated if mid-month
└── No setup fees
Downgrade Process
Downgrade Path:
Managed Pro → Managed:
├── 30-day notice preferred
├── Transition meeting included
├── Handover documentation provided
├── No penalties
└── Always welcome back
Managed → Self-Managed:
├── 30-day notice preferred
├── Final optimization review
├── Status documentation provided
├── Ongoing email support
└── Always welcome back
Common Questions
"What If I Need Help Once While Self-Managed?"
Ad-Hoc Support Options:
Email Support (Included):
├── Available to all tiers
├── 24-48 hour response
├── Issue resolution
└── Cost: Free
One-Time Consultation:
├── Book specific help session
├── Hourly rate: SGD 200
├── Screen share available
└── Minimum: 1 hour
Monthly Support "On Demand":
├── Add Managed for one month
├── Get optimization + support
├── Downgrade after
└── No long-term commitment
"What About Meta Conversation Fees?"
Meta Fees Apply to All Tiers:
WhatsApp Business API Pricing:
├── User-initiated: ~SGD 0.08-0.15/conversation
├── Business-initiated: ~SGD 0.15-0.25/conversation
├── Varies by country
└── Paid directly to Meta
How It Works:
├── First 1,000 conversations/month: Free
├── Beyond that: Per-conversation fee
├── You pay Meta directly
├── Not part of Oxaide pricing
Estimation:
├── Low volume (500 convos): ~SGD 0/month
├── Medium volume (3,000 convos): ~SGD 160-400/month
├── High volume (10,000 convos): ~SGD 720-1,500/month
"Can I Change My Mind Later?"
Yes, Complete Flexibility:
No Lock-In:
├── Month-to-month billing
├── Cancel anytime
├── Downgrade anytime
├── Upgrade anytime
└── 30-day notice courteous, not required
The AI Never Stops:
├── Even if you cancel managed services
├── AI continues running
├── Dashboard access remains
├── Email support available
└── Only optimization/priority support ends
Making Your Decision
Summary Comparison
Self-Managed Managed Managed Pro
Monthly Cost $0 $799 $1,499
AI Running ✓ ✓ ✓
Email Support ✓ (24-48h) ✓ (prioritized) ✓ (prioritized)
Slack Support ✗ ✓ (4h response) ✓ (2h response)
Monthly Review ✗ ✓ ✓
Weekly Calls ✗ ✗ ✓
KB Updates You Included Included
Optimization You Monthly Weekly
Account Mgr ✗ ✗ ✓
Custom Work ✗ ✗ Included
Next Steps
Your pilot is complete or ending soon?
- Review your results: Check automation rate, time saved, customer feedback
- Assess your resources: Who will maintain the system if self-managed?
- Consider growth plans: Will you need more support as you scale?
- Make your choice: Or ask us for a recommendation based on your situation
Questions about which tier is right for you?
Email us at hi@oxaide.com or book a call to discuss. We will give honest advice based on your situation—sometimes self-managed really is the best choice.
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