The case for DM automation
Instagram has 2 billion monthly active users. For local businesses, it's often the highest-engagement marketing channel they have — and the most underused for actual sales.
The problem: managing Instagram DMs manually is time-consuming, inconsistent, and impossible to do at scale. When someone comments "how much?" on your post at 11pm, they're gone by the time you reply at 9am.
DM automation solves this. But not all DM automation tools are created equal.
ManyChat: the market leader
ManyChat is the most established DM automation tool. It's used by hundreds of thousands of businesses worldwide and has a comprehensive feature set.
What ManyChat does well:
- Reliable Instagram + Facebook DM automation
- Good template library
- Solid analytics
- Widely documented with lots of tutorials
The problems with ManyChat for local businesses:
*Price:* ManyChat Pro starts at $15/month but grows quickly. Most local businesses end up paying €79-€149/month once they need the features they actually want. Agency accounts run €300+/month.
*Setup complexity:* Building flows in ManyChat requires significant time investment. Most local businesses spend 3-5 hours setting up their first flow — and many give up before they finish.
*No AI:* ManyChat uses keyword matching. Someone says "book" and it triggers your booking flow. But real conversations don't follow scripts. Customers ask unexpected questions, and ManyChat can't handle them.
*Isolated:* ManyChat doesn't integrate with your CRM, content tools, analytics, or other business software without complex Zapier workarounds.
ELEVO Connect™: built for local businesses
ELEVO Connect™ is ELEVO's conversation automation feature, powered by Sage — an AI agent that actually understands what customers are saying.
What ELEVO Connect™ does differently:
*AI-powered responses:* Sage doesn't use keyword matching. She understands intent. "I need someone to come fix my boiler" triggers the same booking flow as "is anyone available for emergency heating work?" — because Sage understands both mean the same thing.
*2-minute setup:* Describe your business and your goals to Sage, and she builds the flow for you. No visual flow builder required.
*Full CRM integration:* Every conversation automatically creates or updates a contact in your ELEVO CRM. No Zapier. No manual data entry.
*Included in Orbit:* ELEVO Connect™ is included in the Orbit plan at €79/month — along with content generation, ROAS analysis, SEO tools, and everything else ELEVO does.
The honest verdict
If you're an enterprise business with dedicated marketing staff and complex automation needs, ManyChat is a mature, feature-rich tool worth considering.
If you're a local business who wants DM automation that works, integrates with your other tools, and doesn't require a 5-hour setup — ELEVO Connect™ is the better choice.
At €79/month all-in vs €99/month just for ManyChat, the economics are clear.