ChatGPT can help a business write, plan, analyse and answer faster. For a team, the ChatGPT Business plan (formerly Team) adds an admin console and does not train on your business data by default. For customer-facing jobs, such as answering enquiries on your website or WhatsApp, you need an assistant connected to your own information and channels, not a staff member pasting questions into ChatGPT.
ChatGPT plans compared
Plans and prices as listed in October 2026 (US dollars) (IntuitionLabs, updated October 2026):
| Plan | Price | Best for | Your data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Trying it out | May be used for training unless you opt out |
| Go | About $8 per month | Light individual use | Personal plan |
| Plus | About $20 per month | One person using it daily | May be used for training unless you opt out |
| Business | $25 per user monthly, or $20 billed yearly; minimum 2 users | Teams | Not used for training by default; admin controls |
| Enterprise | Custom | Large organisations | Not used for training; advanced security |
Prices change often, so confirm on OpenAI's website. Payment is by an international-enabled card.
10 practical uses
1. Reply drafts
"Write a polite reply to this customer who says the delivery was late. Offer a free delivery on the next order. Keep it under 60 words."
2. Social media captions
"Write three Facebook captions in Sinhala and English for our new batik collection, with a call to order on WhatsApp."
3. Product and service descriptions
"Turn these notes about our deluxe room into a description for our website, 80 words, warm and specific."
4. Quotes and proposals
Paste your price list and the customer's request, and ask for a clear quote layout. Always check the numbers.
5. Summarising documents
Summarise a long supplier contract or tender into the key dates, costs and obligations.
6. Spreadsheet help
Ask for Excel or Google Sheets formulas, or upload a sales export and ask which products grew this month.
7. Job adverts and interview questions
Draft a job post and ten interview questions for a front office role.
8. Training material
Turn your standard procedures into checklists and short quizzes for new staff.
9. Translation
Draft translations between English, Sinhala and Tamil, then have a fluent speaker check them.
10. Planning
"Create a 4-week content plan for a dental clinic in Kandy, three posts a week."
Where ChatGPT is not enough
- Answering customers 24/7: customers will not open ChatGPT to ask about your prices. They message your website or WhatsApp.
- Using your live data: stock, bookings, prices and order status live in your systems.
- Consistency and control: a business assistant must follow your rules, stay on topic and hand over to a person when needed.
That is where a custom AI assistant or automation comes in. Our guide to AI for small business in Sri Lanka lists more ideas.
How to write prompts that work
- Give a role: "You are a customer service writer for a hotel in Galle."
- Give context: paste the facts it should use, like your prices and policies.
- Say the format: length, tone, language, bullet points or a table.
- Give an example of a reply you like.
- Ask for options and pick the best, then edit it yourself.
Rules for using AI safely at work
- Check every fact, price and number before sending. AI can be confidently wrong.
- Do not paste passwords, card numbers, NIC numbers or customer records.
- Tell customers when they are talking to an AI assistant.
- Keep a person responsible for anything sent to customers.
- Write down which tasks staff may use AI for.
| Task | ChatGPT on its own | Custom business assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Drafting posts and emails | Good | Good |
| Answering customers on WhatsApp at night | Not possible | Yes |
| Using live prices, stock or bookings | Only if you paste them in | Connected to your data |
| Staying on topic and following your rules | Depends on the user | Built in |
| Handing over to staff | No | Yes |
How Halcent can help
Halcent builds AI assistants that work inside your business: on your website and WhatsApp, trained on your services and prices, replying in English and Sinhala, staying on topic and handing chats to your team. For internal work, our 14-Day AI Pilot automates one process with a written target.
Frequently asked questions
Is ChatGPT available in Sri Lanka?
Yes. Individuals and businesses in Sri Lanka can use ChatGPT and pay for plans with an internationally enabled card.
Is ChatGPT safe for business data?
Business and Enterprise plans do not train on your business data by default. On personal plans, avoid sharing customer data and check the data controls in settings.
Can ChatGPT answer my customers on WhatsApp?
Not by itself. You need an AI assistant connected to the WhatsApp Business Platform and to your business information, with rules and human hand-over.