What is the WhatsApp API?
WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in the world. WhatsApp Business App has seen tremendous success among small enterprises. However, this product was unable to meet the needs of larger enterprises in terms of handling a large customer base and automation. WhatsApp Business API was announced in 2019 and later renamed WhatsApp Business Platform.
WhatsApp Business App
• If you own a small e-commerce or local retail business, you may download the WhatsApp Business App for free from the Apple Store or Android Store and use it to connect with your clients.
· Here’s what it adds to the features of the separate WhatsApp Messenger apps:
• Your brand name, working hours, website, email address, physical address, and description are all included in your business profile. It will assist visitors to learn about your company and find alternative ways to contact you.
• Welcome message: Say hello to new customers automatically and make them feel welcomed and appreciated when they first message you.
• Quick responses: If your clients frequently ask the same questions, you can alleviate the typing strain by saving answers to use when needed.
• Conversation labels: If you’re contacting numerous clients, labels might assist you in segmenting them depending on their buyer journey or otherwise.
• Catalogue and cart: You can manually upload your product catalog, complete with images showcasing the features of your product and other details. People can explore the catalog, add goods to their shopping carts, and place orders by sending a message.
• Broadcast messages: rather than sending individual advertising messages, you can send a broadcast message to 256 potential clients on your contact list. It operates similarly to the BCC email feature in that users will not learn about each other within the same broadcast.
· Although WhatsApp Business was a big improvement over the WhatsApp App, larger enterprises with a vast client base required much more to automate the customer connection through connectors with chatbots, CRMs, and e-commerce platforms! So, let’s see what distinctions there are!
The difference between the WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp API
WhatsApp API is the most advanced version of the WhatsApp Business program, which is probably why you must pay to use it. It is intended for medium and big enterprises looking to improve customer service and reach.
On top of the features of the business app, here’s what this platform offers:
• Multiple users: Unlike the business app, the WhatsApp API allows for multiple logins, so various team members can log in and connect with consumers at the same time.
• Chatbot: The WhatsApp API supports chatbot integration, allowing for a completely self-service experience.
• Integration: This is the most important feature that everyone expects: an open, integrated system that connects all corporate software and WhatsApp! The integration allows you to connect to CRMs, shipping systems, banking systems, and many more systems.
• Storefront: By linking your e-commerce platform to Meta e-commerce manager and assigning it to your WhatsApp account, you may display your website catalog on WhatsApp. The catalog will be automatically updated and handled.
Why do you need the WhatsApp Business API?
Sometimes we are unaware of our requirements simply because we have learned to live in a certain way. The same is true in business! You may be unaware of your store’s requirements because you do not know the solution!
The following checklist will help you decide whether you need a WhatsApp API:
• Your consumer base uses WhatsApp to communicate with loved ones and with enterprises.
• You want all members of your customer support team to be able to work on the same WhatsApp number at the same time.
• Due to low open rates and spam reports, you wish to replace email automation and SMS services.
• You want to cut wait times and solve the issue of customers leaving due to a lack of immediate information.
• You want to expand your consumer base and generate growth.
Benefits of the WhatsApp Business API
WhatsApp, with over 2 billion active users, is certain to generate revenue for your company. If you use it correctly and fully utilize all its functions, you can gain the following advantages:
Customer satisfaction
Handling unending client inquiries is one of the most important difficulties you must encounter. Customers frequently complain about long wait times, uncooperative customer support representatives, and other issues. Although there is no perfect solution, the WhatsApp Business Platform can help to reduce customer complaints.
Two platform features are expected to increase customer happiness. For starters, chatbots can respond to clients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Because of autorotation, customers with more complicated questions can simply reach out to a human agent. Second, because numerous users are behind the screens, customers do not have to wait in long lines while listening to repulsive and annoying music.
Increased sales
WhatsApp is the most direct communication channel. It has a high rate of open as well as a high rate of conversion. Do you consider the reasons?
You can only contact those who have opted in to receive your messages. These communications are tailored to the customer. You will pay for the service, but you will receive considerable leads because your clients have already expressed interest in your product or service.
Because you can target your campaigns based on the data collected by your chatbots, your success rates will be high.
WhatsApp is inexpensive. In comparison to other channels, Telco, the worldwide telecoms equipment company, revealed that 44% of talks result in purchases.
Cost reduction
Chatbots can answer up to 30% of consumer questions and concerns. As a result, you will be able to save money on many human agents.
Otherwise, you will boost efficiency while also improving services for various consumers.
Finserv reported 5X lower acquisition expenses and -35% lower call center costs than other channels.
The promises must be enticing, don’t you think? So, let’s look at how you may use the platform to develop your business and increase your revenue.
Use Cases of the WhatsApp Business API
WhatsApp Business API is the real turnaround! Why? Let’s see!
The following are examples of use cases made available by the wonderful new features: Continue reading to understand how to use this platform in real-world applications.
Customer service
Two features will allow you to provide state-of-the-art customer service and win your customers’ trust and loyalty:
• Chatbots: Guided chatbots can help you nurture your relationships with prospects and customers by providing rapid answers to FAQs as well as greeting and away messages. For a fully automated journey, chatbots will also feature menus and submenus. The customer must select a button and proceed along the journey.
• Multiple agents: The agent console is a programmable interface that allows you to structure your agents’ interactions with customers and handle manual and automated transactions. Your clients’ inquiries will be resolved more effectively and on time thanks to the agent console and numerous user logins.
• Multiple users can handle customer conversations according to their skills and specialties. As the admin, you can control access to the conversations and assignment limits.
E-commerce
People are overwhelmed due to roaming between websites and apps back and forth. You can make your customers happy and pave the way for a convenient shopping journey.
• Storefront: The WhatsApp catalog and cart features marked the start of a full-fledged e-commerce experience for your customers. No more hopping between platforms to order a single item! In Facebook Manager, you must establish a catalog and link it to your WhatsApp account. Then, on your conversational platform account, enable the catalog feature. With a single click in the message box, you may send the catalog to your customers. Customers will shop directly from WhatsApp after carefully inspecting each product for high-quality images and attributes. They can add items to their cart and pay via a payment gateway. Native payment methods are now being implemented in Brazil and India and will soon be available throughout the rest of the world.
• Order status notifications: To keep your customers satisfied, you can use marketing automation systems to send them regular updates on their orders. Giving consumers information at each point of the order experience will likely increase their trust in your brand.
• E-commerce notifications: One approach to staying in touch with customers and potential leads is through notifications. There are ten different types of notifications available:
• These notifications will alert customers to essential updates and remind them whenever they forget about a service. Imagine the ROI you will get from such a sophisticated and high-quality service!
Marketing campaigns
Marketing has long been a source of frustration for firms dealing with an influx of channels, spam reports, and overburdened audiences.
The new solution is WhatsApp. Because 75% of studied individuals prefer messaging with businesses on WhatsApp, it has the potential for increased open rates and lead acquisition.
• Database expansion: Chatbots would intuitively collect user data. As a result, you will quickly collect and build a sizable and qualified customer database. There are also several entrance points via which you can send individuals to WhatsApp and acquire their contact information. This will be useful in maintaining WhatsApp’s terms of service and account quality.
• Marketing campaigns: Once you meet the requirements, you can launch an infinite number of marketing campaigns using the WhatsApp business platform. Marketing initiatives can be tailored to specific demographics. All you have to do is classify, filter, and group the data. During important occasions and holidays, you can send marketing messages.
• Marketing communications that are triggered by client activities help to keep the dialogue going. A welcome series can pique the interest and attention of new contacts. Cart abandonment alerts are a method of reminding and re-engaging clients. Back-in-stock, cross-sell and upsell messaging also aid in client retention.
• Using the WhatsApp Business Platform and customized marketing campaigns led to ten times higher ROI during one month of the campaign.
How to get started with the WhatsApp API
I feel the WhatsApp Business Platform is worthwhile to investigate. If you’ve read this far, you’re undoubtedly thinking about using its services and possibilities. Allow us to walk you through the steps of how this works. Relax; it’s simple. Take a sip of your drink and carefully review the steps; you’ll be done in no time!
Select your business messaging solution.
The following is the checklist you must ensure the solution meets all of its clauses:
An agent console: To organize your clients’ interactions with your agents, your solution must have an agent console. It is also important to provide routing to various teams and automatic agent assignment. It must be offered as a desktop application as well as a mobile app. Outside of the workplace, the mobile app will be useful for rapid and urgent encounters.
• Chatbot builder: The solution must include a chatbot builder so that you can design your chatbot with the features you want without having to back and forth about the requirements.
• Integrations: The solution must integrate with several systems, primarily e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento.
• Campaigns: The solution must provide the ability to send marketing campaigns, as well as a backend framework for creating and managing them.
• Contacts: As needed, the conversation management system must handle, store, and export contacts. Integrating with CRM systems will make a significant difference.
• Information: The ideal solution should include detailed information on conversation statistics, active customers, average resolution time, satisfaction, subject reports, and marketing campaign results.
• Support: It must assist the route. Support should at the very least address the fundamentals of marketing using the WhatsApp API, as well as how to create an account in the first place.
Create a Facebook business manager.
Chances are that you already have a Facebook business manager if you are a medium or large company owner. Yet, you can easily create one.
• Set up a WhatsApp Business account and verify your phone number.
• Make a Meta app.
• Include the WhatsApp product.
• Connect it to your Facebook business manager.
• Make the WhatsApp business account number active.
• Make a business profile, including the display name, time zone, business type, and description.
• Enter your phone number.
• Confirm the number via phone text or call.
• Include a payment method provided by the business manager.
You are ready to use the solution right away. However, if you want to message many people daily, you must authenticate your Facebook manager.
Verify the Facebook manager.
Initially, verifying your Facebook business manager may be optional. However, to grow your marketing efforts, you must verify it. You can only send 250 business-initiated communications each day without verification.
Obtain the green badge.
You are now prepared to contact your potential customer. Applying for the green badge is one last step you may take to ensure optimal use of the WhatsApp Business Platform.
Maintain a good record and grade before applying for a green badge. It aids in the development of a reputation and can serve as the equivalent of a brand.
For More Info: https://www.karix.com/products/whatsapp-business-api/
