The Rise of WhatsApp Business API– What Enterprises Need to Know

In this article, we will understand the importance of WhatsApp business API in marketing communications. Why it’s so important these days and how it helps brands to engage with the customers. But before diving into this topic of how WhatsApp Business API can help brands, we need to understand WhatsApp first.

WhatsApp is a globally known IP-based messaging platform from Meta, approximately 2.4 billion people are using WhatsApp in their daily lives. With the help of WhatsApp, a user can do multiple activities like; text messages, images, videos, locations, voice messages, audio and video calls and much more. This platform is easy to use, and end-to-end encryption is making it more secure. 

So, now how WhatsApp Business API is different from WhatsApp. Both WhatsApp Business API and WhatsApp have the same feature but apart from sending messages in WhatsApp Business API brands can use Chatbot, Auto-Reply-like features and these kinds of unique features make it a paid version of normal WhatsApp.

Enterprises or bands applied for the WhatsApp Business API so that they can integrate with their platform or websites and increase customer engagement. With the help of WhatsApp Business API brands can always connect with their customers 24×7.

According to Gartner, by upcoming years Chatbots and other messaging platforms will become the primary customer service channels. 

Reason For The Usage Of WhatsApp Business API By The Brands

Every brand wants to connect with its customers in every possible way and wants to communicate at every stage. But it’s become very difficult when it comes to the support or services industries. The long waiting calls and limited time make customer experience very uncomfortable and its very costly solutions for brands because they need to invest in infrastructure, manpower, etc. 

The implementation of WhatsApp Business API by a brand will save time, resource and money of a brand. 

Here are some highlights points that make WhatsApp Business API useful for the brands and redefine the marketing and sale strategies for more growth.

1- Quick Reply

A brand can send quick replies to their customers with the help of ChatBot. A customer can reach the brand WhatsApp account and can raise their query, based on that input Chatbot can provide the solutions and better engagement. It saves customers time and gives them a good experience.

2- Integration

WhatsApp Business API is easily integrated with the company website, CRM and other tools which gives a seamless experience. During customer journeys WhatsApp business became a more effective channel.

It can help the brands to send the multiple notifications on the customer preferred platform like WhatsApp i.e, order confirmation, shipping and delivery notification, service renewal or appointment reminders, and so on.

3- Effective Communication

WhatsApp business API breaks the limitation of time, in normal scenarios customers can interact with the brands in a limited time period only or working hours. But after that, WhatsApp Business helps the customers. By the availability of 24×7 brands can respond to the customer queries and build a strong relationship with them.

4- Personalised Communication

A personalized communication gives more value to a customer. These personalised messages can be based on the customer behaviour, response, likes and dislikes. Live Chat, Chatbot can be used for personalised communication. WhatsApp chats are end-to-end encrypted so communication between two is always private.

5- Global Reach

WhatsApp user database is approx. 2.4 billion worldwide, it gives an opportunity to the brands to connect with the users globally and expand the business. Brands can explore more markets and regions by taking WhatsApp surveys and based on that develop a marketing strategy.

Is WhatsApp Business API For You?

Here is a big question raised for which brands WhatsApp Business API is practically useful. In today’s scenario every business wants to be ahead of the competitors and in the market every developer has some advanced tools, platform, software etc which are helping the brands grow more. But it’s not meant every solution works for everyone.

In the below points, we can figure out which scale size is ideal to use WhatsApp Business API. 

1- Business Size: WhatsApp business API is designed for medium and large scale businesses. These businesses have a broad reach of the customers. For a small scale business they can use the WhatsApp business mobile application with brand details.

2- Integration System: If brands are using some well-known business tools like CRM, Salesforce, e-commerce platform, marketing automation platform. They can integrate the WhatsApp Business API seamlessly. These integrations boost the sales and customer satisfaction level. For example, ecommerce companies, D2C

3- Volume of messages: If any brand is covering a large scale of area and audience and having a continuous interaction with the customer daily. These types of brands can implement the WhatsApp Business API.

4- Industry Specific: WhatsApp business API can be worked on industry-specific. Industries like Travel, Hotel, E-commerce, Banking, Insurance, etc. can take advantage of the WhatsApp Business API features.

Process To Opting For The WhatsApp Business API

Now, once brands fall in the category to avail the WhatsApp Business API, there are some steps which lead to start the process of WhatsApp Business implementation in the organisation.

Note that, for WhatsApp Business API brands require a new mobile number which are not associated with any WhatsApp/ WhatsApp business mobile application.

#First Step

To require WhatsApp business API brands, need to create a Facebook Business Manager. This account should be verified by Facebook and for that brand requires some documents like Company documents or establishment documents, Bank statements, utility bills for address proof. Facebook takes a week to verify the Facebook Business account.

#Second Step

Once the Facebook Business account is verified, brands need to connect a Business Service Provider or Independent Service vendor who will process the WhatsApp Business API from the Meta.

Industry-Specific Use Cases:

Here are industry-specific use cases, where we can use WhatsApp Business API;

E-commerce

• Order notification. 
• Customer support 
• Product knowledge/promotions
• Cart abandoned notification

Banking Industry

• Translational alerts 
• Personalised offers
• Customer support
• Documents sharing/E-KYC

Travel And Hotel Industry

• Booking confirmation 
• Travel alerts.
• Promotions/offers.
• Customer Assistance 

Healthcare

• Appointment reminder
• Health campaigns 
• Medical test result

Food and Beverage

• Order Confirmation/updates!
• Menu/offer promotions 
• Customer feedback
• Table reservations 
• Booking/order-related reminders

Telecommunications

• Bill notification
• Payment confirmation/reminder
• Special offers
• Customer support

Conclusion

The WhatsApp Business API is a revolutionary technology for mid and large-size companies to communicate with their customers without any barriers. With the help of this technology, brands can connect with their customers 24×7, promote the product and services, catalogs, personalized messages or offers, and quick response. 

All these features give an enhanced experience to customers. It helps brands to save money for infrastructure like manpower, systems, etc and by investing some amount brands can get a very good result and cover a large customer’s size.

Are you interested to know more about WhatsApp Business API? Do you have a verified business page? Do you want to understand how to take approval for Green Tick? Do you have more questions regarding WhatsApp Business Account.

Let’s connect and discuss. For more information, please Visit to www.enrcloud.com or write drop your query at hello@enrcloud.com

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