With over 2 billion members globally, WhatsApp is one of the most popular social networking networks. As a result, Mark Zuckerberg (owner) felt the necessity to launch the WhatsApp Business API. It is a business solution that provides seamless messaging app connections for vendors and buyers.
Continue reading if you want to learn more about the famous WhatsApp Business App and how to incorporate it into your CRM system. I’ll also demonstrate how to move messages from the WhatsApp Business App to a computer or another phone.
What is WhatsApp Business API?
WhatsApp’s revenue-generating API was published in 2018. There’s nothing complex about it. A WhatsApp Business API account enables big and medium-sized enterprises to rapidly connect their customers all over the globe. In other words, the software enables company owners to receive and respond to customer communications in mass. Connecting their information systems to the API system allows users to enjoy rapid, secure, and automated connections.
However, it should not be confused with the WhatsApp corporate App, which presents your profile as a corporate account. In contrast, personal profile images are used in normal or private accounts. Customers speaking with you on WhatsApp Business will be able to see your brand logo and business name even if they haven’t saved your contacts yet.
What is the difference between the WhatsApp Business App and the WhatsApp Business API?
Starting with the WhatsApp Business App, this service is designed specifically for small and medium-sized organizations. This is due to the fact that it only handles individual conversations on the iPhone or Android app. Furthermore, it does not interact with third-party systems like as CRM. On the plus side, you’ll get hands-on business experience using the simple WhatsApp UI. Simply complete the verification procedure and get the badge (green tick) to demonstrate that your services are legitimate.
On the other hand, WhatsApp Business API offers communication options to established enterprises with high message volumes. It communicates with many platforms and systems using an API (Application Programming Interface). As a result, this service can manage two or more communication sessions at the same time. It also protects chats with end-to-end encryption and enables users to automate responses using a chatbot. However, it is not free. The amount of templates or messages exchanged determines how much a conversation costs.
Why Should You Use WhatsApp Business API?
Now that you know what WhatsApp API is, let’s look at why you need it in your company. Here are some of the benefits:
- It is a trend.
When was the last time you checked your email or SMS app? Most likely not every other day. However, the same cannot be stated about WhatsApp. According to research, prospective customers prefer communicating through omnichannel solutions, notably social applications. This is particularly true among young people who would sooner answer WhatsApp messages than pick up the phone or respond to emails. So, embrace WhatsApp to broaden your reach even more.
- Brands that have been verified
As previously stated, all WhatsApp company accounts have a company profile. And, as you may be aware, adopting a distinct firm identity provides your branding with much-needed transparency. Customers trust companies that have branded logos and other data such as an email address, phone number, and location. Furthermore, in order to send messages, users must validate their WhatsApp Business accounts. This is now more akin to a verified Twitter or Facebook account, which is more trustworthy than unverified ones.
- Confidentiality and security
End-to-end encryption is a notable setting for the WhatsApp Business API account. This signifies that the account takes rigorous precautions to protect the user’s privacy and security. Consider this: customers want to contact and engage with companies via safe and secure ways. This is what end-to-end encryption provides. With the app’s two-factor authentication (2FA), you may be confident in your communication privacy.
- General and professional discussions
The ability to send mass communications to customers is a holy grail for most businesses. Businesses may use WhatsApp API to deliver many messages to multiple customers at the same time. It’s simple: after customers have accepted communications from your brand, you can give them templates outlining the next steps to begin a dialogue. However, you cannot just send messages. WhatsApp has limits about what kinds of messages you may send and how long you have to reply to customer messages (typically 24 hours). This implies that users will not get any spam or unnecessary communications.
- Integration of systems
Even the most sophisticated communication solutions risk becoming obsolete if they do not interact with corporate processes. You may use WhatsApp API to link company processes and provide a smooth and customized service. For example, you may connect your CRM system and export customer data for a live agent to see. Most crucially, all WhatsApp business data may be instantly synced to the CRM.
All the Terms You Should Know About WhatsApp Business
Now, let’s go through everything you need to know about WhatsApp Business jargon:
Account for WhatsApp Business
A WhatsApp account dedicated only to small and medium-sized enterprises. It can only work with one account at a time.
Account for WhatsApp Business API
A WhatsApp account for small to medium-sized enterprises. It can manage several accounts and bill users based on the volume of messages they send.
WhatsApp API supplier
These are systems that charge a fee for services such as reading, storing, and replying to WhatsApp Business messages. Messages may also be synced between WhatsApp and CRMs. In a nutshell, these are third-party services that provide access to the WhatsApp API.
API key for WhatsApp Business
This is critical information for setting up your WhatsApp Business account. It assists in establishing your company’s presence on WhatsApp without spending a lot on third-party solutions. In exchange, you will get unlimited access to WhatsApp chat services and customer support.
Profile for WhatsApp Business API
To protect customers from fraudulent companies and inaccurate information, a WhatsApp Business API profile must be authenticated. Simply go to “Security Center,” press “Start Verification,” and input the company information.
Contact confirmation and opt-in
WhatsApp Business rules state that firms must get customer permission before sending messages. So, a WhatsApp opt-in occurs when a user takes action and agrees to receive messages from your company. Furthermore, businesses must tell clients about what they are signing in for or the kind of communications they will get.
Messaging templates
WhatsApp Business templates are message formats that a company delivers to customers when they consent to receive alerts. This may include delivery updates, payment updates, appointment reminders, problem remedies, and much more.
Requesting a WhatsApp Business API Account
To get the full advantages of WhatsApp Business API, you must first create and validate a profile. To begin, go to Facebook company Manager and fill out the form with information such as the company name, your name, and email address. Then, go to Business Settings, choose Security Center, and confirm your company. Now, wait for Facebook to send you a confirmation message. Remember that you may meet all of the criteria and yet not get verified.
If your WhatsApp Business API account is not validated, you have a few options. To begin, ensure that your Instagram and Facebook likes or followers total at least 10,000 in order to demonstrate brand recognition. A comprehensive Wikipedia to back up your brand knowledge will also be useful. Also, invest some money on your Facebook Business Ad account.
Connect to the WhatsApp API through third-party services such as WhatsApp Partners and Business Solution Providers (BSP). This is the simplest method for obtaining WhatsApp API verification. There are plenty of WhatsApp API Solution Providers available, including Vonage and Twilio. These businesses even offer pre-configured WhatsApp API accounts.
The Best Method for Backing Up WhatsApp Business Messages
Because the WhatsApp Business app contains critical business information, you should back it up on your PC. In such situation, backup WhatsApp Business data from iPhone and Android to Mac or Windows desktops using Wondershare MobileTrans.
Individual conversations, group chats, media files, documents, and much more may be backed up. Following that, you may either restore the data to your iPhone or Android device or save it to your local folders. Not to mention that this program supports additional social applications such as WhatsApp, WeChat, Line, Viber, and Kik.
Here’s how to go about it:
Step 1: Launch Wondershare MobileTrans on your PC. Then, connect your PC to your smartphone via a USB cord.
Step 2: Next, go to Backup & Restore and choose Backup app data.
Step 3: Select WhatsApp Business from the pop-up menu and follow the on-screen steps to enable USB debugging on your phone.
Step 4: Finally, choose the kind of WhatsApp Business data to export and click Start to begin backing up WhatsApp Business data on PC. It’s that easy!
That is the distinction between the WhatsApp Business API and the WhatsApp Business App. While the former is intended for large enterprises seeking a consistent flow of bulk communications, the latter is intended for tiny startups such as online stores. Furthermore, based on the local pricing, WhatsApp Business API costs users every message or template sent. Remember to use Wondershare MobileTrans to backup your WhatsApp Business communications on PC.