For medium and large businesses, there are two options to bring their business on WhatsApp: WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Business API. But before moving forward with these two, let’s understand why businesses found a need to come on WhatsApp.
WhatsApp is the most popular and widely used messaging app with a huge user base of 2 billion (active users) worldwide. In India, it’s over 340 million. The data alone is enough to justify the need and presence of businesses on WhatsApp, but there are other reasons as well from a business perspective.
Getting access to WhatsApp Business App is not really a task. It is the same as WhatsApp App on our phones but made specifically for businesses. You just need to download the app from Play Store or App Store and it’s done. Whereas, getting access to WhatsApp Business API is not such an easy task. There is a whole process to it. We will be covering that as well but first, let us see how these two differ and what’s the best suited to your business according to your use case.
WhatsApp Business API vs WhatsApp Business App
There are many differences between these two but let’s differentiate them in broadly 4 categories.
1. Access
Getting access to WhatsApp Business App is really easy. Just download it like any other app from play store or app store and start using it. Anyone can get access to it even the person who doesn’t own any business.
As far as WhatsApp Business API is concerned, you need to request API access from WhatsApp. But, you can not contact them directly. WhatsApp has certain Business Service Providers, popularly known as BSPs. These BSPs are in charge of providing API access to businesses. Hence, you need to contact these third party vendors (BSPs) like Twilio, MessageBird, Karix, etc for the API access and then creating flows around it.
2. Verification
For WhatsApp Business App, verification is a simple process. You register a number on the App and it gets verified through an OTP that is being sent to your registered Mobile Number (similar to all other general apps).
For WhatsApp Business API, there is an entire process to it. The verification process takes about 7 to 12 days if you apply through any BSP. There are many features and attributes that you get when you have a verified API. Hence, the entire verification process is very strict. It is done so that any business doesn’t misuse the power of API.
If you feel that the verification process is a bit complicated and you aren’t sure if your business is eligible to apply for the WhatsApp Business API or not, don’t worry. Click here and we will be helping you get the WhatsApp Business API for your business.
3. Automation
In WhatsApp Business App, there is no such automation. Customer queries are solved manually. There is just one automated message that you can set up which is the welcome or introductory message which the customer gets when you are not online. Rest all is done manually.
With WhatsApp Business API, you get the liberty to automated many things. You can install DialogFlow chatbots on WhatsApp who will be solving the customer queries automatically without any human assistance. You can send automated notifications to the customer according to their actions such as payment done, ticket receipt, etc. In short, your WhatsApp Automation is all set. All this you can do via API using Ai Sensy platform.
Also, in case you need to make some changes in the chatbot then just make the change in the DialogFlow chatbot and it will be incorporated in the WhatsApp chatbot as well very seamlessly in AiSensy platform.
4. Commercials
Using WhatsApp Business App is free. You don’t need to pay anything to WhatsApp or any third party vendor.
In the case of WhatsApp Business API, there is the pricing for each message that you will be sending. Moreover, many BSPs charges for applying WhatsApp Business API for your business as well. The price differs from vendor to vendor. But you don’t need to worry. We’ll help you get the API for completely FREE.
Click here and get started with the application process of WhatsApp Business API for completely FREE.
What is this API?
Facebook launched WhatsApp Business API in August 2018 with a vision for the organisations to scale their business and reach out to users in a much better manner on WhatsApp itself. The API (Application Programming Interface) allows businesses to send and receive n number of messages from their customers and interact with them in an automated manner using WhatsApp Chatbots. These WhatsApp Chatbots can be created in Dialogflow and is seamlessly integrated with AiSensy.
With WhatsApp Business API, you don’t get any front-end interface. Businesses have to integrate the API endpoint to the dashboard or customer communication software provided by any third party vendor like Twilio, AiSensy, etc. Now, there are different features and attributes you get with different vendors.
The chatbots that you can install on WhatsApp are similar to Web Chatbots provided by vendor such as Triny
Hence, the pricing also differs accordingly with the features and attributes provided by these vendors. But there is one thing that is common for every user and service provider i.e. the messaging terms.
There are two messaging terms that are given by Facebook itself and are industry-wide accepted. These are “Session Messages” and “Template Messages“.
Session Messages
These are the messages sent or received in any conversation with the user in response to the message initiated by the user. The entire cycle of communication starts from the user-initiated message and lasts for 24 hours from the latest message sent by the user. Once this 24 hours window is closed, the business can not send any kind of session message to the user since the user is not active now. In-active users can be reached out via Template Messages only.
Template Messages
All these template messages have to be approved by the WhatsApp itself. The businesses need to send all these message templates to WhatsApp and if it gets approved, the business can use that to notify or reach out to their users. Usually, WhatsApp only rejects the straight outright promotional messages. There are 11 kinds of WhatsApp Template Messages that can be used such as transactional, account update, ticket update, etc.
In a nutshell, the business has got the best channel to get connected with their customers 24×7.
Be the early adopters by bringing your Business on WhatsApp and leave your competition behind.
To get a complete demo on how the WhatsApp Business API is beneficial for your business to grow, book a demo here.
