WhatsApp API For Business

Next time if you book a ticket and get a WhatsApp notification consisting the details for the same, don’t get surprised because that may be just the beginning of a new mode of communication used by different companies for all the bookings and reservations you would make for various purposes. 

WhatsApp is launching its first revenue generating product in India for enterprises to interact directly with their customers using the instant messaging platform. 

We have observed that many local businesses are using WhatsApp to reach out to their customers in order to keep them updated about the their different offerings. Local mess facilities including their food menu as part of their Whatsapp status or description is one of the examples. There are other many examples such as news agencies, laundry services etc.

WhatsApp started providing the business offering from September last year and BookmyShow is one such company using it since then along with Redbus. It was officially launched in January 2017 and it was WhatsApp first attempt to monetize the offerings. WhatsApp for Business APIs (application programming interface) will debut with MakeMyTrip’s customer service software provider Zendesk and Gurugram-based pharma delivery startup 1mg, which uses Zendesk in India.

Advantages For Enterprise Using WhatsApp API

• With this new tool, enterprises will be able to reach out to their customers in much more effective manner than before. This will not only help them to promote their products and services but will also help them to resolve the queries and grievances of customers with a much faster rate. 
• Now-a days when everyone is equipped with smart phones, this will help enterprises to do hassle free interaction with their customers building a more personal relation. 
• The not be mentioned factor is the huge cost, the enterprises will save by paying for only delivered messages. 
• The advantage of WhatsApp over SMS is that message delivery can be confirmed

                                                    

As far as the installation is considered, it is free of cost. But the enterprise will get charged for every delivered message. From 2019, the companies will be able to use the status feature of the WhatsApp in order to do the promotions. There are certain other catches also such as validation of message templates developed my merchants and charging extra money for the next message, if the previous message from the customer is left unresponded for 24 hours.

With 200 million monthly active users, utilizing Whatsapp for business API can turn out to be a huge success for Indian companies.