AtitOver the past few years, WhatsApp’s Business API has emerged as the best medium for enterprises to reach their customers on a large scale. It drives most growth and reshapes how organizations interact with their customers.
WhatsApp has been helping businesses reach more than 1.5 billion users and has a 98% open rate. However, the WhatsApp Business App is suitable for small businesses. It lets you send bulk messages and integrates with existing systems.
The automated response capability to texts made it an ideal choice for businesses. To help you out, we have created a step-by-step guide to apply WhatsApp business API.
Let’s dive right in!
Understanding Whatsapp Business API
What is the Whatsapp Business API?
Whatsapp business API serves as a service that enables large enterprises to integrate Whatsapp with their existing system. Using the API, business analysts can broadcast offers, send automated responses, notify users, and provide customer support on a large scale.
Enterprises with extensive messaging need to benefit highly from the Whatsapp API for business. It integrates with existing CRM, ERP, and other e-commerce software to automate the process. Unlike standard WhatsApp businesses, they can send an unlimited number of messages. Moreover, it also enables them to handle multiple customer responses at once.
Benefits of Whatsapp Business API
WhatsApp API for business offers numerous perks to businesses, and they are:
- Automated Response: The introduction of this API has enabled organizations to respond to customer queries and solve them accordingly quickly.
- Personalized Customer Interaction: A great thing about this API is that it helps you understand customer behavior and preferences. It makes way for providing personalized customer interaction.
- Unparalleled Open Rate: Whatsapp business API has become the best marketing platform. It offers an open rate of 98%, meaning almost all messages sent by enterprises are seen by customers.
- Unmatched Customer Support: This API helps in providing impressive customer support. Automated response helps solve product queries, warranty claims, and other issues.
- Cost-Effective Reach: Whatsapp business API integration lets you reach more than 2 billion customers at an affordable cost. The API services are highly cost-effective and charge you based on your usage.
- Seamless Integration: It can be integrated with CRM, ERP, and other existing systems. It helps manage messages from a centralized console and access customer insights.
Preparing to Apply for Whatsapp Business API
To apply for Whatsapp Business API, consider the following factors.
Assessing Your Eligibility
The WhatsApp API Business has been designed to cater to large enterprises and medium-sized businesses that must communicate with a large clientele.
If you need to handle thousands of customer conversations through automation, the WhatsApp API for business is ideal. Large organizations are mostly suitable for this API because it broadcasts messages in bulk and provides 24/7 support.
Gathering Necessary Information
Before you start the application process, gathering all the necessary documents and information is important.
You should arrange your business license, government permits, certificate of incorporation, tax certificate, EIN confirmation, official tax notice, and other vital documents. The verification personnel may also for customer policies, business credit reports, and bank account statements.
The Application Process
Now, let’s check out how you can apply for the Whatsapp business API:
Choosing a Whatsapp Business Solution Provider(BSP)
To start the application process, you must select a business solution provider.
A BSP is crucial as it helps navigate the complete process quickly and easily. When selecting a BSP, you should choose based on integration options, automation process, availability of new technologies, templates, and guidance resources.
Submitting Your Application
Here is a step-by-step process to submit your application through BSP:
- Step 1: Select a BSP and start using WhatsApp API Business via the BSP system.
- Step 2: Submit all the basic details to BSP, which include name, URL, industry, volume prediction, time to market, and others.
- Step 3: Forward all the details to the BSP, which will be submitted to WhatsApp for approval.
Waiting for Approval
Once you have applied, it is time to wait. Depending upon the BSP you choose, the approval can take up to a minimum of 1 week. You should thoroughly check your inbox for approval.
Setting Up Your Whatsapp Business API Account
Here, we will explain how you can configure your account and integrate it:
Configuring Your Account
First, you must create an account through Facebook Business Manager and verify it. Once the account is set, your next task is to set up a message template for sending notifications.
With the help of BSP, you can create message templates for notifications, news, updates, and customer responses. Then, you will have to submit it for approval through your BSP.
Integrating with Your Existing System
Your chosen BSP will be crucial in integrating the WhatsApp Business API integration with your existing system. They will set up a server to handle all the API requests and responses. You should first integrate the API with your CRM.
Your BSP will help the integration process by automating all customer responses and personalizing the interaction. Your next task is to integrate with your e-commerce system. It will help provide automated updates, support inquiries, and delivery notifications to customers.
Best Practices for Whatsapp Business API Use
To ensure you have properly integrated Whatsapp business API, here are some best practices you can follow:
Staying compliant
You must review Whatsapp’s policy updates regularly to stay compliant. You should monitor the quality of all the messages and adhere to all the data protection policies. Ensure you don’t violate any policy or get flagged, which can lead to an account ban.
Maximizing the API’s Potential
Updating the integration with the latest API policies is vital to maximizing the Whatsapp business API’s potential. You should get an efficient team to maintain the configuration and effectively handle the tool. This will help enhance customer interaction and operational efficiency.
Conclusion
Whatsapp business API has transformed the way organizations use Whatsapp to enhance growth and improve customer interaction. It has streamlined the communication channel and made it the best platform for product marketing.
However, to fully utilize it, you must choose the right BSP to handle the application process and integration. Alendei is a top BSP that will streamline the Whatsapp Business API approval application process. They take pride in their methodology to help organizations fully utilize the Whatsapp business API capabilities.
Review your daily communication requirements and follow our guide to start the application process. If you have suggestions regarding the application or want us to improve our guide, you can leave volume feedback in the comment section.