WhatsApp had approximately 2.78 billion active users worldwide up to June 2023. It is crucial for businesses to adapt these new messaging platforms for customer engagement, sales and marketing, replacing the traditional email and SMS.
In 2022, Meta announced their new WhatsApp Business Cloud API to worldwide enterprises, the new API would allow business owners to directly customize and develop various business functions on WhatsApp according to their own business needs.
As we’re entering 2024, users must be able to diligently deploy their WhatsAppCloud API system to connect to thousands of their customers and their service personnel or "chat robot" (BOT) for program assistance.
The WhatsApp Business Cloud API can be confused for its well-known and loved counterpart, the WhatsApp Business API (also known as on-premise API/on-premise API), as they both have instant messaging and other functions specially designed for medium and large enterprises such as:
The biggest difference between the two accounts is where the servers are located.
Before Meta launches WhatsApp Business Cloud API, users could only purchase the Business Cloud Account from WhatsApp Business Solution Providers that provided the API, and the servers of this solution were all stored in the provider's data center. With the launch of the novel WhatsApp Business Cloud API, its servers will not be located in Meta's American and European data centers.
Currently, there are two main ways to apply for a WhatsAppBusiness Cloud API. Users can register an account and develop software on the Meta for Developers platform, or register with an Official Meta Technology Partner such as imBee, or a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP) such as 360dialog and Twilio etc.
Comparing the Application Method for WhatsApp Cloud API between the Meta for Developers Platform and a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider:
Since WhatsApp API does not have a user interface, users need to obtain individual instant messaging related services through WhatsApp Business Solution Providers. Users can purchase services with tools or functions such as the Omnichannel Inbox, Marketing Campaigns, Data Governance, or by connecting to applications and third-party API platforms.
1. They possess professional WhatsApp Business application knowledge and provide solutions suitable for various industries
imBee has an extensive background in providing professional customer service, solving industry specific pain points and delivering WhatsApp Business solutions to over 200 companies from wide range of industries, including financial services, real estate, healthcare and logistics industries.
2. Immediate and Superb Customer Service
imBee is equipped with the professional knowledge of using WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Business Cloud API to its full advantage to help answer intricate customers' concerns. imBee also helps manage the WhatsApp accounts for users who have purchased the Enterprise Solution Plan by providing enterprise customer service technical support (Monday to Sunday from 9 am to evening).
On the other hand, the customer service support on the Meta for Developers Platform is very limited as it only provides resources such as manuals, guidelines and forums, and does not provide inquiry support for individual customer problems.
If users directly connect their WhatsApp Business Cloud API to the Meta for Developers Platform, the user only have to pay for WhatsAppConversation charges. Which is based on a 24-hour customer service window, and divided into two categories: business-initiated conversations and user-initiated conversations.
The conversation rates vary in different country and area. WhatsApp offers businesses 1,000 free user-initiated conversations each month starting June 2023. You can download the rate card corresponds to your WhatsApp Business Account’s currency.
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