Here is a detailed description of WhatsApp Business app. WhatsApp has launched its new WhatsApp Business app in select markets, including Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, the U.K. & the U.S., before its planned worldwide rollout.
The app is aimed at smaller businesses, and is available for free. This is the Android only app for now, that helps companies better connect with their customers and establish an official presence on WhatsApp. Essentially, it is the WhatsApp version of a FB Page.
Previously, the company had announced the app’s arrival, and at that time company begun verifying business accounts as part of its WhatsApp Business pilot program in Sep 2017. Verified accounts got granted a green checkmark as a means of demonstrating the authenticity of their services.
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With the new app, small companies can set up their WhatsApp Business profiles by filling out information such as a business description, email address and website.
The company says people will know when they are talking to a business because these accounts will be listed as “Business Accounts.” With the passage of time, some of these accounts will become “Confirmed Accounts,” after the platform verifies the account phone number it registered with matches the business phone number.
Businesses once established on the WhatsApp network can use a series of tools provided by the app, such as smart messaging tools that provide similar technology as what you would find today in Facebook Messenger.
For instance, the app offers “quick replies” that gives fast answers to customers’ frequently asked questions; “greeting messages” introducing customers to the business; and “away messages,” that let the customers know you are busy.
Businesses can access messaging statistics such as number of messages read, and people can also send & receive messages from the desktop through WhatsApp Web.
While businesses will require using this new app to communicate with customers, for the general WhatsApp users, there is no any change. They will be able to message businesses but they can control their experience by blocking numbers, businesses, and report spam.
Additionally, businesses will be able to contact people who have provided their phone number & agreed to receive messages from the business.
Later, the Business app will be joined by an enterprise solution aiming at large businesses with a global customer base – such as airlines, e-commerce sites, & banks, WhatsApp said last fall.
Company has not announce any news regarding this solution, but in past the company said that it would charge for these enterprise tools.
The company has also indicated how critical it is to address the requirements of businesses on its service, which reaches 1.3 billion users.
Over 80% of small businesses in India and Brazil said WhatsApp helps them communicate with their customers and grow their businesses.
The WhatsApp Business is now available as a free download on Google Play only in supported markets.
The company didn’t offer an ETA on when the Business app would be rolling out to worldwide markets beyond “the coming weeks,” or when an iOS version of the app would arrive.
However, it is confirmed that company does also plan to support other platforms in the future.
