For sales and customer support teams worldwide, WhatsApp Business has emerged as an indispensable resource. However, its design, which ties it to a single phone, presents significant limitations for businesses.
This limitation results in poor integration capabilities, difficulties with compliance, and a lack of visibility. In this regard, the WhatsApp API (read our blog post: What is the WhatsApp API) stands out as a game-changer since it tackles these issues head-on.
The "silo effect" is one of the biggest shortcomings of the standard WhatsApp Business app. Teams find it difficult to stick to a clear and consistent communication plan when conversations are
tied to individual phones. Information silos can result in missed opportunities and inefficiencies.
However, companies can completely transform the way they handle customer interactions by utilising the WhatsApp API in conjunction with a centralised application. This configuration guarantees that customer interactions are no longer isolated incidents but rather a seamless and traceable customer service journey by granting staff members with the necessary permissions access to all chats.
The traditional WhatsApp Business app has zero integration capabilities, which is yet another serious drawback. Teams in charge of sales and customer support require tools that fit in perfectly with their current environments, especially CRMs.
A central app that integrates with the WhatsApp API creates a plethora of opportunities. The CRM system has the capability to log and monitor chats automatically, offering a more comprehensive view of customer interactions. This integration goes beyond CRM, too. Customers can initiate chats with businesses in a variety of ways by syncing with websites, phone systems, and forms. This enhances the customer experience and expedites communication.
Automation is not only a convenience but also a need in the digital age. In its most basic version, the WhatsApp Business app is lacking in this regard. On the other hand, the messaging ecosystem gains access to the power of automation when delivered through the WhatsApp API.
Businesses can interact with consumers immediately, even outside of regular business hours, by deploying chatbots. These chatbots are capable of responding to basic questions, gathering pertinent data, and intelligently forwarding the exchange to the right individual or group. This degree of automation boosts the general effectiveness of the sales and support teams in addition to improving response times.
Finally, it is impossible to ignore the importance of compliance and data privacy. Handling WhatsApp conversations on multiple devices is not only difficult, but it also presents a compliance challenge. Effective data management and granting customer requests for data deletion are practically unattainable with the standard WhatsApp Business app due to its decentralised architecture.
When using the WhatsApp API (coupled with a messaging solution provided by the likes of Stitch), businesses can centralise WhatsApp communications and increase their control over data. Compliance with data privacy laws and regulations depends on this control. It guarantees that client data is managed appropriately and that requests to have data deleted are fulfilled quickly and effectively.
In conclusion, the WhatsApp Business app is not the best option for sales and support teams due to its limitations in visibility, integration, automation, and compliance, even though it provides a basic means of customer communication. On the other hand, a centralised messaging solution built around the WhatsApp API offers a complete solution that tackles these issues, opening the door for more effective, legal, and customer-friendly business operations.
Stitch can help with your WhatsApp solution. Get in touch to find out more!