Picture this: It’s 2 PM on a busy Tuesday, and your phone is buzzing nonstop. Customer queries, order confirmations, support requests – all mixed in a chaos of notifications!
Sound familiar? If you’re running a business in India, this scenario might hit close to home. WhatsApp has become the biggest text messaging platform, but the regular app wasn’t built for modern business operations.
That’s where we come in. Learn all about this enterprise-grade solution provided by official Meta Business Partners like Celitix.
What is WhatsApp Business API / Platform?
The WhatsApp Business API / Platform is an advanced version of WhatsApp designed for businesses with large volumes of daily customer interactions.
(Note: Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, now officially calls it the WhatsApp Business Platform (WBP). Most people still search for “WhatsApp Business API,” so we use both terms interchangeably.)
Unlike the WhatsApp Business App from the App Store, the platform offers deep customisation and robust features. With it, brands can craft automated workflows with custom forms, guide customers using AI-powered Chatbots, and more!
What is WhatsApp API?
Here’s an important distinction: An API (Application Programming Interface) is a tool used by developers to connect their applications with existing systems. It’s a bridge that lets different software communicate with each other.
The WhatsApp API acts as a translator, enabling your business systems to communicate with WhatsApp’s servers.
Every business is different and requires custom solutions. WhatsApp API lets a company’s developers build their perfect flow on WhatsApp and integrate it with their apps or systems.
What is WhatsApp Business Platform?
Meanwhile, the WhatsApp Business Platform (WBP) is a user-friendly, cloud-powered dashboard. It allows multi-agent live chat support, drag-and-drop communication workflows, and Chatbots for countless industries and use cases.
WhatsApp API vs WhatsApp Business Platform
Firstly, WhatsApp Business Platform will always include the WhatsApp API. Developers use the API for technical use cases. For example, fetching an OTP from your system and sharing it on WhatsApp.
On the other hand, anyone can use the Platform to chat with customers, build workflows, add catalogues, set up chatbots, and more. It’s a slight nuance that can be useful to understand when adding WhatsApp to your stack.
10 Key Features of WhatsApp Business Platform
- Direct Promotion: The most significant use case that currently sets it apart. Brands can send direct and even personalised promotions to users in bulk without getting blocked by Meta.
- Custom Flows: Onboardings, registrations, or support; build your perfect communication workflows using forms, menus, buttons, and whatever else you need from a drag-and-drop flow builder.
- No-Code Chatbots: Serve customers 24/7, solve FAQs, share introductions, and more. Get creative with your engagement.
- Verified Profiles: Verified names, logo, website link, address, and catalogues. Essential for trustworthy promotions.
- Shared Team Inbox: Multiple agents can log in to Celitix from their respective systems and chat with their brand’s customers simultaneously, scale one-on-one support on WhatsApp.
- Label Chats: Assign chats to agents or track your conversion/sales process using chat labels. For example, label new contacts as “cold” and existing customers as “client.”
- Rich Media Support: Where the native WhatsApp features shine. Promos, flows, bots, or chats, enrich all your communication with rich media and innovative features. Show videos instead of text and convert like crazy.
- Security: End-to-end encryption means that no one but your brand and the customer can access your chats.
- Automation: Save time and money by automating your processes. For example, customers can check their balance by entering a keyword in chat.
- Integrations: Connect your CRM or other third-party apps to go big with your campaigns. Data automatically updates, so you can focus on optimisation and execution.
Benefits of WhatsApp Business API
If you’re new to this, all these features can be overwhelming. You might be wondering, “What’s the big deal?” Let us put it in concrete terms to show why WhatsApp Business Platform might be helpful for your business:
- Do More with Less: Automation via chatbots and workflows combined with all your customer inquiries in one place. This lets you focus on proactive growth, rather than stagnant reactivity.
- Delight Your Customers: Quicker response times, easier connection, and rich media content to explore, all on their favourite messaging app. What’s not to love?
- Grow Your Brand: A brand is a symbol of trust, built daily, bit by bit. With efficiency, you can deliver a consistent brand experience across all channels, thereby increasing brand loyalty and trust.
These are just the tip of the iceberg. With custom flows and a unified customer engagement dashboard, Celitix offers a revolutionary new way to skyrocket your business!
WhatsApp Business Platform: Who Is It For?
Here are some signs that your brand needs Celitix’s WhatsApp Business Platform:
- High-Volume Customer Interactions: Typically, if a brand handles 30-50 daily customer interactions or more, the WBP is practically essential.
- Serving Across Time Zones: Unresolved queries are among the biggest sources of customer dissatisfaction. Resolve issues with chatbots that operate 24/7 to manage tasks during offline hours.
- Brand Building: If a company is serious about long-term growth, it must establish a strong brand. This requires an unwavering focus on the customer experience and a commitment to building strong relationships.
- Growing Organisations: Emerging businesses need to be resourceful. For many ambitious brands, this means leveraging major channels in favor of smaller ones, or managing multiple channels from a single dashboard.
Examples: Industries & Case Studies
Here are some examples of the most successful brands on this channel:
- E-tail Brands: Order queries, shipping updates, and support. Many successful e-commerce businesses in India have made WhatsApp their primary communication channel.
- Complex Services: Consultants, healthcare providers, educational institutes, financial services – any business where customer interaction is critical and requires proper documentation.
- Local Businesses: WhatsApp’s intimacy is ideal for gaining traction with customers early in a brand’s growth cycle. Educational ventures, food-based businesses, and handicraft brands thrive with WBP.
Getting Started with WhatsApp Business Platform
Ready to explore WhatsApp Business API for your business? You have two immediate options:
Option 1: Explore Our WhatsApp Solutions
Visit our WhatsApp Business API service page to understand how Celitix can help implement and optimize WhatsApp for your specific business needs. We specialize in assisting Indian businesses navigate the technical complexities while focusing on their core operations.
Option 2: Understand the Requirements
Check out our comprehensive WhatsApp Business API setup guide that covers all required documents, approval processes, timeline expectations, and cost considerations.
The guide will help you plan properly before starting the implementation journey. Both resources will give you a clear picture of what’s involved in making WhatsApp Business API work for your business.
Conclusion
WhatsApp Business Platform is an enterprise-grade solution offered by Meta. Yet, Meta only provides the WhatsApp API. Using the API, brands must work with developers to build their necessary solutions.
Therefore, it’s generally better to partner with one of Meta’s official Business Solution Providers (BSPs), like Celitix, and use their tech solutions to grow your business.
There’s no shortage of BSPs, Business Partners, and Tech Partners. Just look at Wati or AISensy, two leading platforms that specialise in WhatsApp Marketing.
Celitix, on the other hand, is a unique, omnichannel platform that offers various direct marketing channels, including SMS, RCS, and voice calling solutions, all in a single dashboard.
FAQs for WhatsApp Business API/Platform
Q1. How much does WhatsApp Business API cost?
Platform costs depend on your provider, plus the number of conversations initiated or messages sent (₹0.30-2.00 per message). Most businesses currently spend around ₹5,000 to ₹ 25,000 per month.
Q2. How long does it take to get started?
The complete setup process typically takes 1-2 weeks from application to go-live. But it can take a lot less, depending on what you have ready.
Learn more with our complete WBP setup guide →
Q3. What do I need to get started?
You’ll need business registration documents, a GST certificate, and a dedicated phone number that hasn’t been used with WhatsApp before.
Learn more with our complete WBP setup guide →
Q4. Can I use my existing WhatsApp number?
No, you need a fresh phone number that hasn’t been registered with any WhatsApp service previously. This is due to certain technical limitations.
Q5. Do I need technical knowledge to use the WhatsApp Business Platform?
Nope. Designed for business owners, Celitix is easy to use and intuitive. You need technical expertise to build custom solutions with the WhatsApp API. Anyone can set up their profile, chat with customers, and more.
Q6. What’s the difference between WhatsApp Business App and Platform?
The App is free but limited, while the Platform is paid but offers powerful features like automation and multi-agent support.
Read our detailed comparison →
Q7. Can small businesses use the WhatsApp Business Platform?
Yes, if you handle 30+ daily conversations or need advanced automation features. Otherwise, the free WhatsApp Business App might be sufficient.
See which option fits your business →
