Chatbots are saving businesses valuable time and money. By 2023, chatbots will handle 40% of all customer interactions. Combine the power of chatbots with the popularity of WhatsApp, and a whole new set of opportunities emerge. So, how can you put a WhatsApp chatbot to work?
Why create a WhatsApp chatbot?
In 2021, 85% of businesses will compete on customer service alone. As such, improving the customer experience is a top priority. Businesses are learning how important is to meet customers how and when they prefer, and it's no surprise that WhatsApp is at the center of the conversation.
WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in the world. With over 2 billion monthly active users and 100 billion messages sent every day, there's no denying the messaging giant's power.
Naturally, businesses are eager to use WhatsApp to communicate with customers. While small businesses can use WhatsApp without automation, larger companies often require more. They need solutions that can help them reach their customers at scale.
With that in mind, WhatsApp released the WhatsApp Business API. This allows larger businesses to build on the standard messaging experience that WhatsApp offers. Now, you can create a WhatsApp chatbot and the use the tools you need to deliver great customer service.
Who can create a WhatsApp bot?
Not everyone has access to the WhatsApp API, which means that not everyone can create a WhatsApp chatbot. WhatsApp only works with a handful of WhatsApp Business Solution Providers (BSPs) worldwide. In fact, working with an unauthorized provider is a violation of WhatsApp’s terms of service.
At Hubtype, we’re proud to be one of the few BSPs that WhatsApp trusts. We've helped brands like Levis, Caixa Bank, Volkswagon, Michael Kors, EPSON, Guess, and other household names develop WhatsApp chatbots.
Steps to create a WhatsApp chatbot:
Step 1: Request access to the API
The first step is to request access to WhatsApp's API. Your application must go through an official BSP (like Hubtype). Fill out this form, and we will reach out to you if you are eligible to use the API.
To date, we have seen the majority of companies accepted by WhatsApp are multi-national or enterprise-level companies.
If you’re a small or medium sized business, it’s still premature to jump on board, but you can apply through Hubtype now, and if you aren’t approved immediately we will notify when the API becomes more broadly available.
Given the popularity of WhatsApp, we receive many applications from all over the world. This means it might take a while for your application to get approved, so it’s best to apply early.
In the meantime we encourage you to talk with us about how you can use chatbots on webchat and other messaging apps.
Step 2: Set up a business account
After you've been accepted through a BSP, the first step is to create a WhatsApp business account and set up a line of credit. This account will allow people to easily identify your business and find important information about your company.
Step 3: Start using our framework
As an official partner, we provide the framework for building your WhatsApp chatbot. Our customer service focused tools help you build and scale conversational messaging experiences. Our experiences go beyond basic chatbot-style offerings to support richer interactions and intelligent automation.
Hubtype also provides a CRM for handling WhatsApp messages if you choose not to connect with an existing CRM (such as Zendesk, Salesforce, Intercom, etc).
What are you waiting for? Take the first step to create a WhatsApp chabot. Apply to access the API today.