Latest Announcements on WhatsApp Business API | Wati https://www.wati.io/blog/category/announcement/ Thu, 10 Oct 2024 07:18:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://www.wati.io/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cropped-Favicon-512px-32x32.png Latest Announcements on WhatsApp Business API | Wati https://www.wati.io/blog/category/announcement/ 32 32 Introducing Instagram DM automations on Wati https://www.wati.io/blog/instagram-automation/ https://www.wati.io/blog/instagram-automation/#respond Thu, 10 Oct 2024 03:30:00 +0000 https://www.wati.io/?p=48605 Instagram lately has become a lot more than a social media app. Businesses have seen incredible growth on the platform in the past few years – which has given rise to one big problem – chaotic Instagram DMs! If you are a business selling on Instagram, you’d know how painful it can be to miss …

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Instagram lately has become a lot more than a social media app. Businesses have seen incredible growth on the platform in the past few years – which has given rise to one big problem – chaotic Instagram DMs! If you are a business selling on Instagram, you’d know how painful it can be to miss a purchase enquiry or to deal with a frustrated customer because you forgot to reply to them.   

This is why, we now introduce you to Instagram on Wati – an easy way for you to leverage automations to organize your Instagram DMs, collect leads, & stay connected with your customers 24*7. 

Here’s how Instagram DM automations by Wati makes your life easy:

1. One platform to manage WhatsApp & Instagram conversations

You’re likely to miss conversations often when juggling between two platforms. Wati gives you one dashboard to see a unified  view of Instagram DMs & WhatsApp conversations in the same place & respond to enquiries on both apps seamlessly.

2. Organize DMs with easy conversation filters, tags & more 

Enjoy the benefits of Wati’s Team Inbox to manage your conversations with ease

  • Route chats to relevant teams or members as needed
  • Add notes to conversations for seamless internal communication
  • Track chat status & stay on top of your conversations
  • Add tags to group DMs with similar themes or segments 

3. Build your Instagram contact list & connect with customers directly on WhatsApp

Leverage our AI-bots to automatically capture phone numbers shared in your DMs, add it to a user profile & build your Instagram contact list on Wati. Best part – you can now get in touch with these customers via WhatsApp broadcast campaigns without relying on any algorithm. And if you don’t know it already – WhatsApp has an open rate of up to 98% – that’s right!   

4. Reduce response time with automated welcome and out-of-office messages / workflows

Greet users with welcome messages or out-of-office (OOO) replies automatically whenever a customer reaches out. Use rich media like videos and images for engaging interactions.

Send different messages for new customers vs existing customers when they reach out. Make existing customers feel special with exclusive offers, and promotions when they reach out.

Set up out-of-office messages to respond immediately & stay connected with your customers 24*7, even during the non-working hours.

5. One customer, one view

Same customer reaching out to you on multiple platforms? Get the complete context of a customer’s interaction with your brand across Instagram & WhatsApp in one click, so you can respond faster and provide a better experience for your customers. 

6. Instagram chatbot

Trigger workflows based on specific keyword mentions. Respond with rich media, capture customer information & add it to Google Sheets, or auto-assign DMs to relevant teams or members.

Here’s why our customers love this new launch:

Wati made it extremely easy for us to manage our WhatsApp and Instagram DM in the same place. This helps us keep track of all our messages and connect with customers even when we are offline. – Menaka Bhandary, Founder – Blown Studio

Instagram Automation on Wati is making it easier for our team to handle messages from different channels all in one spot. This has boosted our productivity and efficiency. Plus, by responding to customers faster, we’ve noticed improvement in their overall satisfaction! – Sandheep Kumar, CEO – Anveshana Clothing


How to Link Your Instagram Account to Wati

Note that you must have an Instagram Business account to get started. If you’re a Wati customer, you can connect your Instagram Business account to Wati easily by following the steps given below:

Step 1 – Connect Your Instagram Business Account to a Facebook Page

Your Instagram professional account must be linked to a Facebook Page. To do this:

  • Go to your Instagram profile
  • Select Edit Profile
  • Under Public Business Information, select Page
  • Choose to either Create a Facebook Page or Connect an Existing Page.

Step 2 – Enable Access to Messages on Instagram

To allow Wati to access your Instagram DMs, please enable access by following the given instructions:

  • Open your profile in the Instagram mobile app
  • Tap the hamburger menu icon (☰) in the top right corner
  • Select the ‘Settings and Privacy’ option
  • Scroll down and select Messages and Story Replies
  • Tap on Message Controls
  • Enable Access to Messages under Connected Tools

Step 3 – Setting Up Instagram in Wati

Once you have completed the above steps, follow these instructions to set up your Instagram account in Wati:

  • Log in to your Wati account and click on the user icon in the top right corner.
  • Select the Channel Status button.
  • Click on the Instagram tab located in the top left.
  • Scroll down to select ‘Get Started’ and follow the instructions on the page to complete the embedded sign-up process to connect your Instagram account.
  • Once connected, you will receive a success message on Wati.
  • Navigate to the Team Inbox and select the Instagram tab. Any direct messages sent to your Instagram page after the connection will appear here.

Interested in getting started with Wati? Click here

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Wati Features in Forbes Asia 100 to Watch 2024! https://www.wati.io/blog/wati-features-in-forbes-asia-100-to-watch/ https://www.wati.io/blog/wati-features-in-forbes-asia-100-to-watch/#respond Mon, 02 Sep 2024 13:13:51 +0000 https://www.wati.io/?p=48354 Hey there, Wati family! We’ve got some exciting news that we just can’t keep to ourselves any longer. Drum roll, please… 🥁 Wati has been named one of the 100 businesses to watch in Asia by Forbes! 🏆 That’s right, we’ve made it to the prestigious Forbes Asia 100 to Watch 2024 list, and we …

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Hey there, Wati family! We’ve got some exciting news that we just can’t keep to ourselves any longer. Drum roll, please… 🥁

Wati has been named one of the 100 businesses to watch in Asia by Forbes! 🏆

That’s right, we’ve made it to the prestigious Forbes Asia 100 to Watch 2024 list, and we couldn’t be more thrilled!

What’s the Forbes Asia 100 to Watch?

Forbes Asia 100 to Watch is an annual list that showcases small companies and startups in the Asia-Pacific region that have caught the eye of investors. These are the movers and shakers, the innovators and disruptors who are making waves in their industries.

This year’s list features companies from 16 countries and territories, operating across 10 different industries. From Finance and manufacturing to enterprise technology and robotics, these companies are at the forefront of innovation, pushing boundaries and redefining what’s possible.

Wati in the Spotlight

We’re proud to share that Wati has been recognized in the Enterprise Technology & Robotics category. 

Here’s a quick snapshot of what Forbes had to say about us:

  • Founded: 2020
  • CEO: Ken Yeung
  • Headquarters: Hong Kong
  • Main Operations: India, Malaysia and Indonesia

Forbes highlighted our mission: helping businesses better engage with their customers through WhatsApp. They noted our customer relationship management tools built on WhatsApp’s business platform, including our popular shared inboxes feature.

Why Wati?

You might be wondering, “What made Wati stand out?” Well, let us tell you!

  1. Innovation at Our Core: Our WhatsApp API solutions have been revolutionizing how businesses communicate with their customers. We’re not just following trends; we’re setting them!
  2. Rapid Growth: Founded in 2020, we’ve shown incredible growth in a short time. Our journey is proof that with the right idea and execution, success can come quickly.
  3. Investor Confidence: In 2022, we raised a whopping $23 million in our Series B funding round. This round was led by Tiger Global, with participation from heavy-hitters like Sequoia Capital India & Southeast Asia (now Peak XV), DST Global Partners, and e-commerce giant Shopify. Talk about a vote of confidence!
  4. Global Reach, Local Focus: While we’re headquartered in Hong Kong, our main operations in India, Malaysia,Indonesia, Brazil, and LATAM show our commitment to serving diverse markets and understanding local needs.
  5. Customer-Centric Approach: At the heart of our success is you – our customers. Your feedback, your trust, and your support have been instrumental in getting us where we are today.

What This Means for You

Being recognized by Forbes is not just a feather in our cap; it’s a win for our entire community. Here’s what it means for you:

  • Validation: You’re partnering with a company that’s recognized as a leader in its field.
  • Innovation: Expect even more cutting-edge features and solutions as we continue to push the envelope.
  • Growth: As we grow, so do the opportunities for your business to thrive using our platform.
  • Global Perspective: Benefit from our international experience and localized approach.

Looking Ahead

While we’re basking in the glow of this recognition, we’re not resting on our laurels. This is just the beginning! We’re more motivated than ever to continue innovating, growing, and providing you with the best WhatsApp API solutions out there.

We couldn’t have achieved this without you – our amazing customers, partners, and supporters. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of the Wati journey. 💚

Here’s to the future – it’s looking brighter than ever!

Ready to see what all the fuss is about? If you’re not already using Wati, why not give us a try? Let’s chat about how we can help your business grow!

Discover the exciting details of Wati's Series B funding round, highlighting their growth, innovation, and future plans. Stay updated with Wati.io's latest milestones.

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Introducing Wati Academy https://www.wati.io/blog/introducing-wati-academy/ https://www.wati.io/blog/introducing-wati-academy/#respond Thu, 14 Dec 2023 04:30:00 +0000 https://www.wati.io/?p=45887 Wati Academy is here to help you master the art of business messaging for FREE!

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Hello All, 

We’re beyond excited to unveil an initiative that has been in the works for quite some time – Wati Academy! 🎉

At Wati, we understand the pivotal role that effective communication plays in the success of any business. We’ve poured our hearts and expertise into creating a unique platform that empowers you to harness the full potential of WhatsApp for business. And the best part is It’s absolutely free!

Wati WhatsApp Course

Why Wati Academy?

Learning should be more than just a task – an enjoyable and engaging journey! Our courses are designed to bring the art of business messaging to life through vibrant and interactive sessions.

WhatsApp course by Wati

Ever felt lost in a sea of information, unsure of where to start or how to progress? With Wati Academy, there’s no room for guesswork. We’ve crafted a comprehensive step-by-step guide in each lesson, ensuring you receive detailed instructions that make every concept easy to grasp. 

Life can be a whirlwind, and we understand that. That’s why we offer the flexibility you need with our self-paced online courses. No more rushing through lessons or trying to fit learning into a hectic schedule. With Wati Academy, you’re in control. Learn at your own pace and tailor your education to a time that suits you best.

What’s better than acquiring new skills? Showcasing them with pride! At Wati Academy, we celebrate your accomplishments by providing a certification upon completing the course. 

This certification signifies your dedication and gives you a valuable edge in the ever-evolving digital landscape. Let the world recognise your expertise in business messaging!

Who Should Enroll?

Our doors are wide open for everyone with a passion for mastering the art of business messaging through WhatsApp:

Entrepreneurs: Ready to elevate your business communication game? Wati Academy is tailored to empower you with the skills to navigate the digital landscape confidently.

Business Professionals: Deep dive into digital communication and enhance your skill set. Our courses are designed to provide you with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in the fast-paced marketing realm.

Individuals: Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or looking to stay ahead in the digital age, our courses are designed to broaden your knowledge and equip you with practical skills for effective communication.

We take pride in the meticulous crafting of our courses, ensuring that they cater to all levels of expertise. Whether you’re just starting or consider yourself a seasoned professional, there’s something invaluable waiting for you at Wati Academy.

Visit Wati Academy to kickstart your journey because mastering the art of business messaging has never been this personal, interactive, and free!

Here’s to unlocking new possibilities together!

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Latest Developments at Wati – August 2023 https://www.wati.io/blog/latest-developments-at-wati-august-2023/ https://www.wati.io/blog/latest-developments-at-wati-august-2023/#respond Wed, 09 Aug 2023 11:00:02 +0000 https://www.wati.io/?p=43839 Wati has made a lot of progress since the day we launched. What was once seen as a WhatsApp team inbox has evolved into an end-to-end WhatsApp API solution for thousands of customers worldwide.

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Wati has made a lot of progress since the day we launched. What was once seen as a WhatsApp team inbox has evolved into an end-to-end WhatsApp API solution for thousands of customers worldwide.

To reflect the added value and support our continuous innovation, we’re introducing new pricing plans effective from August 10, 2023.

These pricing plans apply only to new customers by default. For our existing customers, nothing has changed, and you can continue using our current plans as usual. However, for any plan changes that existing customers wish to do henceforth, you will need to choose from the new set of plans.

Here are some of the latest developments that will be introduced exclusively in the new pricing plans, distinct from the current plan. We’d like to showcase these before discussing the new pricing details.

Flows Renamed to Chatbots

We’ve renamed flows to chatbots since we noticed that chatbots are much easier for people to understand.

Through chatbots, you can create interactive workflows that guide customers to take action. For example, businesses like Habuild have used chatbots to automate sending reminder messages to users for attending yoga classes. This resulted in 75% of users attending classes more than three times a week.

Note: This change applies to both existing and new users.

Flexible Chatbot Pricing Options

Many customers have been using our chatbots and automation more than we expected. Businesses want to set up different chatbot sessions to manage their customer queries instantly through automation.

To continue scaling and catering to our power users, we’ve introduced new add-on pricing options for chatbot sessions. Now you can customize your usage based on your needs, whether for extra support during peak times or scaling your operations.

Reduced Pricing on Additional Agents

We’ve been attentive to your feedback and recognize that Wati now serves many customers with larger teams. Therefore, we’ve taken action by reducing our pricing on additional agents, ensuring you can scale your teams without incurring additional charges.

New Pricing Plans

Speaking of new plans, we’ve now expanded from two to three pricing plans, giving you more choices and possibilities to cater to your specific needs. Now, let’s talk about our brand new 3rd additional plan, which is designed to meet the requirements of larger businesses. 

Introducing the Business Plan for Larger Businesses

We understand the unique challenges larger businesses face to manage multiple WhatsApp campaigns, handle high sales volumes and track results consistently. That’s why we’ve introduced the new business plan.

With the new business plan, you can create 100 different teams for managing various activities like sales, customer support and more. Plus, you get 30 chatbots more than the existing pro plan. Along with these features, you will get a dedicated customer success manager to assist wherever required.

To make it even more appealing, we’re offering a 5% discount on our Wati conversation rate card for business plan users to send out WhatsApp messages (marketing promotions, OTPs, delivery details) at a discounted rate.

We hope this new business plan can benefit larger customers in achieving their goals. 

Final Thoughts

As we embark on this new chapter, we sincerely thank you for your continued support and loyalty to Wati. Your feedback has been the driving force behind these enhancements, and we are truly honoured to have you as part of our family. Rest assured; we are committed to serving you even better in the future.

Wishing you continued success and prosperity.

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Revamped and Ready: Explore the New Wati Experience https://www.wati.io/blog/revamped-and-ready-explore-the-new-wati-experience/ https://www.wati.io/blog/revamped-and-ready-explore-the-new-wati-experience/#respond Wed, 31 May 2023 04:34:06 +0000 https://wp-prod.watiapp.io/?p=42824 Change is the only constant, isn't it? We, at Wati, have always embraced change – it's the fuel that drives us forward.

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Change is the only constant, isn’t it? We, at Wati, have always embraced change – it’s the fuel that drives us forward. And today, we’re standing at the doorstep of a brand new chapter in our journey. We’re going through a thorough rebranding process.

Rebranding isn’t just about changing our logo or colours – it’s about transforming who we are as a brand. We’re aligning our brand with our evolving vision and mission, and most importantly, with what you, our customers, need from us.

Why Rebrand?

Why rebrand, you ask? Well, we didn’t make this decision overnight. It’s about our commitment to always be better, to innovate, and to serve you in the best way possible. As we’ve grown in the WhatsApp API industry, we realized that our brand needed to reflect who we are now and what we aspire to be.

Our New Look

Now, let’s talk about our new look. We’ve revamped our logo to reflect our modern and innovative approach to WhatsApp API solutions. It’s sleek, it’s bold, and it represents our promise to provide top-notch service. We’ve also refreshed our colour palette and typography to match our new brand personality.

Website Transformation

Our website got a makeover too! Now, it not only reflects our new brand identity but also serves as a vibrant platform for us to connect with you. You’ll find the design user-friendly and more intuitive. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or you’re familiar with us, we hope you’ll find navigating our site easier than ever.

Interactive categories and language toggle

And guess what? Our website is now available in six languages! Whether you speak English, Brazilian Portuguese, South American Spanish, Bahasa Indonesia, Traditional Chinese, or Simplified Chinese, we want you to feel at home when you’re with us.

Enhanced User Experience

We’ve also improved the user experience on our website. It’s more interactive and focused on you. Need to contact us? There’s a WhatsApp chat button for instant support, ensuring we’re always just a click away.

Consistent Messaging

Our rebranding isn’t just skin deep. We’ve revamped our content to reflect our new brand’s voice, tone, and messaging. The language we use, the information we share, and the values we promote have all been fine-tuned to align with our brand’s new direction.

Looking Ahead

This rebranding marks the beginning of an exciting new phase for Wati. Our aim is not just to move your business forward, but to make the journey smoother, simpler, and more enjoyable for you. With our new brand leading the way, we’re more ready than ever to meet your needs and shape the future of WhatsApp API services.

We invite you to join us on this exciting journey. So, dive in and explore our new website, check out the improvements we’ve made, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need any help. We’re right here, ready to assist you. Don’t forget to take advantage of our new features and services – we’ve created them with you in mind.
Thank you for your continued support and trust in Wati. Let’s look forward to a bright, successful future together!

Cheers,

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WhatsApp Business Platform’s New Conversation-Based Pricing: 2023 Updates https://www.wati.io/blog/whatsapp-business-conversation-based-pricing-2023/ https://www.wati.io/blog/whatsapp-business-conversation-based-pricing-2023/#comments Wed, 29 Mar 2023 18:19:03 +0000 https://www.wati.io/?p=40353 If you're using WhatsApp Business to connect with your customers, there's some news you'll want to know about. WhatsApp is changing the way they charge businesses for their conversations in 2023.

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If you’re using WhatsApp Business to connect with your customers, there’s some news you’ll want to know about. WhatsApp is changing the way they charge businesses for their conversations in 2023.

Instead of paying a flat rate, businesses will be charged per 24-hour conversation, and the price will vary depending on the type of conversation.

For example, if you’re having a conversation with a customer that’s about a utility question like a billing issue or product support, you’ll be charged a certain rate. If the conversation is related to authentication or marketing, you will be charged differently.

It’s important to note that user-initiated conversations, like when a customer messages you first, will be considered service conversations and won’t be subject to these new rates.

Overall, these changes to WhatsApp Business Platform’s pricing are designed to make it fairer for businesses and incentivise them to provide better customer service. Now let’s dive into the details.

New Changes to WhatsApp Business Platform: What to Expect?

Four New Conversation Categories are launched in the  WhatsApp Business Platform.

Utility:

Business-initiated conversations that have to do with a transaction, like purchase notifications or billing statements for customers who have opted in.

WhatsApp Conversation Pricing

Authentication:

Business-initiated conversations that help businesses verify users using one-time passcodes. These conversations can happen during account registration, account recovery, and when there are security concerns.

WhatsApp Conversation Pricing

Marketing:

Business-initiated conversations are designed to promote a product or service to customers who have opted in. Any business-initiated conversation that doesn’t fit into the Utility or Authentication categories would be considered a Marketing conversation.

WhatsApp Conversation Pricing

Service:

Finally, Service Conversations are initiated by users and are meant to help resolve customer inquiries. So if a customer messages you first, that conversation falls into the Service Conversation category.

How WhatsApp Conversation Pricing will Work for the New Categories

So here’s the deal: WhatsApp conversation pricing will depend on the template category. Basically, when you send a template message, it starts a new conversation in that category and incurs the charge for that category. Now let’s look at how it works.

Scenario #1

If you’re already in an open Utility conversation with a customer and you send a marketing template message, it will start a new and separate marketing conversation, and you’ll be charged for that Marketing conversation.

Scenario #2

You won’t be charged for sending multiple templates of the same category during an open conversation.

So, if you’re in an open utility conversation, you can send multiple utility templates without incurring additional charges.

Scenario #3

To start a service conversation, businesses must respond to a user’s message within 24 hours with a free-form message.

If a business sends a template message, it will create a new conversation based on the template category.

Scenario #4

Consider this, a marketing conversation started when you sent a marketing message. Then, a utility message was sent later that day, creating a new conversation for utility purposes.

This means there will be separate charges for both the marketing and utility conversations.

Scenario #5

Let’s say a template message was sent containing both utility and marketing content. If a template message has any marketing content, it is considered a marketing message. As a result, you will be charged for one marketing conversation.

Check out our blog on using templates for automated messages if your interested to know more.

Now let’s look at how the pricing works for these new categories.

WhatsApp conversation pricing rate card

The cost of conversations depends on the customer’s country code. Charges differ between business-initiated and service conversations and vary by country or region.

Open rate card.

Why are we informing you about this?

So, here’s the scoop on WhatsApp’s new templates: If you’re looking to drive sales, marketing conversations may be worth the extra cost, while utility conversations can be a great option for maintaining existing sales at a lower price point.

We want to make sure you’re always in the know about the latest WhatsApp features and changes, so you can keep chatting, save some cash, and keep your business growing. 💚

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Wati-Pulse Energy Partnership Enables Hassle-Free EV Charging via WhatsApp https://www.wati.io/blog/wati-pulse-energy-partnership-enables-hassle-free-ev-charging-via-whatsapp/ https://www.wati.io/blog/wati-pulse-energy-partnership-enables-hassle-free-ev-charging-via-whatsapp/#comments Tue, 14 Mar 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.wati.io/?p=39842 Discover how the Wati Pulse Energy partnership enables hassle-free EV charging via WhatsApp. Learn how this innovative solution streamlines the charging process, making it convenient and efficient for electric vehicle owners.

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When we created Wati, we wanted to make it super easy for businesses to talk to their customers on messaging platforms like WhatsApp. Our goal was to provide an end-to-end WhatsApp API solution for SMBs. With our platform, businesses can chat with their customers in real-time and connect with them personally.

So, we teamed up with Pulse Energy to bring an easy, chat-based way for EV charging using WhatsApp. Basically, you can start, stop, and pay for charging through a simple conversation over WhatsApp. With this feature, Wati’s platform becomes an end-to-end WhatsApp API for EV owners.

One of the coolest things about Wati is that merchants can create chatbots without any coding knowledge. We’ve got easy-to-use templates that they can replicate in just a few clicks. With our flow builder, businesses can create new chat flows in minutes! Pulse Energy is a great example of how this works. They were able to improve their customer experience and transaction rates by using Wati to build a chatbot that was tailored to their needs.

Pulse Energy Co-Founder Devang Mistry credited Wati’s Flow Builder for activating WhatsApp payments and creating India’s first EV charging platform, allowing users to simply scan and pay via QR code.

With the introduction of this new platform, electric vehicle owners can now easily charge their vehicles with the simple scan of a QR code and payment through WhatsApp Pay. This revolutionary platform not only makes charging electric vehicles easier and more convenient but also provides a secure and efficient payment system through the integration of WhatsApp Pay.

With WhatsApp payments, EV drivers don’t need to worry about loading money into more than 35 different charging station apps. It’s a huge relief and saves a ton of time.

We’re thrilled to bring this new platform to India and help more people make the switch to electric vehicles. 💚

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Wati’s Series B round https://www.wati.io/blog/watis-series-b-round/ https://www.wati.io/blog/watis-series-b-round/#respond Wed, 26 Oct 2022 08:20:57 +0000 https://www.wati.io/?p=34988 Discover the exciting details of Wati's Series B funding round, highlighting their growth, innovation, and future plans. Stay updated with Wati.io's latest milestones.

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We started Wati to help SMBs with a self-service, low-code product on the WhatsApp Business API platform. Our easy-to-use customer engagement software has helped companies have personalized conversations with customers at scale. As a result, our customer growth doubled as users found exceptional ROI from automated workflows connected to eCommerce platforms and CRMs that saved them a lot of time and increased revenue.

Today, we’re thrilled to announce our $23 million Series B round funding led by Tiger Global with participation from existing investors Sequoia Capital India and new investors DST Global Partners, along with Shopify’s first venture investment in a startup operating in Southeast Asia region.

With the additional funding, we will continue to scale the team and invest in the product stack for low-code automation, encouraging wider adoption of digital tools. We’ll also launch aggressive go-to-market plans in emerging markets, such as Latin America and Southeast Asia. But all this talk about the past, present and future wouldn’t have been possible without you.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!! 💚

We wouldn’t have grown without the support and faith of our customers, investors and partners, and we’re committed to taking all your feedback seriously. 

So, here’s to helping businesses grow with Wati. 🥂

Discover the exciting details of Wati's Series B funding round, highlighting their growth, innovation, and future plans. Stay updated with Wati.io's latest milestones.

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Meta Announced WhatsApp Cloud API For All Businesses https://www.wati.io/blog/whatsapp-cloud-api-announced/ https://www.wati.io/blog/whatsapp-cloud-api-announced/#respond Sat, 21 May 2022 11:55:00 +0000 https://www.wati.io/?p=29545 Meta (formally Facebook) announced that all businesses can now access WhatsApp Cloud API for free. This will allow businesses to use all the features of WhatsApp Busines API without bearing the cost of ‘Hosting’ the API.

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Meta (formally Facebook) announced that all businesses can now access WhatsApp Cloud API for free. This will allow businesses to use all the features of WhatsApp Business API without bearing the cost of ‘Hosting’ the API.

“Today, I am excited to announce that we’re opening WhatsApp to any business of any size around the world with WhatsApp Cloud API”, Said Mark Zuckerberg, Meta CEO.

Cloud API for WhatsApp Business was in continuous testing since November 2021. Now, every business can get & integrate the API with their systems like CRM to use WhatsApp Business as a communication channel.

What Is WhatsApp Cloud API?

WhatsApp Cloud API is the cloud version of Meta’s WhatsApp Business API which was launched back in 2019. The new cloud-based API for WhatsApp Business makes it way easier for all businesses across the globe to get started on WhatsApp Business.

Earlier, getting WhatsApp Business API was a lengthy process as businesses needed to go through WhatsApp Business Solution Providers (BSPs). Now, any business or developer can easily access WhatsApp APIs, customize them according to the need, and speed up their response time to customers using secure cloud-hosted WhatsApp API.

Meta will now bear for all hosting and servers & businesses can now quickly get & set up their WhatsApp Business API account free.

Revolutionizing Business Communications

WhatsApp Cloud API is an amazing tool for businesses to communicate with their customers through the WhatsApp messaging platform. It’s a set of resources and tools provided by WhatsApp that allows businesses to integrate WhatsApp messaging into their own applications and systems.

With it, businesses can send and receive messages, manage contacts, and automate workflows. It’s a RESTful API that uses HTTP requests to interact with WhatsApp’s servers. And the best part? It’s super easy to use!

One of the most exciting features of the WhatsApp Cloud API is the ability to send messages with rich media like images, videos, and documents. It also lets businesses create and manage customer profiles, automate responses, and track message delivery and engagement metrics.

Difference Between WhatsApp Business On-Premise API & Cloud API

The major differences between are:

  1. While WhatsApp Business API can be accessed through BSPs, Cloud API can be accessed directly from Meta for free.
  2. usinesses don’t need to bear the cost of hosting & maintaining the cloud API.
  3. Businesses can get free Cloud API access directly from Meta. 

All the features of both solutions remain the same.

Features Of WhatsApp Cloud API

Businesses will get all the new features faster on Cloud API. Right now, WhatsApp Business Cloud API comes with all the features that are available with WhatsApp Business API.

Useful features:

To know more about features in detail, you can follow the detailed guide on WhatsApp Business API.

Pricing Of WhatsApp Business Cloud API

WhatsApp Cloud API

There are no charges to access WhatsApp Cloud API. However, if you want to send WhatsApp messages using Cloud APIs, you need to pay on the basis of conversations.

  1. Business Initiated Conversations-These are conversations where a business gets in touch with a user. These business-initiated conversations will require a message template.
  2. User-Initiated Conversations- These are conversations where a user messages a business. When a business replies to this message within a 24-hour window, it is counted as a user-initiated conversation.

Businesses can send free-form messages within this 24-hour window. To know more in detail, read WhatsApp’s Conversation Based Pricing.

How To Get WhatsApp Business Cloud API

WhatsApp Cloud API

To get started with the WhatsApp Cloud API, businesses need to apply for a WhatsApp Business Account and register for the API through Facebook Business Manager.

Once approved, they can integrate the API into their own systems using WhatsApp-approved third-party providers or build their own integration using the API’s documentation and resources. If you’re a business owner or a developer you can Get Started with WhatsApp Cloud API For Free.

Step 1: Create a WhatsApp App

Navigate to developers.facebook.com and “Create App”.

Select “Business Type” as the app type and proceed.

Provide a name for your app (Avoid using trademarked names such as “WhatsApp” or “Facebook”.

Once the app has been created, click the WhatsApp button on the next screen to add WhatsApp sending capabilities to your app.

On the next screen, you will be required to link your WhatsApp app to your Facebook business account. You will also have the option to create a new business account if you don’t have one yet.

Step 2: Add Recipient’s Phone Number

Facebook will provide you with a test WhatsApp phone number that will be the default sending address of your app. For recipients, you’ll have the option to add a maximum of 5 phone numbers during the development phase without having to make any payment.

Your WhatsApp app will provide you with a temporary access token that will be valid for 23 hours. Make a note of this token as we’ll need it in a later step.

Next, click the Recipient Phone Number dropdown to add up to 5 different WhatsApp phone numbers to your app. You’ll receive a verification code on the added numbers and you’ll be able to send WhatsApp messages to only numbers that have been verified with the code.

Step 3: Create WhatsApp Message Template

Switch to the template manager and create a new WhatsApp message template.

For this example, we’ll choose the category as Account Update and give a unique name for your message template. For languages, we’ll choose English for which the code language is en. If you use another language, make a note of the code language as it is required for sending messages.

Write the Personalised Message

We are using variable parameters in the message and these will be replaced with the actual values from the Google Sheet. It is very similar to markers that you may have used inside Mail Merge and Document Studio with a small difference that these are positional markers and not named markers.

Here’s our message template where variables {{1}} and {{2}} are for customer name and item name respectively.

After a while, your template may be approved or rejected.
Once approved, you are ready to send the message using the Cloud API.

Limitations Of Cloud API For WhatsApp

One major limitation that comes with Cloud WhatsApp API is that it doesn’t come with a platform to leverage the potential of WhatsApp Business messaging.

You either need to integrate the cloud APIs with your own systems or go through BSPs like the WATI platform to integrate your Cloud APIs.

With WATI, you’ll be able to easily integrate Cloud API (coming soon) and can use all the WhatsApp Business API features as mentioned below.

WATI helps you:

  • Broadcast WhatsApp Marketing campaigns to up to 100K users in a single click.
  • Automate shipping, delivery, and payment notifications at scale.
  • Provide customer support on WhatsApp with a Multi-agent dashboard & CRM.
  • Integrating WhatsApp Chatbot to automate sales & support 24*7.
  • Easily integrate & send WhatsApp messages from platforms like Shopify, HubSpot, Zoho, and Zapier with native integrations.

Also, If you already have a WhatsApp number with WhatsApp On-Premise Business API then, you can’t directly get Cloud APIs. You need to migrate your number to Cloud APIs.

Conclusion

🎉📲 Woohoo! It’s official – the WhatsApp API is here for all businesses! This is a game-changer in the world of customer communications, and we couldn’t be more excited! With its easy-to-use features and seamless integration, the WhatsApp API is set to revolutionize the way businesses engage with their customers. 💪

Whether you’re a small startup or a large corporation, the WhatsApp API has something to offer. You can automate workflows, streamline processes, and enhance the overall customer experience. 🚀 And the best part? You can do it all while having fun! 😎

So, if you’re looking to take your business communications to the next level, don’t hesitate – get on board with the WhatsApp Cloud API today! 🌟

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