WhatsApp has been rumoured to develop a separate dedicated business module for quite some time now (click here to know more about that) and today it has officially launched and began the downloads for its new Business app in selected few markets, including Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, the U.K. and the U.S., ahead of its planned worldwide rollout. The incorporation of business profiles and latest messaging tools aimed at business customers is part of the company’s extensive propaganda to make revenue by charging larger enterprises for advanced tools to communicate with customers on the platform now used by over a billion people worldwide. The WhatsApp Business app is the initial entry point in this market.
Endeavored at smaller businesses, the free app, Android-only for now – helps companies better connect with their customers and establish an official presence on WhatsApp’s service. Essentially, it’s the WhatsApp version of a Facebook Page.
The company had beforehand announced the app’s coming and begun verifying business accounts as part of its WhatsApp Business pilot program back in September 2017. Verified accounts were given a green checkmark as a means of demonstrating their authenticity.
With the new WhatsApp Business app arriving today, small companies can set up their WhatsApp Business profiles by filling out information like a business description, email, address and website.
WhatsApp says:
People will know when they’re talking about a business because these accounts will be listed as Business Accounts. Over time, some of these will become confirmed Accounts, after WhatsApp verifies the account phone number is registered with matches the business phone number.
Once established on the WhatsApp network, businesses can then use a series of tools provided by the app, like smart messaging tools that offer similar technology as what you’d find today on Facebook Messenger.
For example, the app offers quick replies that provide fast answers to customers’ frequently asked questions; greeting messages that introduce customers to the business; and away messages, that let customers know you’re busy.
Businesses will also be able to access messaging statistics, like a number of messages read, and they can send and receive messages from the desktop via WhatsApp Web.
While businesses will need to use this new app to communicate with customers, for the general WhatsApp user, there’s no change. They’ll be able to message businesses but can control their experience by blocking numbers and businesses, as well as report spam.
In addition, businesses will only be able to contact people who provided their phone number and agreed to receive messages from the business.
-the company had previously said.
The Business app will succeedingly be hemmed by an enterprise solution targeted at large businesses with a global customer base– like airlines, e-commerce sites, and banks.
-WhatsApp had said last fall.
However, it didn’t publish any news regarding this solution today, but in the past, the company indicated that it would charge for these enterprise tools. Reasonably, they’ll be waxed on the cover of the current WhatsApp Business centre product.
