WhatsApp has finally released the long-awaited business version of its messaging application on iOS, promising a much better experience for SMBs who want to communicate with customers on the platform.
If you have separate business and personal phone numbers, you can have both WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Messenger installed on the same phone, and register them with different numbers.
In addition to the features available in WhatsApp Messenger, WhatsApp Business includes:
- BUSINESS PROFILE: Create a profile for your business to help your customers find valuable information — like your website, location, or contact information
- BUSINESS MESSAGING TOOLS: Be more responsive to your customers by using Away messages to indicate that you’re away.
- LANDLINE/FIXED NUMBER SUPPORT: You can use WhatsApp Business with a landline (or fixed) phone number and your customers can message you on that number. During verification, select the “Call me” option to receive the code over a phone call.
- RUN BOTH WHATSAPP MESSENGER AND WHATSAPP BUSINESS: You can use both WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Messenger on the same phone, but each app must have its own unique phone number.
- WHATSAPP WEB: You can more efficiently respond to your customers right from your computer’s browser.
Available on Android for over a year, the WhatsApp Business application is free to download and allows businesses to create a profile with a description, email address, location information and links to official websites.
Users will have time saving tools such as quick replies for frequently asked questions, automatic greetings and away messages. There will also be access to message statistics so businesses can review what is working for them.
The company makes money by charging Business API customers who have large volumes of incoming messages.
The free WhatsApp Business app for iOS is available today from the App Store in Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, India, Mexico, the U.K. and the U.S.
