To connect WhatsApp as a communication channel, you need to have a WhatsApp Business account.
This means that if you want to use WhatsApp for business purposes, you need to create a dedicated business account on WhatsApp. A regular WhatsApp account, created for personal use, will not be suitable for communicating with customers or promoting your business through this platform.
With a WhatsApp Business account, you can access additional features and tools that are not available in a regular account, such as automated messages, quick replies, and the ability to create a business profile. These features are designed to make it easier to communicate effectively with your customers and improve the efficiency of your business.
Therefore, if you want to use When you want to add to the Creatio platform WhatsApp as a communication channel for your business, you need to create have a WhatsApp Business API account.
Understanding the Differences Between Regular WhatsApp, WhatsApp Business, and WhatsApp Business API Accounts
When using WhatsApp for business purposes, it's essential to understand the distinctions between a regular WhatsApp account, a WhatsApp Business account, and a WhatsApp Business API account. Failing to do so can result in restrictions and limitations that could hinder your communication with customers.
A WhatsApp Business account is specifically designed for businesses and provides additional features such as automated messages, quick replies, and the ability to create a business profile. These features are designed to facilitate more efficient communication with customers.a standalone app designed for small business owners to communicate with their customers, while regular WhatsApp accounts are primarily used by individuals for personal communication. WhatsApp Business app provides features like quick replies, greeting messages, and away messages to help small businesses manage customer communication efficiently. It offers a dedicated platform for businesses to interact professionally with their customers.
On the other hand, WhatsApp Business API is a paid service tailored for larger companies to communicate at scale with customers through WhatsApp. The API allows businesses to integrate their systems with WhatsApp, enabling them to send and receive messages programmatically, automate workflows, and access additional features like sending notifications, tracking deliveries, and managing customer support. Regular WhatsApp accounts, in contrast, provide basic messaging features for personal use without the business-specific functionalities and integration options available in WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Business API.
Feature | Private WhatsApp Account | WhatsApp Business | WhatsApp Business API |
|---|---|---|---|
General Overview | Personal use for individuals | Small business owners | Larger businesses for scale |
Payment | Free | Free | Paid service |
Profile | Personal profile photo | Business profile photo | Business profile photo |
Name display | Personal name | Business name | Business name |
Messaging | One-on-one messaging | One-on-one messaging | Automated messaging |
App Features | Basic features | Business-specific features | Business-specific features |
Labeling | No specific labeling | Labels for organization | Labels for organization |
Messaging Tools | Limited | Quick replies, away messages | Extensive messaging tools |
WhatsApp Web | Available | Available | Available |
WhatsApp API Access | Not available | Not available | Available |
Integration | Basic integration options | Limited integration options | Extensive integration options |
This means that if you want to connect Creatio with WhatsApp for business purposes, you need to create a dedicated WhatsApp Business API account. A regular WhatsApp account, created for personal use, or a simple WhatsApp Business account, will not be suitable for communicating with customers or promoting your business through this platform.
How to Create a WhatsApp Business API Account
However, it's important to note that there are some restrictions when using a WhatsApp Business API account, such as not being allowed to send promotional messages to customers who have not opted in to receive them. Also, businesses are not permitted to send mass or automated messages that do not contain relevant information or support requests from customers.
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Therefore, to use WhatsApp Business API, a separate phone number that can receive SMS or voice calls for verification purposes is necessary. It can be a landline or mobile number, but it must not be associated with any other WhatsApp account.
Using a separate phone number for your WhatsApp Business API account ensures that your business communications remain distinct from your personal conversations and that your account complies with WhatsApp's guidelines.
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