Meta’s announcement of the WhatsApp Cloud API marks a pivotal moment for businesses worldwide, offering a streamlined path to leverage WhatsApp at scale. Earlier, businesses invested in business service providers to receive their API. But now, businesses worldwide are customizing their experiences with Whatsapp Cloud API. This cloud-hosted API provides businesses with direct access to WhatsApp messaging capabilities, eliminating the need for third-party providers. The most significant advantage? Businesses can now obtain instant and free approval for WhatsApp Cloud API accounts directly from Meta. This blog is a complete guide to know everything you want to know about WhatsApp Cloud API.
What is Whatsapp Business API?
Application Programming Interface or API assists two software programs in communicating with each other easily. Meta launched Whatsapp Business API back in 2018. It assists businesses in communicating with customers through unlimited messages. This tailored option helped businesses improve customer engagement to a great extent.
What Is WhatsApp Cloud API?
WhatsApp restricted direct access to WhatsApp Business API before introducing WhatsApp Cloud API, and businesses had to stroll through numerous solution providers to get access. But now, they can get their WhatsApp Business API accounts directly verified by Facebook.
WhatsApp Cloud API is the cloud version of Meta’s WhatsApp Business API. All businesses worldwide can seamlessly get started with Whatsapp Business, which eliminated the lengthy process involved in accessing WhatsApp Business API.
A secure cloud-hosted API assists businesses in easily accessing and customizing WhatsApp APIs based on their preferences. It ensures small and medium-sized businesses can improve their customer experience without the hassle. Lastly, it comes off as a cost-effective method for businesses.
WhatsApp Business On-Premise API Vs. Cloud API
Businesses searching for an API have two options:
- On-Premise API- hosted by business service providers (360dialog, Twilio)
- Cloud API hosted by Meta
You can learn the complete difference here: WhatsApp cloud API vs WhatsApp on-premise API
Features Of WhatsApp Cloud API
Let’s look at some Amazing features of this API:
- Easy integration with your CRM, analytic tools, or other third-party apps
- Enjoy the benefits of a green badged verified WhatsApp Business profile
- Bulk messaging and WhatsApp Broadcasting
- Run WhatsApp chatbot using third-party apps
- Large-scale WhatsApp message scheduling ensures fluent communication
- Interactive messaging features like CTA messages improve the overall experience
- Provide Live Human Chat Support across multiple devices
- Enhance messages with lists, quick replies and CTA(call to action )buttons to engage with customers effectively.
Related: Check out WhatsApp Chatbot Features
Benefits of WhatsApp Cloud API
1. Quicker Approval Process:
Receive a super-quick approval for WhatsApp business API from Facebook. Escape the hassle of creating a Facebook Manager Account.
2. Cost Saving:
It is cost-effective compared to third-party partner platforms. However, you will need further investment in acquiring a platform to initiate conversations.
3. Support from Meta:
Meta will act as a hosting service and take responsibility for maintenance, computation, storage, network, etc.
Major Limitations Of WhatsApp Cloud API
1. Integration Requirements:
Facebook doesn’t provide complete access to the platform required for effective communication. It doesn’t provide any platform to access WhatsApp cloud API. You need to integrate your API with a platform like Chat360 to communicate with your audience.
2. API Compatibility:
Another major limitation is that you cannot use the same WhatsApp number for on-premise WhatsApp Business API & cloud WhatsApp API. The transfer from one preference to the other is possible. Yet, you cannot use them simultaneously.
Pro Tip: respond within the 24-hour timeframe for efficient customer support and minimal cost. Use a reliable chatbot builder to create chatbots for quick responses.
How to get Started With WhatsApp Cloud API
Anyone can get started with WhatsApp Cloud API whether they have an approved Facebook Business Manager account or not. Be prepared with an active Facebook and WhatsApp account. Let’s now look at the steps required to get started with WA Cloud API.
1. Open Facebook Developers Page and register as a Meta Developer
2. Click on Create First App
3. Select Business from the available app types
4. Insert your Display name and work email id. Leave it blank if you don’t have an approved Facebook Business Manager account
5. Fill in the information and click on Create App.
6. Next, click on WhatsApp from the presented integrations to link your WhatsApp account.
7. Select continue on the presented screen to create your Business account
8. Claim the temporary token access that expires in 23 hours. You will receive a test phone number to send messages to up to 5 people.
9. Next, create and send a sample WhatsApp template message. Either you can use a pre-approved template or create a personalized one for your business.
10. The recipient will receive your message.
What’s The Pricing Structure Of WhatsApp Cloud API?
Cloud API is free to access for users. But sending Whatsapp messages through cloud API follows conversation-based pricing. On 1st February 2022, they switched from a template charge to a complete conversation model. There are two different scenarios in this case:
1. User-initiated conversation:
In this type of conversation a user sends in a query to the business. It’s considered a user-initiated conversation when the business successfully responds in a 24-hour timeframe.
2. Business-initiated conversations:
It is the conversations where businesses(after the 24 hour session window or as a new message) send in relevant information to the customers.
The pricing varies based on who initiated the conversation. WhatsApp introduced this model to ensure users are free from frequent notifications. Furthermore, it promoted the idea of keeping WhatsApp a two-way communication channel for successfully resolving queries.
Resourceful guide: WhatsApp Chatbot Pricing in 2023
How to integrate the chatbot with your WhatsApp account
- Signup for the chat360 account
- Create your WhatsApp bot
- Deploy it on your WhatsApp business number
Suggested read:
How to Integrate Chatbot with WhatsApp?
WA API FAQs
1. Can Businesses Switch To WhatsApp Cloud API?
Yes, businesses with existing WhatsApp Business API can switch to cloud API. But the reason behind preferring cloud API is acquiring API without any hassle. It wouldn’t mean anything if you switch from your existing choice.
2. How is WhatsApp Cloud API useful for new users?
Cloud API assists new users in successfully getting their accounts approved. The account approval takes a few minutes and is completely free. Also, ditch the earlier process of having mandatory FB Business Manager Account approval using the cloud API.
3. Can I get access to WhatsApp Cloud API for free?
You can acquire access directly from Facebook. Accessing Cloud API is free, yet you need a platform to communicate with your audience. Therefore, you need to invest in a WhatsApp partner to make the most of it.
4. What is the conversation model of pricing?
There are two types of conversations- user-initiated and business initiated. User-initiated conversations are the queries sent in by the users and responded to within a 24-hour timeframe. Business-initiated conversations are the notifications sent by businesses. User-initiated conversations are charged less as Meta aims at helping users resolve their queries quickly and reduce spam messages from businesses.
5. What’s the major difference between WhatsApp On-Premise API and Cloud API?
On-premise APIs need to be accessed through business service providers. On the other hand, you can get free access to Cloud API from Meta.
6. What are the most useful features of Cloud API?
Some useful features of Cloud API include integration with CRM and third-party apps, broadcasting, scheduling messages at a large scale, chat automation using different platforms, and other interactive messaging features.
7. What’s the 24-hour time frame in WhatsApp Cloud API?
Meta recently launched the conversation-based pricing model. Let’s say a user reached out to you with a query via Whatsapp. It’s considered a user-initiated conversation if you reply within 24 hours. If not, it comes under business-initiated conversation. The price for user-initiated conversations is comparatively less and cost-effective for businesses.
Conclusion
With this WhatsApp API, you will enjoy seamless communication with your target audience. As highlighted in the blog, your business needs a cost-effective and quick way of accessing an API that can be provided by Chat360.
Schedule a free demo today!
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