Today, chatbots offer real advantages to businesses as well as to individual users on the web. WhatsApp chatbots are no exception. It’s true that other social networks also offer chatbots. However, designing a WhatsApp bot is very interesting for your company. If you’re interested in WhatsApp chatbots, you need to know how to create one. Here are the steps you need to follow to design a chatbot with WhatsApp Business API.
Integrating a chatbot with the WhatsApp Business API
A chatbot represents automated software whose operation is governed by scenarios or AI (artificial intelligence). In the case of the WhatsApp Business chatbot, it reproduces a real conversation with people talking to your company via WhatsApp.
Its main role is to transmit pre-recorded or learned (AI and machine learning) messages to requests made via the company’s WhatsApp by users.
There’s a certain difference between the WhatsApp Business app and theAPI. The app simply allows businesses to respond to customer queries humanely and manually, while the WhatsApp Business API goes much further, giving the opportunity to take advantage of the full potential of the solution by creating a chatbot yourself.
Exchanges between your customers and the chatbot’s responses will transit via the WhatsApp Business API.
The benefits of using a chatbot to complement the WhatsApp Business API for a company
WhatsApp instant messaging is now considered the leader in no less than 130 countries. WhatsApp Business therefore has what it takes to enhance a company’s customer experience. This is due to a number of factors:
- WhatsApp is a channel used by no less than two billion people;
- With the WhatsApp Business API, you don’t need human resources to respond to your customers’ requests (if you use a chatbot as a complement);
- WhatsApp Business allows the company to add a WhatsApp button to various media: a website, an online store, an SMS, a WhatsApp story… ;
- According to several studies conducted today, consumers are choosing instant messaging rather than a traditional channel (email, telephone) to send messages to brands;
- WhatsApp has a higher open rate than email.
Automated answers to frequently asked customer questions
By combining the chatbot’s strengths with the advantages of the WhatsApp Business API, the company can ensure a high level of customer satisfaction. On top of this, the company could save money and time if it automates the repetitive part of customer relations. The company can then improve even further by using the resources saved for other purposes.
The availability of chatbot to enhance customer experience on WhatsApp
Thanks to a chatbot linked to your WhatsApp Business via the API, it’s possible for a company to simulate permanent availability for its customers. It is therefore possible to be accessible 24/7. This is a highly effective marketing strategy.
Late and weekend users will finally be able to get a quick answer to their questions.
Steps to set up a chatbot with WhatsApp Business API
Because of its usefulness and importance, it’s important to follow certain steps when creating a chatbot with WhatsApp Business API.
Request a WhatsApp Business API
Several steps need to be taken before a WhatsApp bot can be created for a company. The first step is to request the WhatsApp Business API. For this, the company must already have a WhatsApp Business account.
A form is provided for the company to enter certain important information. This should include: company name, website address, location and contact details of the company manager.
To apply for a job, the company must provide the information requested. WhatsApp first reviews the company’s application. Then, if the application is approved, the company obtains authorization to use the WhatsApp Business API. Use of this API is subject to a fee.
Selecting a chatbot platform
The second step is for businesses to choose a chatbot platform. The latter will naturally guide you through the process of integrating a chatbot into its WhatsApp Business API.
Botnation can help you set up a chatbot using the WhatsApp Business API. We can carry out specific developments if required.
Creating an ideal exchange between the WhatsApp user and the chatbot
For starters, you should know that Botnation chatbots are state-of-the-art, using NLP, AI and machine learning. As a result, your company will be able to achieve an ideal, perfectly matched communication flow between WhatsApp users and itself. It’s this dialogue flow that will determine what the customer gets out of interacting with the bot.
The company will therefore need to think about the type of questions its customers will be able to ask, and how the bot will be able to handle questions that won’t be in its library. The conversation flow will then be adopted by the company’s chatbot service provider in order to set up a more adapted flow.
Conclusion about the WhatsApp chatbot
Having a chatbot linked to your WhatsApp Business serves several purposes. It enhances the customer experience and provides a rapid flow of information about the company and the main issues facing customers.
To be sure you’ve created an effective WhatsApp bot, you need to test it. To do this, you’ll need to ask identical or random questions and observe the bot’s reaction. This will enable any imperfections to be identified and ironed out before the WhatsApp chatbot goes into production.
The usefulness of a conversational agent is no longer in doubt. Creating a chatbot for WhatsApp Business via the API is therefore a necessity felt by many companies today. Although it may seem complex, it can be easily achieved with the help of an expert chatbot creation agency like Botnation.
