WhatsApp Business is the version of the WhatsApp app dedicated to businesses . Officially released in January 2018, this application was designed to offer a tool to all companies that want to use instant messaging to communicate with their customers.

Unlike the “standard” version of WhatsApp which allows friends and family to connect, WhatsApp Business is a tool exclusively dedicated to business. Let’s see in detail how this new app works.

What are the main features of WhatsApp Business?

• Company Profile. On WhatsApp Business you can create a profile with all the information about your company. You can enter a description, website link, address, etc. A functionality similar to that of other social networks such as facebook and Instagram.
• Messaging for companies and automatic messages. Businesses can communicate with their customers using a dedicated chat with autoresponder functionality. Very useful for restaurants, merchants, public facilities or other businesses that can thus communicate using pre-set responses (in BOT style for facebook messenger).
• Order management and discussion tracking, which translates into better customer service and problem solving that, until now, had been resolved by phone or email.
• Use of the landline number. You can use WhatsApp Business with your business landline number and communicate with customers using this contact.
• Simultaneous use with the standard version. You can use WhatsApp Business on your mobile and also keep the standard version active (with a different number).
• WhatsApp Web for business. You can use and manage the business version of WhatsApp directly from your pc or mac.
• Integration with Facebook services. WhatsApp belongs to Facebook, so accessing this new version of WhatsApp for business will allow you to synchronize messages and communications with Facebook Messenger.
• Choice of what to receive. You can choose whether to continue receiving communications from the company or not. In case you don’t want to do this, you have the option to stop the service to avoid receiving messages again.
• Photos, videos, emoticons, gifs, sending documents, etc. All the features we enjoy as WhatsApp users are integrated into the new service for businesses, which is a new way of communicating with users.

How does WhatsApp Business work?

The operation of WhatsApp Business – in line with the standard version – is really simple. Let’s see it by following the steps of use:

1. Download and install the app. The first step to start using WhatsApp Business is to download the app. You can download it for Android from Google Play or from the App Store for the iPhone iOS version (not yet available).
2. Associate the phone number. You can associate a mobile or landline phone number.
3. Check the number. It is necessary to verify the telephone number to have a “verified” and therefore official profile. You will receive a text message with a code to enter and that’s it.
4. Update your profile. Enter your profile information and customize it to provide users with all the info they need.
5. Start chatting with your customers. Set up automatic replies and start giving your contacts all the information they want about your business.

Conclusions

WhatsApp Business opens a new path in relations between customers and companies that highlights the importance of the smartphone in the society of the digital age. Have you already received a message from a company? Do you use WhatsApp Business for your company? Tell us your experience or doubts in the comments section below.