Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, WhatsApp has witnessed an immense growth of users and businesses on its messaging platform. The increased level of sales, conversations, and e-commerce generally prompted the tech company to launch an AI-powered communication platform called WhatsApp AI Chatbot.
According to WhatsApp during the launch, WhatsApp Chatbot will improve customer service and client interaction by allowing businesses of different sizes to set up a list of automated responses to some of their frequently asked questions.
This way, when a customer has a question, they can ask WhatsApp Chatbot and the AI will reply using a saved matching answer. This allows many e-commerce companies to respond to thousands of requests and reach out to more people in a way never experienced before.
You may be asking yourself; What else can WhatsApp Chatbot AI do?
This guide gives an in-depth analysis of the working mechanism and functions of WhatsApp AI to show you what WhatsApp Chatbot can do and how you can build one for your business.
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WhatsApp AI Chatbot Explained!
WhatsApp AI Chatbot is a free AI-powered automated software program on WhatsApp Business that stimulates human interaction through a set of saved automated responses. To use it, you will need to open a WhatsApp Business account. Businesses of different sizes can set up WhatsApp AI Chatbots to help their clients and prospective customers get customer support even when human assistance is not available.
WhatsApp chatbots can be rule-based (meaning the chatbot offers a structured decision-tree-type conversation with the client) or NLP-based (meaning the chatbot uses its natural processing language algorithm to offer a more human-like conversation with the client). Many businesses tilt towards the NLP-based WhatsApp chatbot because it is more engaging.
When NLP-based, WhatsApp AI uses its machine language learning algorithm to decipher and interpret questions and requests from clients by recognizing specific keywords in the text. It then scans through its list of saved responses to find the one most appropriate to answer your query.
WhatsApp Chatbot can also craft a relevant response based on its saved data and if it can’t find a relevant response to your query, it will redirect you to a human agent.
WhatsApp Chatbot AI has a 24-hour chat window limit. Every time a client sends you a new text, the 24-hour chat window refreshes.
How did WhatsApp Chatbot come about?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, WhatsApp experienced a huge boost in its user base as several hundreds of millions of people sought remote ways to communicate and keep things running. For businesses, this massive increase in WhatsApp users presented a paradigm shift in customer service and product advertisement.
To help businesses respond and reach out to more people online, WhatsApp introduced WhatsApp business, a mobile app for small businesses to respond to texts and handle quick orders. For large businesses, WhatsApp integrated WhatsApp API into the platform, a backend mechanism that allows two applications to communicate.
Through WhatsApp API, large-scale businesses and firms could create WhatsApp Chatbots to manage and improve customer service and notification delivery.
Initially, WhatsApp Chatbot was only available to medium and large-scale businesses and firms. However, any entrepreneur or business can now access WhatsApp Chatbot and enjoy its benefits as long as the business meets WhatsApp requirements for API access.
That said, let’s check out the benefits and functions of WhatsApp AI.
What Can WhatsApp AI Chatbot Do? Benefits and Features
Here are the standout benefits and features of WhatsApp Chatbot AI:
WhatsApp Chatbot Can Respond to Requests in Real Time
The main feature of the WhatsApp Chatbot is it can respond to client requests in real time. Once the bot is set up, it takes on the role of an online customer support agent and will give usually accurate answers and solutions to questions and problems your clients might be facing in real-time such as personalized recommendations and log-in issues.
WhatsApp Chatbot AI makes it easier for businesses of all sizes to give necessary information to clients and provide them with 24/7 online assistance with any questions they may have about their products and services.
WhatsApp Chatbot Promotes Sales
For small businesses and budding entrepreneurs, WhatsApp AI can promote sales. Potential customers can get swift assistance and access to information regarding orders, shipping information, and payment options. And they enjoy a swift and effortless ordering process, leading to increased sales conversions.
WhatsApp AI Chatbot Improves Data Collection and Analysis
Through the WhatsApp Chatbot setup, businesses can get information about what problems and questions their clients are having about their products and services.
Through this information, businesses can further improve their client service and support to eliminate customer-related problems, leading to overall improved customer satisfaction.
WhatsApp Chatbots can be used on Different Meta Platforms
WhatsApp Chatbots can also be used on Instagram and Facebook pages, allowing entrepreneurs to provide online support and chat with their customers via different messaging platforms.
The best part about this is business owners and customer agents can view the chats clients had with their chatbots across different messaging platforms through a OneView inbox. This makes it easier for a business owner to pick up on their client’s conversation where the chatbot left off.
WhatsApp Chatbot Gives Your Page a User-Friendly Interface
The presence of a WhatsApp chatbot on your business page makes it easier for clients to find quick answers and navigate through the page effortlessly.
Businesses can even configure their chatbots to redirect users to pages they are looking for and help them book appointments with just a single click. This gives business pages a better and more user-friendly interface.
How to Create Your WhatsApp Chatbot: How to Use AI in WhatsApp
Want to learn how to create a WhatsApp Chatbot for your business? Here is a detailed guide:
Get WhatsApp Business
The first thing you should know is that WhatsApp Ai chatbots aren’t available on the standard WhatsApp messaging app. To access the chatbots, you have to get WhatsApp API, and it's only available on the WhatsApp Business app. You can download the app via your mobile app store. Once you have WhatsApp Business, register your business name on the app and you can request a verified WhatsApp badge (a green tick) if you meet the requirements and wish to.
Request WhatsApp Business API
WhatsApp API isn’t available for just any business, so you have to request access to WhatsApp API and if your business passes the application process, you’ll be given access. You can check WhatsApp Commerce Policy to see if your business meets the requirements.
If your business meets the requirements, you can request WhatsApp API individually or through a Business Solution Provider (BSP).
WhatsApp encourages entrepreneurs and business owners to request for API through a solution provider and there are currently 65 partners to choose from. Requests via brand partners typically take 1-3 weeks and it's way easier to get an API approval than if you request individually.
Once you select a BSP, you’ll have to input your business information and activate a phone number for your business. You may also need to complete other forms depending on the BSP you pick.
Set Up Your WhatsApp Chatbot
The next step is to set up your WhatsApp Chatbot by following the instructions of your Business Solution Provider. Each BSP has a unique process for how you set up the WhatsApp chatbots.
(Credit: Yellow.ai)
Test Your WhatsApp Chatbots
Once you have set up your WhatsApp chatbots, you can generate the HTML code to integrate the chatbots on your website. You’ll also get a QR code and a click-to-chat WhatsApp Image name to your registered business number.
To test your chatbot, go to your website from another device and access the WhatsApp chatbot icon. Then ask the WhatsApp AI a few questions and check its responses. When all is right, you are good to go.
Transfer WhatsApp Business Data Between Devices Easily
Due to the increased level of interaction and client service on WhatsApp Business messaging platforms, businesses will have more messages and customers to respond to, meaning way more client data and user interaction to keep track of.
As a business owner or entrepreneur, it is extremely crucial to make your WhatsApp data and files available on different devices.
If you want a safe and swift way to transfer your important WhatsApp Business messages and files, you should try Wondershare MobileTrans - WhatsApp Transfer.
Mobiletrans - WhatsApp Transfer is a user-friendly and quick software feature that allows you to transfer important WhatsApp data from one device to another.
- You can transfer data between over 6,000 iOS and Android devices.
- It can transfer your WhatsApp Business messages, exchanged media files, documents, and more from one device to another.
- Your additional data, like contacts, customer leads, shared Image names, group details, etc. would also be retained.
4.5/5 Excellent
safe & secureOnce you download and install Mobiletrans on your PC, you can follow these simple steps to transfer your WhatsApp data in a few minutes:
- Plug in your device to your PC using a USB cable and launch Mobiletrans.
- Select WhatsApp Transfer and then WhatsApp Business Transfer.
- Select the WhatsApp Data you want to back up and select Start at the bottom of the screen.
- Mobiletrans will begin the backup process and notify you within minutes when the backup is complete.
Final Words
In summary, WhatsApp AI chatbot is a manifestation of how far generative AI has come in the last few years and its functions show us how AI can improve businesses, customer service, and client interaction.
You should also remember that WhatsApp is currently working on integrating a personal version of the WhatsApp AI Chatbot into its standard messaging app for users.
To set up a WhatsApp chatbot for your business, you need to register your business and pass the API requirements. After, you can request WhatsApp API individually or through one of WhatsApp’s Business Solution Providers. Once you have been approved for API access, build your chatbots and test them to ensure all is working fine.
4.5/5 ExcellentFAQ
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1. Can everyone use the new WhatsApp AI?
Not everyone can use the new WhatsApp AI Chatbot for their business because WhatsApp has limitations regarding the type of business and Industry that can use the AI feature. It’s important to check WhatsApp commerce requirements to know if you are eligible to use the new WhatsApp AI. -
2. How can I Chat with the WhatsApp Chatbot?
It’s very easy to chat with the WhatsApp chatbot. When you go on a website or platform that has the new WhatsApp AI, you’ll most likely see a pop-up notification or WhatsApp icon on the page that you can click to chat with the WhatsApp chatbot.Some other platforms may display a short query on the page such as Ask me anything, how can I help you today? Or what would you like to know? next to a text field. You can type your questions into this text field and the WhatsApp AI will respond. -
3. When will WhatsApp AI Launch?
WhatsApp AI chatbot for businesses is already available for public use. However, if you are asking about the personal version of the Chatbot, we may see this sometime next year as WhatsApp is currently rolling out testers for its beta model.
