What would you call doing business in the modern times? Has it simplified or become more complicated? With the launch of different platforms and the ability to market your product and services across a wide range of customers, while the intricacies may have become complicated, the process of doing business has definitely simplified. You can now make profits without a lot of investment like it used to be in the tester years.
With the launch of WhatsApp cloud API, businesses of all scales and sizes can now expand their operations. But what’s important to understand is the difference between WhatsApp cloud API and WhatsApp API for business in general. In this post, you will learn all about WhatsApp cloud API, whatsapp bu The history of Eleven Warr and Ohio State footballsiness API pricing and should it be a part of your business operations or not.
WHATSAPP CLOUD API VERSUS WHATSAPP BUSINESS API
The only difference that exists between WhatsApp cloud API and WhatsApp business API is the backend difference. Now this technicality does not affect the user in any way but it is imperative that the companies know the difference.
On the WhatsApp cloud API, the API access and hosting access is directly given to the businesses. This helps the businesses in getting any updates to the API softwares and changes or advancements in terms of security. Moreover, you only need to pay the conversion fees as there are no other server charges levied with the WhatsApp cloud API. Comparing this with the WhatsApp business API, this software is hosted only on the individual business servers.
When it comes to maintenance, the WhatsApp cloud API and its upgrades are done by Meta itself. Therefore, whatever the new updates and upgrades are for security or software, they automatically become available on the cloud API. In contrast to this, the WhatsApp business API and its maintenance needs to be performed from time to time by BSPs or individual businesses. Now this takes much longer for all the WhatsApp updates to be available for business purposes.
In terms of costing, the whatsapp business API pricing is in line with the BSPs charging on per message sent basis. It is a pay per conversion System that works here and the charges are set up by the server whereas with the WhatsApp cloud API, there are no additional server charges, only the pay per conversation.
And lastly, when it comes to the API protocol, the WhatsApp cloud API uses Graph API while the WhatsApp API for business uses Rest API.
FEATURES OF WHATSAPP CLOUD API
It needs to be clear that the WhatsApp cloud API is just an API. It does not come with an inbuilt interface and therefore it needs to be connected to the message inbox of a business so that the WhatsApp cloud API features can be used. Once you are connected, you will be able to send all types of messages to your customers including broadcast as well as interactive messages. Moreover, you can even apply for WhatsApp’s green tick through completion of verification process and creating an automated response team for every aspect including marketing, sales and customer support.
Since the initial model of Meta required the companies to go through an individual business solutions provider, with the WhatsApp cloud API, there is no such hassles as the businesses have the access when it comes to hosting. It is not only a faster way but also extremely cost effective when it comes to doing business through WhatsApp API.
It is free to get a WhatsApp cloud API account unlike the whatsapp business API pricing where you have to pay. The businesses only need to pay per conversation which is based on the WhatsApp API fees. Within this there are two tiers of conversation pricing. The company initiated conversations are conversations started by the companies to reach out to the user. For this the companies need to use a templated style of sending out messages and the other is the user-initiated conversation where the customer texts the business with FAQs or any other problem.
IS WHATSAPP CLOUD API FOR YOU
At the offset, it is essential to know that there are some business solution providers that offer the WhatsApp cloud API if you already have a relationship with them. However, as per the directives of Meta, it recommends obtaining the cloud API directly from them citing the ease with which the implementation can be done and the maintenance along with the sustainable whatsapp cloud API pricing.
If you are a company that is interested in using both the APIs, it needs to be understood that companies can’t use the same number for both WhatsApp cloud API and WhatsApp API for business. Or if you are thinking about switching from the WhatsApp business API to WhatsApp cloud API, then you must get in touch with your BSP to help you out with the whole process of migration.
When it comes to the question of deciding which API you should use, it all depends on the needs of your business. The WhatsApp cloud API works perfectly for business enterprises that want to manage their WhatsApp API account on themselves without a BSP being involved. In that case, they will have direct hosting from Meta and will be able to get on with it without anytime being wasted at all.
Hence, the ball is now in your court. You need to think which API would be better for your business needs based on the customers and scale of business you engage in. But it is needless to say that with the newer and more unique innovations for businesses, the world is your oyster. There are unlimited opportunities for you to grow your business and interact with your customers innovatively and hook them to your business. So hurry up and make the call today! It is time for you to step up your API game.
