Scaling Your Business with the WhatsApp Business API: An Introduction to Wati

WhatsApp¹ has become an indispensable part of daily communication, with 2.8 billion people using it monthly. For businesses, this presents a massive opportunity to connect with customers personally, with 64% of users agreeing that WhatsApp offers a personal connection to businesses. Wati, a solution built on the WhatsApp Business API, helps growing SMBs and larger companies harness the power of WhatsApp for marketing, sales, and support.

Why Choose WhatsApp for Business?

WhatsApp offers several advantages for businesses looking to enhance their communication strategy:

• Reach: Connect with a vast global audience.

• Engagement: Foster personal connections with customers.

• Preference: Many users find it the easiest way to connect with a business.

Understanding the WhatsApp Ecosystem

The WhatsApp ecosystem includes:

• WhatsApp Messenger: For individuals.

• WhatsApp Business: For small businesses, offering easy setup, quick replies, labels, and basic automation.

• WhatsApp API: For growing SMBs and larger companies, providing multi-device access, bulk broadcast messaging, automated chatbots, custom notifications, customer segmentation, native integrations, and advanced analytics.

Advantages of Using the WhatsApp API (with Wati)

Leveraging the WhatsApp API through a platform like Wati offers numerous benefits:

• Multi-device Access: Manage communications seamlessly across multiple devices.

• Bulk Broadcast Messaging: Efficiently send targeted messages to large audiences.

• Automated Chatbots: Provide instant customer service and automate up to 80% of queries, handling FAQs, replying instantly, and closing tickets 24/7.

• Custom Notifications: Personalize customer interactions.

• Customer Segmentation: Target specific customer groups based on behavior and preferences.

• Advanced Analytics and Reporting: Track and measure campaign effectiveness.

• 24/7 Availability: Ensure continuous customer support and engagement.

• End-to-End Encryption: Secure all communications.

• Native Integrations: Easily integrate with CRM systems and other tools.

• Auto-checkout Feature: Streamline the purchasing process within WhatsApp.

Limitations of the WhatsApp API

It's also important to be aware of the limitations of the WhatsApp API:

• Mandatory Pre-approval for Template Messages: Template messages and broadcasts require approval from WhatsApp.

• No Support for WhatsApp Groups: The API does not allow the creation or management of groups.

• No Voice/Video Calls: The API does not support voice or video calls.

• Single Application Use per Number: A number upgraded to the API cannot be used with other WhatsApp applications.

• 24-hour Messaging Window: Businesses have a 24-hour window to respond to customer messages for live chat.

• Cost Considerations: Costs are associated with sending messages beyond the free tier and using advanced features.

Selling and Engaging Like a Pro with Wati

Wati provides features to help businesses sell and engage effectively:

• WhatsApp Chat to Links: Direct customers to a conversation with your business via click-to-chat links.

• WhatsApp Catalog: Showcase products with images, prices, and details to increase sales potential.

• Click-to-WhatsApp Ads: Create campaigns on Facebook and Instagram that allow users to start a WhatsApp conversation directly from an ad.

• WhatsApp Broadcasts: Leverage broadcast features to send personalized campaigns to large audiences.

• Broadcast Analytics: Get detailed statistics on broadcast messages to understand campaign performance.

• Automated Campaigns: Schedule and automate campaigns to run at optimal times.

• Targeted Messaging: Use segmentation tools to send personalized messages to different audience segments.

• Analytics: Track campaign performance with real-time analytics.

• Templates Library: Utilize pre-approved message templates for various business needs.

Wati for Support

Wati can also transform your customer support:

• WhatsApp Chat Widgets: Boost sales by utilizing live consultations via chat widgets.

• Dedicated Customer Service Agents: Deliver personalized 24/7 service for a hassle-free customer assistance experience.

• AI-powered Agent: Wati's AI agent can handle FAQs, reply instantly, and close tickets, while complex queries are auto-routed to human agents. This balances AI with human touch where it matters, leading to happier customers and less agent burnout.

Real-World Success Stories

Businesses like Leheriyaa and those supported by Celestine Bodi have seen tangible results using Wati. Through workflow automation, Vikas Agrawal of Leheriyaa improved lead conversion rates and reduced response times. Celestine Bodi enabled a network to achieve a 50% open rate and a 20% click-through rate on WhatsApp by implementing sophisticated automated sequences and integrating with Facebook ads. These cases highlight Wati's flexibility and its power to drive measurable results through automation and personalized engagement at scale.

Getting Started with Wati

To use the WhatsApp API with Wati, you typically need a business number that does not have an active WhatsApp account at the time of migration and a display name that relates to your business. Businesses are classified into tiers based on their messaging volume, which affects broadcast limits. You can increase your messaging limit by sending messages to more unique contacts and maintaining a high-quality rating by adhering to policies, messaging opted-in users, and sending personalized, valuable messages.

WhatsApp API uses conversation-based pricing, with different types of conversations (user-initiated and business-initiated). The first 1000 conversations are typically free each month. Getting a WhatsApp Green Tick can increase trust, credibility, and deliverability.

If you're considering how to leverage WhatsApp for your business, exploring a solution like Wati could be the key to unlocking new levels of customer engagement, operational efficiency, and growth. You can learn more about Wati and its features through its resources. You can also try Wati for free².

1. Beyond the Broadcast: Driving Real Results on WhatsApp with WATI Automation (Case Study Deep Dive), Google Docs document published online, https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vS0t-lh-THR2ecOdY2a2st7k-mG8A1KsqR6SI-iwCXh4zFK1eBQDQFD0BnzcrHQ_JkAqlRoxo3ch0aW/pub (accessed April 24, 2025).

2. I believe in transparency. So, heads up: some links in this review are affiliate links. If you purchase them, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). It helps me keep the lights on and create more helpful content like this.