WhatsApp Looks to Onboard More Small Businesses with Cloud-Based Tools

The popular social messaging app, WhatsApp is set to roll out a new cloud-based feature that will benefit more businesses hosted on its platform. As announced by  Mark Zuckerberg at the latest “Conversations” live event, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: FB), the new cloud API services are designed to enable a better integration for businesses that wish to have a seamless experience connecting with their customers.

The WhatsApp cloud business is designed to be free for all businesses and would mean “any business or developer can easily access our service, build directly on top of WhatsApp to customize their experience and speed up their response time to customers by using our secure WhatsApp Cloud API hosted by Meta,” Zuckerberg said.

The cloud-based solution is free to use and will enable all businesses using it to cut down on all cloud-related costs they might have been incurring. WhatsApp business is an offshoot of the messaging platform that was acquired in a record-breaking deal worth $14 billion back in 2014. Meta Platforms has been able to transform the business into a revenue-generating one, especially with the WhatsApp business version.

Since the WhatsApp business launch in 2018, it has become a very pivotal arena for small businesses to ply their trades as it offers a chat interface that many social media users are already used to.

“The best business experiences meet people where they are. Already more than 1 billion users connect with a business account across our messaging services every week. They’re reaching out for help, to find products and services, and to buy anything from big-ticket items to everyday goods. And today, I am excited to announce that we’re opening WhatsApp to any business of any size around the world with WhatsApp Cloud API,” he said.

WhatsApp Cloud Business for All

While the primary focus of the new cloud-based WhatsApp business app will be focused on small businesses, Meta Platforms said the new tool is indeed designed for all businesses including those it currently hosts.

Since its inception, big brands like Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE: UBER), Vodafone, Coppel, Sears Mexico, BMW, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Iberia Airlines, Itau Brazil, iFood, and Bank Mandiri makes use of the WhatsApp business app or API and the new cloud option will all the more add increased functionality to these firm’s customer service experiences.

Besides the free version of the new cloud service, Meta Platforms said there will also be a paid version that will open users to an even bigger functionality and ease of use.

The unique offerings that subscribers will get with the paid version include support for automated quick replies, greeting messages, FAQs, away messaging, statistics, and more. Additionally, paid users can manage messages on about 10 devices, and ultimately, the new tool will host a click-through provision that will see users connect to other apps from the social media giant including Facebook and Instagram.