A Brief Introduction to WhatsApp Shipping/Courier/Logistics API Integration
WhatsApp is a messaging app with over 2 billion monthly active users. While WhatsApp started out as a simple messaging app, it has since evolved into a powerful platform for businesses and organizations of all sizes. As companies increasingly prioritize customer experience, WhatsApp has turned out to be among the highest ROI (Return on Investment) generating channels. The WhatsApp Shipping API integration allows ecommerce companies to nurture existing buyers and acquire new ones through top-notch customer service. Let’s find out more about the WhatsApp Courier API integration and why every ecommerce store needs one.
What is a WhatsApp Shipping API integration?
The WhatsApp Shipping API integration allows businesses to seamlessly integrate WhatsApp into their existing shipping, courier, and logistics operations. The integration provides businesses with a host of powerful features. These include the ability to set up automatic responders, send preprogrammed messages to customers, track deliveries in real-time, offer customer support, and much more. Businesses can connect WhatsApp to their existing CRM and help center to notify customers of order confirmation, cancellation, delays, RTOs, promos, and more. In short, the WhatsApp Courier API integration is a must-have for any business that wants to streamline its operations and provide a better customer experience.
How Does the WhatsApp Courier API integration Work?
To start using the WhatsApp Courier API, ecommerce companies need to create their WhatsApp Business account and pass Facebook’s verification and registration process. Although businesses can acquire the WhatsApp Shipping API directly, it’s challenging and expensive to do so.
The best way to access the WhatsApp shipping API is through gateways or service providers like Gupshup, Wati, Haptik, Contiinex, and more. Facebook authorizes these gateways to allow businesses access to WhatsApp’s logistics API. Therefore, online entrepreneurs can get a WhatsApp API account using any of these gateways. Once they get the API key, ecommerce stores can either choose to manage WhatsApp communications themselves or outsource it to logistics intelligence software.
Why Should Ecommerce Companies Use a Shipping Solution to Manage WhatsApp Logistics API integration?
As we discussed above, it’s possible for a business to manage its WhatsApp business communications independently. However, most online companies refrain from doing so. Here’s why:
1) Bigger Inbox
WhatsApp gateways like Zendesk, Gupshup, etc., do not have the inbox capacity to handle huge volumes of WhatsApp messages as a shipping management platform does.
2) Avoid Heavy Tech Costs
Without a shipping solution, ecommerce companies would need to create an API of their own to enable the flow of messages from business to customers and vice versa.
3) Get End to End Support
A logistics software can oversee the entire WhatsApp courier API integration process. This includes connecting to a gateway, procuring the API key, and gathering verified WhatsApp templates.
4) Unified Tracking
Shipping software provides a centralized platform for tracking orders and managing shipping information.
5) More Data to Analyze
They can also provide valuable insights into how your WhatsApp shipping API integration is performing and help you troubleshoot any issues that might arise.
Is WhatsApp Shipping API the Right Choice for Your Ecommerce Store?
With its extensive reach, high open rates (97%), and proactive user base, WhatsApp is a monumental tool for marketing and business operations. Since the introduction of the WhatsApp Business in 2018, customers can quickly reach out to a brand with a ‘click-to-chat’ button. Today, more than 82% of customers choose WhatsApp as their preferred mode of communicating with a business. Here are some of the advantages of using the WhatsApp Business API.
1) Multi-user accessibility across sales and support teams
The WhatsApp Logistics API enables all customer care representatives and sales personnel to use the same WhatsApp account to communicate with customers. Since your entire sales and support team is notified whenever a customer starts a conversation, waiting times are reduced. A shorter customer waiting period enhances their shopping experience with your brand.
2) A single branded account for customer communication
Despite multiple users managing operations through the same account, customers only interact with a single WhatsApp Business account. This helps build trust with customers and establish a more professional image.
3) Higher security with end-to-end encryption
WhatsApp provides end-to-end encryption for all customer communication. This means no one except the sender and the recipient can read that message. Not even WhatsApp. Other features like identity verification of clients and two-factor authentication make WhatsApp a more secure messaging platform than SMS and emails.
4) Bulk messaging
The WhatsApp courier API integration can be used to send automated messages to customers in bulk. Businesses can use this to share business information, promotional content, discount codes, abandoned cart notifications, and much more.
5) Automated message flows with chatbots
With the WhatsApp logistics API, businesses can create chatbots that fill in as team members during public holidays, network issues, or sale days. When customers know they can rely on a business to respond quickly and effectively to their inquiries, they are more likely to continue doing business with them.
How Does ClickPost Enhance the Ecommerce Customer Experience through WhatsApp Integration?
ClickPost offers a one-stop solution to all ecommerce companies looking to harness the power of WhatsApp to provide a better and more personalized customer experience. It manages all the minutiae of WhatsApp shipping API integration, including tying up with service providers. Let’s see how it can help your online store.
1) Milestone-based tracking
ClickPost’s WhatsApp API integration triggers tracking messages to customers at every order milestone. It provides a tracking link redirecting the customer to a tracking page with real-time order details. Since WhatsApp messages have an open rate of 97%, it is the most efficient way of keeping your customers informed.
2) Customer feedback on order delivery
As soon as an order is delivered, ClickPost sends a message to the customer for feedback. This is a great way to collect POD (Proof of Delivery) and determine what parts of the delivery operation need improvement. This is also where the customer can raise an issue with their delivery and head for a return or exchange.
3) Reduced RTO with instant customer responses
Every time an order fails to reach its destination, ClickPost triggers a notification to the customer asking for the next suitable time for delivery. This NDR management (Non-Delivery Report) feature reduces RTO% since customers respond more easily to WhatsApp messages. Instant customer responses also make tracking and managing fake deliveries much easier.
4) Automated return tracking updates
Product return is a sore area for both ecommerce companies and customers. Studies show that the highest returns come from regular customers. Therefore, it’s imperative to keep customer anxiety around returns in check. To take some pain off returns and help store owners provide an excellent returns experience, ClickPost keeps customers updated on their return status.
The WhatsApp logistics API integration also provides NPR (Non-Pickup Report) management by triggering messages whenever a scheduled pickup fails. With ClickPost, sellers can keep buyers notified throughout the refund or exchange process.
5) Additional sales with promotional campaigns
ClickPost helps online stores maximize their sales potential by sharing promotional campaigns via WhatsApp. It offers businesses templates for creating these WhatsApp messages, which can be customized with the store's branding and messaging.
6) Manage WhatsApp communications from a unified dashboard
ClickPost’s WhatsApp Business solution lets users connect with customers and prospects from a single dashboard. Whether you manage a small team or a large enterprise, you will never miss an important update.
7) Power growth with performance analytics
ClickPost offers detailed reports that give entrepreneurs complete visibility into all aspects of your WhatsApp activity. Such as message delivery and read rate, customer-initiated conversations, number of interactions, etc. This information is invaluable for maintaining a cohesive and effective communication strategy. Additionally, they can help ecommerce companies resolve issues and identify potential problems before they become serious.
Conclusion
A WhatsApp Courier API integration is the quickest way of reaching your audience. Since most of your customers are already on WhatsApp, it makes perfect sense to use this tool to provide better delivery, shipping, and customer service. Online shopping faces many challenges like returns, delays, RTOs, etc. The way businesses can alleviate these problems is by keeping communication transparent and swift. The WhatsApp Shipping API integration can help you achieve that and much more.
We hope to have answered all your questions in the blog above. If you think we missed anything, please let us know!