Businesses today rely on WhatsApp more than ever to connect with leads and customers. But juggling calls, chats and CRMs can be chaotic and time-consuming. You might be wondering, what’s the fix, and how can I manage WhatsApp API calls, chats and CRMs in one platform?

The answer is simple: you need a way to bring them all together.

Curious as to how? Keep reading. Below, we’ll dive into why managing these channels separately holds you back, how a unified platform benefits your workflow and why respond.io is the solution you need.

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Challenges When You Manage WhatsApp Call, Chat and CRM Separately

We all know that trying to manage different communication tools in silos is a recipe for disaster, but let’s take a closer look at why this is the case:

Fragmented Communications

Cohesive communication is the backbone of all WhatsApp sales and marketing activities. So imagine then if you had to juggle between WhatsApp calls, chats and customer relationship management (CRM) tools all on separate platforms. It’d make for a confusing, potentially disruptive experience.

For instance, if a lead moves from a WhatsApp chat to a call, a lack of context across different platforms can lead to errors and missed opportunities.

Inefficient Workflows

Switching between platforms isn’t just annoying. It’s wholly inefficient, and when it comes to sales and marketing, inefficiency means time wasted. Speed matters in sales, so slowing down response times means adding more friction to your sales funnels.

This can lead to your leads falling through the cracks and your customers waiting longer and feeling more dissatisfied. And in the worst case, choosing to leave you and opting to go for a competitor.

Limited Scalability

As your business continues to grow, so too will your list of leads and customers. While you could get away without having a centralized system to manage your calls, chats and CRM early on, this will quickly prove to be a fatal mistake down the line.

It’ll soon feel like solving a puzzle without ever seeing the full picture. Without a clear system, your teams will struggle not just with keeping up with leads, but also with improving campaigns, understanding what works and cutting out the flab.

Benefits of Managing WhatsApp API Call, Chat and CRM in One Platform

The solution to the above is simple: you need a single, unified communication platform that manages calls, chats and CRMs.

When all your communication channels live under one roof, here’s how this benefits you:

Centralized Customer Data

Bringing everything together provides your teams with a full view of the customer journey. This means the moment a message or call comes in, it appears in a shared inbox, allowing your teams to quickly get the context they need to handle their conversations. No more hunting around for the latest conversation details or checking three different apps just to confirm a past purchase or issue!

Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity

A consolidated platform cuts the time needed to update records, record calls, answer chats and assign leads. Teams can hop from one task to the next without copying and pasting information across different platforms, making workflows all the more productive.

Cost Savings

Paying for multiple tools is a waste of money, especially when you don’t need to. Each subscription adds up, and so do the administrative costs of managing different billing cycles and licenses. By merging calls, chats and CRMs into one platform, you’ll quickly realize what you can cut and save more.

Improved Collaboration

Keeping conversations easily accessible makes it easier for everyone, from sales to support to marketing and beyond, to collaborate. If marketing wants to see how leads are responding after a new campaign, they can look at the messaging history. If sales need quick input on a lead’s query, they can spot the relevant chat and add notes directly.

Respond.io: The All-in-One Platform for WhatsApp Calls, Chat and CRM

So you know you need an all-in-one solution, but how do you put that into action? Simple. You turn to solutions like respond.io that wraps calls, chats and CRM capabilities into a single, user-friendly package.

Unified Dashboard for Communication

Respond.io gives you a centralized dashboard for all WhatsApp interactions. The second a new message or call comes in, it appears in a shared inbox. Teams can sort conversations by priority, tag them and assign them to the right person. This means fewer tasks slip through the cracks, and your team can handle multiple conversations more effectively.

Better still, the seamless transition between conversations and calls means you don’t have to switch tools if a text-based conversation suddenly requires a voice call—everything happens under one roof!

CRM Integration

Another major perk is how respond.io handles your CRM needs. You get centralized customer data for personalized interactions—all the context you need to tailor each conversation.

Plus, by automating customer workflows, lead tracking becomes easier. You can automatically assign leads to specific reps, send follow-up reminders and move prospects through your pipeline based on how they engage with your WhatsApp messages.

Advanced Features for Efficiency

Respond.io also comes packed with AI-powered tools for chat automation, so chatbots can handle routine questions 24/7. If something more complex arises, the bot seamlessly hands off to a human agent, with all the context intact.

Meanwhile, reporting and analytics for performance improvement let you track metrics like average response times and conversion rates. This data shows you where your team excels and where you might want to tweak your approach.

How to Get Started with WhatsApp API Calls

Setting up WhatsApp Business API calling isn’t rocket science. In fact, it’s actually far simpler than you might expect:

Join the WhatsApp API Calls Beta Program

The first step is to apply for access to the WhatsApp API Voice Calling Beta program. To get started, reach out to a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP) such as respond.io.

As one of the only beta providers offering the WhatsApp Calling API, respond.io provides early access to the calling feature, giving you the opportunity to unify your calls, chats and CRM in one platform. This allows you to streamline communications and stay ahead of the competition.

Once you’re enrolled, ensure your WhatsApp Business Account is verified and ready for API integration. Then, integrate the API with respond.io to begin managing calls and chats from a single platform. Your BSP will guide you through this process.

After everything is set up—especially if you’ve done it via respond.io—you can start taking full advantage of respond.io’s powerful features when managing WhatsApp API calls, chats and CRMs in one place.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does the platform handle customer data privacy and security?

Respond.io prioritizes data security, complying with GDPR and other global standards. All data is encrypted, and businesses retain full control over their information.

Are there any additional fees for using WhatsApp API calls compared to chats?

WhatsApp plans to introduce competitive pricing during the beta phase. Costs will vary based on usage and region, so it’s best to consult your API provider for specific details.

Who provides support for technical difficulties — Meta or respond.io?

Meta and Business Solution Providers handle API-related issues. For platform-specific support, including integration with Respond.io, the Respond.io team is ready to assist

Further Reading

If you liked our article, we invite you to check out the following reads:

• WhatsApp Sales: How to Sell on WhatsApp [Nov 2023]
• WhatsApp vs WhatsApp Business for Sales and Marketing
• WhatsApp API Explained: Features, Benefits & Pricing