Want to know how to use WhatsApp business with multiple users? Or can WhatsApp business be used on multiple devices? We have all the answers for you. In this article, we’ll solve the WhatsApp Business Multiple Users problem by explaining how to set up and use multi agent WhatsApp for sales, support and marketing on respond.io.
WhatsApp Business Multiple Users: Different Business Sizes
Using WhatsApp Business with multiple users or on multiple devices depends on which WhatsApp product you’re using - WhatsApp Business App or WhatsApp Business API. Each platform has its own method of adding additional users and devices.
WhatsApp Business App
WhatsApp designed WhatsApp Business App's features and capabilities with small businesses in mind. The setup process is straightforward and businesses can use the app for free. The WhatsApp Business App allows you to use WhatsApp Business for multiple users.
Previously, it was accessible only for one smartphone and one PC. However, after the recent update in 2022 to WhatsApp Business App, you can link WhatsApp Business on up to 5 devices, comprising 1 phone + 4 additional devices for each number.
WhatsApp is also rolling out a paid plan called WhatsApp Business Premium. By subscribing to WhatsApp Business Premium, you can connect up to 10 devices so you and your team can handle customer inquiries more quickly. You can even assign chats to specific agents. However, this plan is currently only available in certain countries.
Having 5 to 10 devices connected to one WhatsApp number is sufficient for sole proprietors and small businesses only if your team size stays the same. As your business grows, you’ll need a more sophisticated platform to handle more Agents, Contacts and messages. This is where WhatsApp API comes in.
WhatsApp API
For larger businesses with teams of agents, it’s important to handle a high volume of messages fast. They’ll also need to reply to all Contacts promptly and track their team workload and organization performance.
However, these additional features are only available to WhatsApp API accounts when connected to a Messaging Inbox like respond.io.
WhatsApp Business App or WhatsApp API?
To help you visualize better, we've created a flow chart as a guide. This will give you a better idea of which WhatsApp product is suitable for micro-small businesses and SMEs and large businesses.
Next, we'll take a look at each product's features plus the associated pros and cons in detail.
WhatsApp Business Multiple Users: Micro-Small Businesses
So you're a micro-small business owner considering WhatsApp Business App. Read on to find out how to use WhatsApp Business with multiple agents on the app.
How to Use WhatsApp Business with Multiple Users via the App
Any business can use the WhatsApp Business App with multiple devices or users. To link a device, follow the steps below.
- Go to your WhatsApp Business App.
- Tap the More Options icon with 3 vertical dots.
- Click Linked Devices.
- Click LINK A DEVICE.
- Scan the QR code.
You can get the QR code on WhatsApp Business Web or WhatsApp Business Desktop App on your companion devices. The steps above work on Android devices. For iPhone users, simply go to WhatsApp Settings in Step 2 and follow the rest of the instructions above.
Before you start, make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp on your phone. Upon linking, your team can then access WhatsApp Business on your additional devices without the need to keep your phone connected.
Multi Agent WhatsApp: A Temporary Solution Using the App
Using WhatsApp Business App with multiple devices is convenient for small businesses but this is only a temporary solution or feasible when your business is starting. As your business expands, you’ll soon encounter problems with using linked devices such as:
- Not knowing who sent or replied to a message
- Can’t track Agent workload or performance
- Can’t ensure all Contacts have been answered
Because of these reasons, using the app is only something you should do as a temporary solution before moving to WhatsApp API.
WhatsApp Business Multiple Users: SMEs & Large Businesses
Larger businesses with more sophisticated needs require a platform with more advanced features to solve the WhatsApp Business multiple users problem. For that, we need to use WhatsApp API connected to a messaging inbox.
To start, we'll explain what is WhatsApp API, how to get started with the cheapest WhatsApp API price on the market and why it's better to use WhatsApp Business on multiple devices with respond.io.
WhatsApp Business on Multiple Devices: WhatsApp API Overview
Firstly, WhatsApp API is designed for SMEs and large businesses that are looking to scale and manage their teams, messages and customers more effectively.
But before we move on, here are some basic things you need to know about WhatsApp API.
- It has a 24-hour messaging window
- It's not free
- You need to apply for an account and undergo an approval process
We'll explain each point in detail in the following sections.
WhatsApp Business on Multiple Devices: WhatsApp API Messaging Window
WhatsApp API has a messaging window. Every time a Contact sends an inbound message, a 24-hour timer starts or restarts. Within the Messaging Window businesses can reply freely.
After 24 hours, only Message Templates can be used to reopen the messaging window. They come in customizable Placeholders, Media Headers like images, videos and documents plus Quick Reply & Call-to-Action buttons. You can also use these templates for certain use cases like re-marketing with WhatsApp Broadcast.
WhatsApp Business on Multiple Devices: WhatsApp API Pricing
For WhatsApp API Pricing, businesses do not pay WhatsApp directly. Instead, you’ll pay the WhatsApp Partner according to their pricing. Meanwhile, the Partners pay WhatsApp for every Message Template following WhatsApp’s Standard Rate Card.
On top of charging you what WhatsApp charges them, the Partners can charge you whatever they want. Most of them add a markup fee to Message Templates and/or charge a high monthly fee. Some also charge per User or per Monthly Active Contacts.
To help you get the best WhatsApp API price on the market, we've negotiated a special deal with 360dialog that is only available to our customers. It costs just $5 a month and there is no markup fee for all Message Templates.
And because 360dialog is using a proxy API, it's easier and faster for us to integrate any new changes from WhatsApp. This means you'll get new updates quicker through 360dialog compared to other WhatsApp Partners.
WhatsApp Business on Multiple Devices: How to Get a WhatsApp API Account
Here's what you can expect when signing up with 360dialog. All you need is to link your Facebook Business Account and bring a phone number. The process takes only a few minutes and your WhatsApp API account is ready.
As WhatsApp API is simply a pipe that transmits information to and from WhatsApp's network, it doesn’t have an app or front-end interface. You'll need to connect the API to a Messaging Inbox like respond.io to send and receive messages.
Once the account is live, paste the API token to respond.io and you're ready to start using WhatsApp Business on multiple devices with WhatsApp API.
WhatsApp Business Multiple Users: Supported Use Cases with Respond.io
Next, we'll show how you can use WhatsApp Business with multiple users on respond.io for different use cases like sales, customer service, marketing with WhatsApp Click to Chat Ads and re-marketing with WhatsApp Broadcast.
WhatsApp Business Multiple Agents: WhatsApp Sales & Customer Support
With our customizable workflows, you can use WhatsApp API for Sales and Support with multiple agents. Anytime there’s an inbound message, it’ll route your customers to the right team based on the customers’ profile, conversation purpose & customer life cycle.
Once the workflows for inbound messages are set up, you can prioritize important customers first and ensure no customers are left unattended by assigning them to the most relevant and/or readily available Agent on your team.
WhatsApp Business Multiple Agents: WhatsApp Click to Chat Ads
Do you run WhatsApp Click to Chat Ads and struggle with qualifying leads and handling a large volume of inbound messages? With respond.io, you can qualify leads faster through automated surveys and increase lead conversion by replying to them promptly with our dedicated multi-user response platform.
However, once the messaging window with a lead closes, you can only use Message Templates to message them again. One way to reconnect with leads en masse is to use Message Templates for WhatsApp Broadcast.
WhatsApp Business Multiple Agents: WhatsApp Broadcast
Broadcasting is as simple as selecting the Contacts who have opted-in to hear from you, creating your message's content with media attachments and adding a Call-to-Action or Quick Reply Button. Once you're done, simply send or schedule a broadcast in advance.
Once the leads start replying, you'll receive a high volume of messages. But remember, you can now manage your messages more effectively and have teams of Agents replying to them at the same time on different devices.
Multi Agent WhatsApp: Improve Team Performance with respond.io
While we have solved the WhatsApp Business Multiple Users problem, businesses still need to understand their customers better and ensure everyone in their Team is performing.
With our Reports Module, you'll know exactly which Agent was assigned to a Contact, how many Contacts an Agent is currently handling and if they're efficient at closing Conversations based on their response and resolution time.
Plus, Respond.io has specially designed tools to facilitate collaboration among Agents. Handy features like adding Comments and tagging another colleague in a Conversation allow Agents to collaborate, respond and resolve Conversations faster.
Also, our Contact Merge feature allows you to have a 360-degree view of your customers with our omnichannel inbox. This helps your Agents reply to customers more efficiently when all the Contact information is readily available from one centralized dashboard.
Last not but not least, stay connected to your customers even when you're on the go with the respond.io mobile app. No more missing a Conversation. Instead, get notified each time you receive a new message or whenever someone assigns you a new Contact.
Further Reading
If you enjoyed this article and you'd like to learn more about WhatsApp Business, please check out our articles on:
- The Ultimate Guide to WhatsApp Business API
- Everything You Need to Know About WhatsApp Cloud API
- WhatsApp API Pricing: The Ultimate Guide to WhatsApp Business API Pricing
