Integrating with WhatsApp Business for Automated Communication 
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11 September 2024 | 
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WhatsApp Personal and Business
WhatsApp Personal is designed for individual communication and personal use, allowing manual interaction with friends, family, and groups. WhatsApp Business is tailored for businesses to interact with customers, automate responses, and integrate professional communication tools, such as AI, while keeping it separate from personal use.
Automation and Integration
With the WhatsApp Business API and Twilio, you can automate responses and integrate AI for business communications. This enables streamlined, automated customer interaction while maintaining a clear boundary between business and personal messaging. Automation allows for efficiency in handling queries, sending updates, and integrating AI-driven responses.
Business Account (WhatsApp Business API or Twilio)
Group Messaging
- WhatsApp Business API: Does not support group messaging. You can't send or receive messages in group chats.
- Twilio: Supports both sending and receiving messages in group chats.
- Cost: ?0.35 per incoming message, ?0.415 per outgoing message (in INR).
- Media: Image files up to 16 MB can be sent. You can filter out videos if needed.
One-on-One Messaging
- WhatsApp Business API:
- Receiving Messages: Free to receive messages.
- Sending Messages: You can reply freely within a 24-hour window. After 24 hours, pre-approved message templates are required.
- Media Handling: You can send images up to 16 MB. Video filtering is possible.
- Twilio:
- Can be used for both receiving and sending messages.
- Cost: ?0.35 per incoming message, ?0.415 per outgoing message (in INR).
- Template Requirement: After the 24-hour window, pre-approved message templates are required.
Personal WhatsApp Number
Group Messaging
- No API or Programmatic Integration: You cannot automate sending or receiving messages from a group using a personal WhatsApp number.
- WhatsApp Web/Desktop: You can manually participate in group messaging but without automation.
One-on-One Messaging
- No API Integration: You cannot use programmatic automation (e.g., AI integration) for one-on-one messaging with a personal WhatsApp number.
- Manual Use Only: Can be used manually via WhatsApp Web or Desktop.
Popular WhatsApp Integration Providers
Here's a table listing popular providers like Twilio, 360dialog, WATI, Vonage, MessageBird, Tyntec, Zoko, and Karix for WhatsApp integration, along with their costs, benefits, limitations, and identification of the cheapest option:
| Provider | Cost (Monthly/Message) | Benefits | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twilio | ?0.35 per incoming message, ?0.415 per outgoing message | Highly customizable API, flexible for developers | Requires setup and programming, costs can add up for high message volumes |
| 360dialog | ?4070/month with 1000 free messages, ?0.415 per additional message | Simple pricing, fast setup | Less customization than Twilio |
| WATI | ?4070/month with 1000 free messages, ?0.15 per message for higher plans | Easy-to-use interface, pre-built chatbot integration | Limited flexibility for developers |
| Vonage | ?0.33 per message | Global reach, multi-channel communication | Requires more complex setup for smaller businesses |
| MessageBird | ?0.42 per message | Strong API integration, multi-channel support | Costs are slightly higher compared to others |
| Tyntec | ?0.40 per message | Enterprise-level security, scalable | Requires technical expertise for setup |
| Zoko | ?3500/month with 2500 free messages, ?0.14 per additional message | Focused on e-commerce, built-in tools for marketing | Limited customization for non-e-commerce businesses |
| Karix | ?0.30 per message | Cost-effective, reliable for bulk messaging | Limited API flexibility |