You may have received loads of WhatsApp updates for the past years. Some of them may not matter, but it seems the latest one definitely does. The global mobile messaging giant is pushing out a beta for a new service that allows non-mobile phone devices to use the service without needing a registered phone being connected to the internet. So yes, you no longer need a mobile phone to use WhatsApp.
Though WhatsApp already supports two devices right now, such as the web WhatsApp, it needs your registered mobile phone to be connected to the internet. So having this update basically revolutionizes the way we use this app. Imagine the extra convenience and flexibility you get as WhatsApp supports multiple devices.
Wow.
So yes, it is worthwhile to look deeper.
What’s this new multi-device feature?
If you’ve used WhatsApp on your mobile phone and other devices, you’d probably know that you need to have all devices linked with one mobile phone to connect to the same account. There are two significant disadvantages. Firstly, you can’t support more than one phone at a time, meaning you can never run WhatsApp on two mobile phones no matter how much you need to. Secondly, even if you only have one registered mobile phone, you can only link your WhatsApp account to four devices at any point. Usually, that’s enough, but you may be in an awkward situation if you need more.
So here comes the new beta. It lets you log in to WhatsApp with your different devices without linking them with your mobile phone. All your devices are now stand-alone, and you no longer need to worry about whether your phone is handy.
How can I try this beta?
To be part of it, simply update your WhatsApp to the latest version. Then, select “Linked Device” as you’d do when using your web or desktop setup for WhatsApp. But this time, there’s a new option called “Multi-device beta.” Manually enable it and go through its pretty comprehensive support page.
Once you’ve joined the beta, the system will log you out of all devices, and you’ll need to sign in manually for all of them. To do that, authenticate your mobile phone with your fingerprint or Face ID, then scan the QR code.
You’ll notice everything looks almost the same, except you’ll no longer get the annoying notification that your phone is running flat. And as always, everything is end-to-end encrypted.
Happy days!
Read more: How Singtel leverages WhatsApp Business to drive Customer Experience 3.0
How to use WhatsApp on multiple devices with the same number
But there’s a catch. You might think you could use this update for your eCommerce with multiple logins. Well, think again. After all, this new feature is designed for ordinary users, not businesses. So if your phone’s flat for some reason and you still need to text your friends and family, this update could be a lifesaver. However, if you’re a business owner, you’re still confined within the four-collaborator quota, so it might not work smoothly for you and your organization.
Limitations of this new feature
Also, there are two other problems with using the new feature for business purposes.
1. The message will be gone
Firstly, when you switch to beta, all the message pins will be gone. That may not be a major issue, but if you have any essential customers or contacts, scrolling through all the threads to find those that matter will be a huge hassle.
2. It helps individuals, not businesses
Since the nature of this update is individual-oriented, it lacks the essential functions of allocating conversations to other staff and pinpointing who is talking to which customer. This disadvantage may be particularly obvious to companies handling multiple threads and inquiries every hour. Adding to the fact that you only have four device slots, using the beta for business reasons really doesn’t seem like a good move.
Hmm, bummer.
Best way to run WhatsApp business on multiple devices
Since this beta tool seems no bueno for e-commerce businesses, the best way to organize different conversations and customer service accounts without relying on one mobile phone is to find and use a suitable WhatsApp Business API.
Before we go into our favorites, let’s look at what makes a good WhatsApp business API. API stands for Application Programming Interface and is a software intermediary that allows two applications to communicate and synchronize. It should integrate with your existing interface and helps you organize and compile your customers by segments, allocate conversions and accounts to relevant staff members and track customer data.
How to choose a suitable API?
Here are some key things a good API should do for you:
Notification broadcast
Reaching out to all customers or different groups of customers may be a hassle, but APIs should help you handle it, so you don’t need to copy and paste all the time.
Support multiple agents
Thanks to APIs, different agents can access your business’ WhatsApp account and handle different customer cases. Not just that, you can now track each case so that any staff member can pick up the case without a problem. What’s the maximum number of collaborators at one time? It’s unlimited! It depends on what plan you select.
Automation and chatbots
With API, you can assign automated incoming chats to reps based on their scenarios, so your customers are always attended to. Also, you can send automated messages to customers and help them with basic questions, especially during off-hours.
Integration with different platforms
Got multiple platforms and systems? A good API should help you integrate different channels, tracking systems, payment platforms, calendars, and task management tools.
Provide customer insights
Without the right customer data, you lack the visibility to plan for the future. So leave this to a good API, for it will show you what customers want, your stats on handling tickets and how you’re growing.
The APIs we like
We’ve gone through what a good API should do besides helping your team access multiple WhatsApp chats with the same business account. Now, on to our favorite APIs (in no particular order).
*Drumroll*
SleekFlow
Of course, SleekFlow, the official WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP) assigned by Meta. The API we provide is the go-to choice for anyone looking for an all-rounded servicing tool. SleekFlow helps you manage multiple sales and communications tools in one place, supervise and manage business reps and send messages. Whether you want to broadcast or personalize your messages, SleekFlow can help you handle that – hassle-free with all insights you need.
360dialog
Using 360dialog, one of the top choices when selecting an official WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP), is no doubt a great choice to benefit from the fantastic features of WhatsApp Business API. However, the process might get a bit tedious if you're the person who will manage the technical parts of the integration. Talk to our consultants today and see how you can make your communication channels as organized and hassle-free as they should be.
Twilio
With Twilio, you can do more than integrate WhatsApp with your e-commerce business. You can practically build any digital experience with any touchpoint, from SMS to voice and email and even IoT. It also comes with tools like visual workflows, interactive buttons, and template message management.
Zendesk
If you’re running a larger company, you’re in luck. Zendesk manages conversations through a ticketing system. E-commerce business teams can easily manage a humongous amount of requests with it. In addition, it can support more than 100 customer service representatives with one system, making it a reliable system for service-oriented organizations. Still, just a ticketing system might not be suitable for every enterprise. You should think of your workflow carefully.
Interested but not sure where to start? Contact us and let us reach out to you.
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