In January 2018, WhatsApp launched a separate app designed for small businesses. Known as WhatsApp Business, it is the existing WhatsApp app with additional features designed for businesses to connect with their customers.
Earlier, if you wanted to use WhatsApp for your Education Agency or International School, then you had to do that by using your number or install two WhatsApp on the same device with Parallel Space or other methods. Thanks to the new WhatsApp Business app, you can use two WhatsApp accounts (WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business) on the same phone.
But how does WhatsApp Business differ from the WhatsApp app? What additional features do you get? You will get all the answers in this post where we compare the two.
Let’s get started with the WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business comparison.
DIFFERENT LOGO
To help you differentiate between the two apps visually, they have a different logo. In the Business app, the character B replaces the phone symbol inside the WhatsApp icon.
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IDENTIFY CHATS
When you get a message, WhatsApp will notify you if it is from a business account inside the chat. A small alert will be displayed informing you that the conversation is taking place with a business account.
In future, WhatsApp will verify the businesses and award them the verified badge as well.
AVAILABILITY
WhatsApp Business is currently available for Android only. However, the iOS version is under development and will launch soon.
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
In the WhatsApp Business app, you can create a proper business profile by adding details like business address, description, working hours, and location. You can also add contact details such as multiple websites and email address.
With the help of that, customers can easily get all the necessary information about business and the means to contact them.
QUICK REPLIES
The WhatsApp Business app comes with smart response tool called Quick Reply. With Quick Reply, you can send predefined replies for frequently asked questions.
When a person asks a question, press the forward slash key (/), and you will see all the quick replies for you to pick one and save yourself from typing same responses repeatedly. This feature isn’t present in regular WhatsApp app.
GREETING MESSAGE
The WhatsApp Business app lets you introduce your business to the customers using a greeting message. The app automatically sends a greeting message created by you to every new customer or after 14 days of no activity with the said customer.
In addition to customizing the message, you can even select the recipients of the greeting message. You can’t set custom messages with the regular WhatsApp app.
AWAY MESSAGE
Another feature exclusive to the Business app is the Away Message. Using this feature, you can inform your customers that you are away or tell them to visit your website or FAQ section until a representative as available to respond. You can customize the message, add a schedule, and change recipient for the away message.
LABELS
To segregate your conversations, WhatsApp Business comes with the Label feature. You can add labels to chats and separate them into categories.
For instance, if you are using WhatsApp to sell something, you can have labels like new order, payment received, payment pending, order completed, etc. You can then see all messages under each label. Since the labels are color-coded, it’s easy to find the chats.
SEARCH FILTER
WhatsApp recently added the search filter feature to the Business app. It is not available in the standard WhatsApp.With the help of filters, you can easily find your unread chats, groups, and broadcast lists. The filter also lists labels which makes it easy to find the right conversation from just one place.
SHORT LINKS
The Business app comes with yet another useful feature that makes it easy for customers to initiate a chat. Usually, a customer has to save the number first and then chat. With short links, they don’t need to save the number. All they need to do is tap on the unique link, and a new conversation will start.
The short link is a built-in feature in the WhatsApp Business app. You can have links for normal accounts on the standard WhatsApp as well, but the only difference is you need to create them manually.
CREATE ACCOUNT USING LANDLINE NUMBER
Unlike the regular WhatsApp, where you can create accounts using a mobile number only, WhatsApp Business lets you create an account using your landline number as well. Note that you will get a verification call on the landline number.
SIMILARITIES
While those were the major differences between the apps, they do have quite a few similarities too.
Web Access
Both the apps are accessible from WhatsApp Web. However, you can use only one account at a time on a browser. Unless, of course, if you are in incognito mode or using other browsers.
User Interface
The user interface of both the apps is the same. The Business app design gives the existing WhatsApp users a similar feel as the regular WhatsApp app.
Other Similar Features
You get all the WhatsApp features in the Business app such as status, audio and video calls, recently introduced stickers, etc.
WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU USE?
WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business apps are significantly different. For a business owner, the Business app is a must-have. It offers remarkable features at no extra cost. If you are a business owner, we would suggest shifting to the Business app right now on your Android device. The app will help you grow your business in several ways.
The WhatsApp Business app is expected to get a store to showcase the products. As a business owner, you would want to promote your products to over 1.5 billion monthly active users. For that, you can use the broadcast feature, which is different from groups. The Broadcast feature is available on both the WhatsApp apps.