- WhatsApp automation feature is useful for sending messages such as greetings, away messages, or product information based on specific triggers.
- Creating automated messages on WhatsApp App starts with activating the away message through the settings menu, configuring the message content, sending schedule, and determining the message recipients.
- Creating automated messages on WhatsApp Business API is done by registering through an Official Business Partner, completing verification, creating message templates, and then setting up the conversation flow in the chat panel.
- Regular WA has character and feature limitations, while WhatsApp API offers greater message flexibility, personalization, and more comprehensive system integration for business needs.
WhatsApp is a widely used instant messaging application, especially by business owners for interacting with customers. One of the advantages of this application is the ability to create messages automation (WhatsApp automation) without additional applications.
This advantage means you don’t need to worry about losing customers when you’re away from your phone. This is because WhatsApp automation is able to provide replies even when you’re offline.
So you can still stay connected with customers anytime, even outside business operating hours. Customers also won’t feel disappointed to the point of switching to a competitor because their messages are ignored.
Learn more about how to create automated messages on regular as well as business WA in the following Mekari Qontak blog review.
What is WhatsApp Automation
Automated WhatsApp is a feature that allows its users to send WhatsApp auto answers. Replies can be in the form of a greeting message, product prices, product images, and more according to business needs.
The reply message will be automatically sent to customers when there is an incoming message according to the trigger or pattern that has been previously created.
When the support team is not operating, the auto WhatsApp sender will send a message in the form of a notification that the team is not available through the Away Message feature.
How to Create Automated Messages on Regular or Personal WhatsApp App
Here are the ways to create automated messages on regular or personal WA:
1. Select the Settings menu
The first way to activate automated messages on WhatsApp is to open the WhatsApp Messenger application. Then click the three-dot icon located in the top right corner. After that, select the ‘Settings’ option to configure automated messages.
2. Set up the automated message
The next way to create automated messages on WA is by activating various types of automated messages. One of them is “Send Away Message” or sending messages outside of operating hours.
To activate it, you need to click the button below the three-dot button in the top right corner that was originally dark, slide the button until it turns bright. If it’s bright, that means the automated message is active.
3. Write the content of the automated message
The next way to create automated messages on WA is by writing the content of the message you want to display. To write it, you must press the pencil icon button, then write the automated message you want to send. Finish this step by clicking the ‘OK’ button.
You can fill it with sentences according to your business needs. Usually it contains information about the operating hours schedule for the ‘Away Message’. This information also notifies them that you will contact them back during business operating hours.
4. Set the sending schedule
Next, the way to send automated messages on WhatsApp is to create a sending schedule. There are 3 options for how to make WhatsApp reply automatically that you can set, such as “Always Send”, “Custom Schedule”, and “Outside of work hours”.
You can choose when the automated message will be sent according to your needs. But before that, you must set the work or operating hours first.
5. Choose the message recipient
Finally, you need to set the recipient. You can choose the recipient based on 4 options such as ‘for everyone’, ‘everyone who is not in the address book’, ‘everyone except’, and ‘only send to’. Next, click ‘Save’.
How to Create Automated Reply Messages on WhatsApp Business API?
In addition to regular WA, automated messages can also be used on WhatsApp Business API. WhatsApp Business API is widely used by medium and large-scale businesses to interact with customers more quickly.
Unlike how to send automated messages on regular WA that limits the number of characters, how to send automated messages on WhatsApp API allows you to write anything, including personalizing those messages.
Here’s how to create automated chats on WhatsApp Business API:
1. Register with an Official Business Partner WhatsApp API
The first way to activate automated messages on WhatsApp is by registering your business with an Official Business Partner WhatsApp API such as Mekari Qontak.
Mekari Qontak will help you register your business with WhatsApp in order to obtain the WhatsApp Business API.
Not only that, Mekari Qontak will also assist you in every process to have the advanced features of WhatsApp API, including automated WA.
2. Submit Facebook Business Manager Account Verification
The next way to create automated messages on WA is by verifying the Facebook Business Manager account.
However, you don’t need to worry, because the entire verification submission process will be fully assisted by the Mekari Qontak team. You only need to prepare some business information as follows:
- Business name
- Website
- Business email
- SIUP/NIB/NPWP
3. Complete Your WA Profile
Has your account been verified by WhatsApp? If so, then it’s time for you to choose the number that will be used as your WhatsApp Business account. Make sure that number is always active, because that number cannot be changed again.
Then, you can proceed by completing your business profile and information. This includes product catalog, business location, email address, operating hours, and so on.
Meanwhile, the Mekari Qontak team will submit the WA green tick or now the blue tick verified mark for your business WhatsApp account. In addition, Mekari Qontak will also help you integrate your WhatsApp with CRM applications and other systems.
4. Login to Chat Panel
To create automated messages on WA, you need to log in to the Mekari Qontak chat panel with the credentials that have been provided.
For your information, the credentials provided to agents and supervisors will be different. Agents will only be allowed to reply to incoming messages, while supervisors can monitor incoming messages and make several settings.
5. Create Automated Message Templates
The next way to make business WA reply automatically is by designing the conversation flow. You can arrange templates or autoresponder flows to respond to every question asked by customers.
However, you don’t need to worry, because the Mekari Qontak team will help you build automated WhatsApp reply systems such as work hours, templates, and tags practically.
After that, you can proceed by submitting the completed template to the Mekari Qontak Panel.
6. Send WhatsApp Messages
The final way to send automated messages on WA is by testing. In this case, you can send messages to your business WhatsApp account like a customer.
Then, wait for a while to ensure that you receive automated replies as previously configured.
If you receive a reply, that means the automated WA reply method can be used to serve customers. If not, you can check whether there are any steps that were missed or contact the Mekari Qontak team to request assistance.
What Are the Advantages of Automated WhatsApp?
The use of the automated WhatsApp feature can benefit businesses with the various benefits it provides. For more clarity, here are the benefits of automated WhatsApp for business:
1. Providing 24-Hour Customer Service
Autoresponder will automatically reply to every message sent by customers 24 hours a day. The content of the message is usually in the form of simple solutions that customers frequently ask about.
Thus, businesses can precisely provide the best customer service even when the customer service team is unavailable.
2. Guaranteed Security
The WhatsApp application is equipped with an end-to-end encryption security system. This means that all messages, both incoming and outgoing, will be guaranteed confidential. Only users involved in the conversation can view the content of the conversation itself.
3. Improves Customer Relations
WhatsApp autoresponder builds responsive and proactive conversations with customers.
Conversation flows can be designed for personalization, one of them through the greeting message feature to create better customer relationships.
4. Collecting Feedback
Auto WhatsApp sender can be configured to request feedback or input from customers. This feedback can then be used to understand customer needs and improve business performance and strategy.
5. Increases Sales
Most customers obtain recommendations and solutions from automated WhatsApp replies, without needing to go through the CS team. This means that there is an improvement in customer experience which influences a better business reputation.
Thus, businesses also have the opportunity to add a greater number of sales.
Get the Best Automated WhatsApp for Your Business Now!
There are two ways you can activate the automated WhatsApp feature, namely through regular WhatsApp and WhatsApp API. Both automated WA reply methods have advantages and disadvantages.
The main disadvantage of replying with automated messages on regular WhatsApp is the limited number of message characters. This is quite disruptive for business owners who want to convey information as clearly as possible to their customers.
Unlike the way to send automated messages on WhatsApp Business API which allows business owners to write anything. In addition, WhatsApp API also has various other advanced features that you can use to grow your business.
One of the trusted official business partners of WhatsApp Business API in Indonesia is Mekari Qontak. Mekari Qontak has also been ISO 27001 certified, which ensures the security of your customer data information.
Mekari Qontak has helped more than 3500+ companies in Indonesia to improve their businesses for the better. So what are you waiting for?
