What is the WhatsApp Cloud API?
Earlier, businesses took help from official WhatsApp BSP (Business Service Providers) to get approved for the WhatsApp API as Facebook didn't provide direct access to WhatsApp API.
The WhatsApp Cloud API removes this by allowing businesses to get their WhatsApp Business API accounts approved by Facebook itself.
WhatsApp Cloud API is the cloud version of WhatsApp Business API, which allows businesses & developers to build on top of WhatsApp to customize their experiences and respond to customers quickly & easily. It's quick & easy because businesses can get direct approval for WhatsApp Cloud API from Facebook.
With WhatsApp Cloud APIs, any business can easily access the service, build on top of WhatsApp & engage with their customers seamlessly.
How does WhatsApp Cloud API work?
WhatsApp Cloud API opens up WhatsApp for all businesses across the Globe to customize it based on their experiences.
With WhatsApp Cloud API, businesses can set up their WhatsApp Business Accounts in minutes with direct approval from Facebook.
This means that Facebook will bear all hosting, maintenance & other responsibilities that Business Service Providers solved till now. But, Facebook won’t provide a platform where you can use the WhatsApp Cloud API.
You can either build your own solution with your developer team or simply choose a WhatsApp Business API-based platform like AiSensy to use WhatsApp Business API.
Benefits of WhatsApp Cloud API
The WhatsApp Cloud API offers:
Lightning Fast approval for WhatsApp Business API directly from Facebook (in minutes) - Facebook will now provide direct access to the Business API to all businesses across the globe. Businesses only need to contact BSPs (Business Service Providers) for a platform to use WhatsApp Business API.
You pay nothing - Facebook promises that businesses can get approved for WhatsApp Business API without paying anything.
But, Facebook doesn't provide any platform to use the WhatsApp Business API. You can use the official WhatsApp Business API-based platform AiSensy, to broadcast campaigns and solve for customer support under one platform.
Get New Updates instantly - Get all new updates added to WhatsApp Business API, as now you have direct access to WhatsApp Business APIs via Cloud APIs.
What does this mean for Businesses already using WhatsApp Business API?
If you already have an approved WhatsApp Business API Account, then WhatsApp Cloud API changes nothing for you! Yes, you can switch to WhatsApp Cloud API, but that won't mean much if you already have an existing WhatsApp Business API Account.
WhatsApp Cloud API is a means to make the WhatsApp Business API more easily accessible to businesses across the globe.
If you're already using WhatsApp Business API with a platform like AiSensy, it changes nothing!
What does this mean for Businesses without access to the WhatsApp Business API?
Well, if you're new to WhatsApp Business API & are looking to get your account approved, there's good news.
You can get your account approved within minutes with WhatsApp Cloud API for Free!
Earlier, to apply for WhatsApp Business API, you needed an approved Facebook Business Manager Account. Well, now you can apply & get approval for the WhatsApp API without the FB Business Manager Account approval.
But, you'd have limited access to the WhatsApp API without Facebook Business Verification so we recommend that you get your Facebook Business Manager verified alongside.
Will I get WhatsApp Business API for Free?
With WhatsApp Cloud API, you get free access to WhatsApp Business API, directly from Facebook. While you can get the WhatsApp Cloud API for free, you'd still need a platform to use it for communicating with your users. Well, you can do that easily with AiSensy.
Limitations of WhatsApp Cloud API
There's only one Limitation that you might face while using WhatsApp Cloud API. You can't use the same WhatsApp number for on-premise WhatsApp Business API & cloud WhatsApp API.
Though, you can transfer your phone number from on-premise WhatsApp Business API to WhatsApp Cloud API.
You can either use a phone number with an on-premise WhatsApp API or with the Cloud WhatsApp API.