WhatsApp, with a user base of nearly 3 billion, is becoming the preferred platform for business communication, and companies are turning to WhatsApp API providers to take advantage of this platform.
To facilitate this, numerous WhatsApp API providers have emerged, each offering unique features and capabilities.
In this blog post, we’ll explore three of these providers: Twilio, MessageBird, and Zendesk, and compare them to one of the best on the market, Wati.
Twilio’s WhatsApp API Fails to Meet Expectations
Twilio, an American cloud communications whatsapp marketing service platform and a leading WhatsApp Business API provider, has entered the WhatsApp business solutions space with a compelling set of features. Its API for WhatsApp is notable for its simplicity, allowing developers to easily integrate their systems with WhatsApp. Twilio’s consumption-based pricing model is an attractive prospect for many businesses, allowing them to scale as they grow.
However, Twilio has its limitations.
1. Technical Expertise Required: Implementing Twilio’s WhatsApp API or building a WhatsApp Chatbot may require technical expertise or the assistance of a developer. This is mainly because Twilio’s no-code interface involves a fair amount of coding. This can be challenging for non-technical business owners or small businesses without dedicated technical teams, which could limit accessibility.
2. Lack of Integrated CRM: Twilio’s WhatsApp API does not include an integrated Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. As a result, businesses need to invest in a separate CRM tool to manage customer interactions, which can add complexity and costs.
3. Limited Customer Support: Twilio’s customer support may not be sufficient for businesses looking for more extensive guidance and assistance, as it primarily offers basic support. Additionally, Twilio currently lacks a mobile app for WhatsApp Business services, limiting its accessibility and ease of use. These factors combined could make Twilio a less attractive WhatsApp API provider for businesses requiring more comprehensive support and mobile accessibility.
4. Scalability Challenges: Twilio has certain limitations when it comes to scaling messaging on WhatsApp. The default messaging throughput is limited to 80 messages per second (MPS) per WhatsApp sender for outbound traffic. While this can be increased to 400 MPS for text-only messaging, it requires prior approval following review of the company’s messaging requirements.
If messages are sent at a rate greater than the configured capacity, they are placed in a delivery queue, but this queue has a maximum delivery time limit of four hours. Messages that remain in the queue for more than four hours will fail. To deliver large volumes of messages, businesses should use Messaging Services to distribute traffic across multiple senders.
In contrast, official WhatsApp API providers like Twilio do not have a daily limit on the number of messages sent, as they are pay-as-you-go services. However, WhatsApp does impose tiers on the number of unique recipients per day as businesses increase their usage.
Overall, Twilio’s WhatsApp API offers a solid foundation for businesses to leverage the power of WhatsApp for their communication needs. However, the technical expertise required and the lack of an integrated CRM system could be disadvantages for some businesses.
MessageBird’s Promising Features, Hampered by Complexity and Pricing
Hailing from the Netherlands, this WhatsApp API provider offers a robust platform that integrates seamlessly with WhatsApp. Its omnichannel capabilities join linkedin groups ensure that businesses can manage multiple communication channels in one centralized place. Additionally, MessageBird offers a feature-rich, integrated CRM, allowing businesses to maintain a comprehensive database of their customers.
1. Complex API: MessageBird’s API for WhatsApp can be quite complex, requiring a steep learning curve for developers. This complexity can present a challenge for companies that lack technical expertise or dedicated development resources.
2. Pricing Limitations: While MessageBird bw lists offers competitive pricing, it can still be prohibitive for small businesses with limited budgets. The cost of using MessageBird’s WhatsApp solutions might not be aligned with the financial capabilities of all businesses.
3. Lack of Personalization: MessageBird’s WhatsApp solutions may have limitations when it comes to customization options. Businesses looking for highly personalized communication experiences may find the platform’s customization capabilities restrictive.
