No matter what industry your business is in, there is a high chance that in recent times your customer conversations have moved to WhatsApp. And this will be true for many businesses across other industries as well.
Recent surveys show that over 500 million businesses have downloaded the WhatsApp Business app and more than 5 million businesses communicate with their customers using the WhatsApp Business API.
Businesses have not only realized the potential of WhatsApp as a messaging channel but also have come to see the benefits of automating communication on the channel.
In this post, we will discuss how WhatsApp automation can help drive more sales
What are WhatsApp automated workflows?
WhatsApp automated workflows are implemented by leveraging automation tools and the WhatsApp Business API to automate routine tasks such as sending scheduled messages, sharing reminders, providing assistance or engaging customers through chatbots, responding to queries, and managing workflows without the need for any manual or human intervention.
Benefits of WhatsApp automated workflows in sales
These are some of the major benefits of using WhatsApp automated workflows for sales:
Increased efficiency
Automated workflows eliminate the need for manual intervention in repetitive and routine tasks such as lead qualification, order updates, follow-ups, etc. thus ensuring that the sales team is free to focus on high-value tasks like building customer relationships or closing important deals.
Faster response times
In today’s world, customers expect faster responses, and failing to meet this can lead to lost sales. Automated WhatsApp workflows can solve this, as it is quick and can adequately follow up on customer queries and improve customer satisfaction.
Higher conversion potential
With timely follow-ups, automated recommendations, personalized offers, and abandoned cart recovery messages, you can ensure that no lead goes cold, improving conversion rates and boosting sales.
Consistent communication
WhatsApp automated workflows also have the benefit of allowing brands to maintain brand consistency across all customer interactions. From welcome messages, to support responses, all messages can be timely, consistent, and in line with the brand tone and personality.
Reduced operational costs
Automating routine sales processes will allow businesses to eliminate the need for additional sales and/or support staff, thus bringing in significant savings in operational costs.
Key use cases of WhatsApp automated workflows to drive sales
Below are some of the key use cases of WhatsApp automated workflows in sales:
Automated lead generation
A business can only survive in a fast and competitive environment if it can effectively generate new leads and expand its customer base. WhatsApp automated workflows can help capture, qualify, and even nurture leads with minimal manual intervention.
Businesses such as Paisabazaar, for instance, have effectively improved their lead generation by employing WhatsApp conversational AI to capture and engage new consumers.
Instant follow-ups and reminders
Businesses can maintain lead engagement and improve chances of conversion by using WhatsApp’s automated workflows to send timely follow-ups after inquiries reminding customers of ongoing offers or incomplete actions. This approach can result in the brand remaining at the top of the potential customers’ heads, thus increasing the likelihood of closing deals.
Abandoned cart recovery
Cart recovery, even though in varying amounts, is still a constant issue across all industries. You can share WhatsApp automated messages to remind users of their pending cart, offer limited-time discounts, or even offer assistance if the customer is facing any issue regarding payment.
The effectiveness of automated cart recovery messages has been proven by brands like Okhai, who have seen their cart recovery go up to 60% with WhatsApp automated messages.
Appointment and demo scheduling
Businesses that offer consultation, such as healthcare companies, or brands that offer product demos, can use WhatsApp to automate and streamline appointments and scheduling.
With automated workflows, customers can easily book slots, receive confirmation messages, and get automated reminders without ever involving human agents.
Post-sale customer support
Providing good post-sale support is necessary to build long-term customer relationships. WhatsApp automated workflows can help handle common customer queries, share troubleshooting guides, provide “how-to” guides, enable seamless ticket creation, and more.
Hair care brand Zemé, for example, uses chat automation to provide quick answers to queries and information related to the “know how’s” of the products at the post-delivery stage.
Conclusion
Irrespective of what type of product you sell, or what industry you operate in, automated workflows on WhatsApp can help you engage leads at a more meaningful level, without sacrificing timeliness.
Looking for a solution to implement effective WhatsApp sales automation?
