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This is the WhatsApp message I got, almost instantly after hitting the verify button
This was pleasantly surprising compared to waiting for about 1 minute to get OTP on SMS.
Immediately I was like: every business needs to do this.
Just a Google search revealed that most businesses actually want to send OTPs through WhatsApp only they don’t know how.
That’s exactly what we will cover in this article.
Sending OTPs through WhatsApp is super easy, there is a one-time set up that anyone can do, and you get 1000 free messages per month. And there are some huge added benefits of sending OTPs on WhatsApp
Table of Contents
Why Send OTPs through WhatsApp
Before we get to How to set up WhatsApp OTP let’s quickly look at why it’s better than SMS-based OTPs.
- It’s much quicker: When the user enters his phone number he expects to get an OTP instantly, or as RMG says turant se pehle. And when it comes to the speed of OTP delivery that additional 30-second wait time can be deadly.
- People prefer and check WhatsApp over SMS: this one is obvious, how often do you check your SMS versus WhatsApp?
- If you get an opt-in with the OTP then you can send them bulk WhatsApp marketing messages: and WhatsApp as a marketing channel can become your secret goldmine.
WhatsApp OTPs vs Traditional SMS OTPs
Let’s quickly revise, what are OTPs:
It’s a 4-6 digit One-time Password intended for one-time use to authenticate/login a user’s account.
As compared to static passwords, OTPs have a high level of security.
Difference between SMS OTP and Whatsapp OTP:
| Sending OTP via SMS | Sending OTP via Whatsapp |
| 1. It will be sent via Short Messaging Service. | 1. It will be sent via Whatsapp API. |
| 2. No end-to-end encryption, in rare cases, this can be hacked/stolen. | 2. Complete end-to-end encryption, safer option to send OTPs, codes etc. |
| 3. Text message is the only available format. | 3. Rich visual media formats with all types of media. |
| 4. There is a 160-character limit. | 4. There is no character limit, so you can also add some marketing material along with the OTP. |
| 5. Limited to one country. | 5. Works worldwide. |
| 6. SMS 0TP does not feature brand profile. | 6. You can create a verified business profile. |
WhatsApp wins over SMS in terms of cost, customer preference, and user interface.Â
Send Personalized WhatsApp in Bulk!
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See How it WorksHow to send OTPs through WhatsApp
How to signup for Whatsapp API
Before sending bulk messages to your target list, you need WhatsApp Business API access. For that you just need:
- A phone number with which you can apply for WhatsApp API.
- A business name.
- A verified Facebook Business Manager ID. You should set up a Facebook page for your business to get this ID.
Now you can get API access even without a verified business manager account
Once you are ready with these details, you can signup for the business account.
Here’s the step-by-step process for signing up for a WhatsApp cloud API account.
- Open developers.facebook.com.
- Go to My Apps and click on Create App.
- Select app type as business and click next.
- Fill out the details and click create app.
- Select WhatsApp from add products.
- Now scroll down and click on the add phone number.
- Fill out the details about the WhatsApp business account (this is what will be visible to the users).
- Enter a phone number and verify with OTP (you can only use a number that is not already in use on any other WhatsApp).
- Once the number is verified you are all set. The next step is to
How to get your WhatsApp OTP template approved on Facebook
- Go to WhatsApp templates manager and click create a template
- Select type as one-time password, Name as OTP and language as english
- Next, in the body section add your OTP template, and hit submit, the template will be approved within 10 minutes
here’s the template that we use at TeleCRM
Hi {{Name}}
*{{OTP}}* is your OTP for number verification at _TeleCRM - the one app for all your sales work_,
You can enter this OTP in TeleCRM and start receiving CRM updates on WhatsApp.
Thanks
Team TeleCRM
How to actually send OTPs to users on WhatsApp
- After your template is approved by WhatsApp sign up for a free TeleCRM account.
- The next step is to link your WhatsApp API number with the CRM.
- Finally, create a trigger to send WhatsApp OTP through TeleCRM. For any questions, you can contact TeleCRM support and development team.
What does WhatsApp OTP process look like to the end user
- The user enters his phone number,
- A verification code is generated and sent to him through WhatsApp API.
- After filling out the verification code, the OTP is cross-checked, if it’s correct then the OTP authentication process is complete and the user is allowed to login/proceed.
Benefits of WhatsApp OTP
1. Deliverability
SMS OTPs have issues around deliverability, authenticity, international coverage, etc. Whatsapp on the other hand has improved the deliverability and allows international sending and you can have a more significant impact on customer satisfaction.
2. Accurate delivery information and message read status
Unlike SMS WhatsApp also provides specific delivery information that lets you know what messages have been delivered and read by your customers.
3. Helps you to build advanced brand connections
Since WhatsApp verifies all business accounts and is tied directly to a single phone number, it gives you a branded business profile, and your customers are assured of your authenticity. So your One-time-passwords (OTPs) and notifications are quickly recognized and accepted by the users.
4. High customer engagement for national as well as international customers.
WhatsApp is used by 2 billion users. It’s the most popular app in multiple countries including Latin America, the Indian subcontinent, and large parts of Europe and Africa, and has the highest penetration in the majority of these countries.
This means the majority of your customers are probably already using the app, so it’s easier to connect with them, It is also the most preferred messaging channel for transactions by consumers. Plus it gives you the chance to engage a broader global audience as opposed to SMS.
5. Verification can also be done by link click.
Copying and pasting OTPs can be difficult for some users and it is an overall clumsy user interface. The WhatsApp API allows you to send a clickable link along with OTP, so the user can also click on the link on his WhatsApp message to directly verify instead of having to copy-paste OTP. This is a great user interface and gives you a chance to create an amazing experience for your users.
6. Data Collection
This is the biggest advantage of using WhatsApp over SMS. WhatsApp automatically collects and shares information about whether your message has been read by the user it or not… Something that is simply not possible in SMS.
7. Consent from prospects for future marketing messages on WhatsApp.
SMS is full of non-consensual spam which is why nobody reads it. WhatsApp on the other hand gives users an option to block or report a business if it sends messages without proper permissions.
This means it is a great opportunity if genuinely interested in communicating with your audience with their permission! Just ask for their consent and enjoy uninterrupted access to your audience on their favorite channel.
8. 1000 free messages per month
The WhatsApp official API offers you 1000 conversations per month, so if you are dealing with a relatively small audience you end up being hardly anything to WhatsApp and it becomes free for you.
9. Integrate chatbots
Apart from sending OTP you can also ask them to take the next step using an automated WhatsApp chatbot that supports your users’ common queries 24×7.
10. It’s easy to get started
You can simply get your account approved by Facebook and then team up with service providers like TeleCRM to get your OTP flow started within minutes.
11. It’s proven to boost trust.
Sending SMS has a credibility issue: like how a consumer should know if the SMS they have received is really from a company, and not from a scammer?
While you do have a SMS SenderID by your business name to show that it is authentic, still we cannot trust it completely.
WhatsApp on the other hand allows API usage only after verifying a business so you can be sure that when you get an OTP from a business it’s actually from the business and not somebody pretending to be the business.
Summing up
- WhatsApp OTP is fast
- Trusted
- It gives you direct access to your audience for future marketing with 100% percent read and response rate.
This alone is sufficient reason to switch to WhatsApp 0TP.
Plus with a service provider like TeleCRM you can get started within a few hours without any hassle.
The next step is simple: fill out a form to see how you can implement WhatsApp OTP system today.
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