E-commerce platforms refer to websites or applications that provide goods or services through the Internet, such as Taobao, Amazon, Shopify, etc. E-commerce platforms allow merchants and customers to conduct transactions online and provide various functions and services, such as product display, payment system, logistics and distribution, evaluation system, etc. The advantage of an e-commerce platform is that it can cover a broad market and customer base, and improve the efficiency and convenience of transactions.
WhatsApp Store refers to merchants that sell goods or services through WhatsApp, the social messaging application. WhatsApp is the world’s most popular social messaging application, with more than 2 billion monthly active users, supporting multiple languages and functions, such as text, voice, video, pictures, files, location, etc. WhatsApp Store allows merchants and customers to communicate and transact directly on WhatsApp, and leverages the capabilities of the WhatsApp API to display products, send order confirmations, collect payments, provide customer service, etc.
In recent years, more and more merchants have chosen to switch from e-commerce platforms to WhatsApp stores, which is an emerging e-commerce model, especially in some developing countries and regions, such as India, Brazil, South Africa, etc. So why do some businesses make such changes? This article will explore this issue from the following five aspects.
Reason No. 1: WhatsApp Store increases customer engagement and loyalty
WhatsApp is a very popular and widely used social media platform. According to statistics, by the end of 2022, it had more than 2 billion monthly active users, and 98% of Hong Kong people are using WhatsApp as their daily chat tool. This means that merchants can reach a large number of potential customers through WhatsApp stores, and can use WhatsApp’s chat function and 24-hour automatic reply function to establish more personalized and immediate communication with them. Merchants can answer customer questions, solve customer difficulties, provide customer suggestions, collect customer feedback, etc. through WhatsApp Store. These interactions can increase customer trust and satisfaction with your business!
Reason No. 2: WhatsApp Store reduces operating costs and complexity
On e-commerce platforms, merchants need to invest a lot of time and resources to build and maintain their own online stores, such as designing the appearance, functionality, content, etc. of the website or application.
Moreover, merchants also need to pay various commissions and fees on the e-commerce platform, such as registration fees, transaction fees, advertising fees, etc. These costs and fees reduce merchants’ profits and competitiveness. On the WhatsApp store, merchants do not need to build and maintain their own online stores.
They only need to use WhatsApp, a free and popular application, to communicate and transact with customers. This can greatly reduce merchants’ operating costs and complexity, and improve merchants’ efficiency and flexibility. For example, some WhatsApp store merchants use the WhatsApp Catalog feature to manage orders and inventory.
Reason No. 3: WhatsApp Store adapts to consumer behavior in the mobile era
On e-commerce platforms, customers need to shop and pay through websites or applications, which requires customers to have a stable network connection and sufficient traffic or storage space. On the WhatsApp store, customers only need to shop and pay through WhatsApp, a common and convenient application, which does not require customers to have special equipment or conditions. Moreover, customers can also enjoy faster after-sales service, as merchants can contact customers directly through WhatsApp and arrange delivery or returns.
Reason No. 4: Just get your customers’ mobile numbers to leverage WhatsApp for marketing and promotions
On e-commerce platforms, merchants need to compete with numerous peers and rivals, and spend a lot of money and energy to attract and retain customers, such as through search engine optimization, advertising, coupon issuance, etc. On WhatsApp Store, merchants can use the influence of social media to expand their customer base and get more potential customers to add to your WhatsApp contact list. Merchants can also take advantage of the capabilities of the WhatsApp API for marketing and promotional activities, such as sending bulk messages to customers through WhatsApp one-click broadcast.
learn more: WhatsApp E-Shop: 2024 Business Guide
VIMOS helps you quickly open a WhatsApp Shop, seize e-commerce business opportunities, teach you to grab business, quickly receive orders and collect payments! If you have any other questions or are interested in learning more, please feel free to contact VIMOS!
