WhatsApp Business API pricing changes
Among the numerous updates announced by Meta in 2022, the most impactful for users of the WhatsApp app was the change in the pricing system of the Business API service, now Cloud API.
In the previous model, WhatsApp charged a fee when the conversation was initiated by the company. When the conversation was initiated by the customer, there was no charge. The message exchanges were unlimited during the 24-hour session.
What has changed?
In the new model, charges are still made per 24-hour chat session, but WhatsApp now charges per conversation opening, with different rates for conversations started by companies or by users.
The first form of billing occurs when the company decides to start a conversation with a user. In this way, a session begins with the delivery of a message made by the company to its user, and free messages can be exchanged as from the reply received up to a limit of 24 hours from the beginning of the session.
The second form of charging occurs when the company receives a message from the user and responds to it. It is important to note that charging only occurs if the company or chatbot answers the conversation. Otherwise, there is no charging.
Specifying
In this new chat process WhatsApp provides 1,000 free sessions per month. If a company exceeds these 1,000 free sessions, they are charged $0.03 (three cents) + fees per session initiated by the customer and $0.05 (five cents) + fees per session initiated by the company.
A session is a conversation between company and client. Once started, for 24 hours the message exchange between company and customers is unlimited. TalkAll customers have total control over the amounts to be paid, through Facebook's Business Manager, where an international credit card must be registered in order to use the system.
Templates
The conversation initiated by the company should always be started by templates, which are pre-defined message templates that WhatsApp allows companies to send to their customers without them having initiated a conversation or on specific occasions, such as a contact resumption.
The content of the messages must be approved by WhatsApp - Meta, to ensure that it is in accordance with company policy, so because of this approval process, it is not necessary for the user to opt-in.
This change expands the companies' role in communicating with their target audience, because now those who choose to have an Official Business API - WABA account do not need to require opt-in from customers.
As already mentioned, in this new pricing format, companies will have 1,000 free conversations per month. Only after this volume, the price of conversation per message unit will be applied.Conversations will be paid according to the table available on the WhatsApp website itself, but changes in values can happen at any time.
Even with significant changes, WhatsApp Inc reaffirms its commitment to investing in business generation.
Talkall will be completely available to clarify any doubts on the subject and help in everything within our reach, so that our clients can obtain the best results.
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