A trick to increase repeat customers! Restaurant industry can also play with private domain operations with WhatsApp Business API

Global Food & Beverage Industry Market Size Reached USD 260.68 Billion by 2023.Projected to reach $353.75 billion by 2029. The restaurant industry has always been one of the most vital and competitive industries.

Customer flow is fundamental to a restaurant's survival. Repeat customers are a crucial resource for ongoing business. Establishing close relationships with customers enhances the restaurant's ability to withstand external shocks and risks.

However, even the best food can go unnoticed if hidden away. In the digital age, how can restaurants leverage digital marketing to win back customers and boost repeat purchases?

YCloud WhatsApp Business API offers a powerful solution for restaurants aiming to streamline communication and enhance customer service.

This post will include:

Why should restaurants integrate the WhatsApp Business API?

1. WhatsApp has a super-high global reach and a broad user base

With over 2.4 billion active users, WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging apps in the world, with more than 100 billion messages sent daily. This massive user base provides restaurants with an excellent opportunity to reach a vast number of potential customers.

WhatsApp's global popularity and high trustworthiness also make people more inclined to interact with restaurants through the platform, thereby enhancing the success rate of customer engagement.

2. WhatsApp API can help restaurants build stronger connections with customers

Since 2018, WhatsApp has introduced commercial messaging products tailored for business users: WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Business API. Compared to WhatsApp Business App, WhatsApp Business API supports larger-scale broadcasting and offers stronger capabilities for multi-channel integration.

WhatsApp's real-time interaction features break down communication barriers between customers and restaurants. The WhatsApp API further empowers businesses with the capability for large-scale messaging, enabling smoother and more natural communication between customers and restaurants. This facilitates timely two-way interactions, swift responses to customer needs and inquiries, and helps foster closer customer relationships, enhancing customer experience and loyalty.

Using customers' historical data, WhatsApp Business API can offer personalized recommendations and services, such as suggesting dishes they might enjoy, sending birthday wishes, and providing exclusive promotions.

3. The powerful features of WhatsApp Business API can help restaurants improve operational efficiency

As a robust messaging platform, WhatsApp Business API supports various media formats such as text, images, videos, audio, and files. Restaurants can enrich customer experiences by sending menu photos, promotional videos, and other engaging content.

Once restaurants integrate WhatsApp Business API, they can set up automated replies and notifications for tasks like order confirmations, reservation reminders, queue updates, and delivery notifications. This reduces manual intervention and enhances operational efficiency.

Moreover, WhatsApp Business API can be integrated with the restaurant's CRM and order management systems, enabling automated workflows such as automatic booking confirmations and order status updates. This integration reduces manual tasks and enhances efficiency.

Check out our other articles on the WhatsApp API:

WhatsApp Business API scenarios for the restaurant industry

Significantly improve customer experience, optimize operational efficiency and increase sales. Here are the key benefits and application scenarios of WhatsApp API in the restaurant industry:

1. Autoresponders to frequently asked questions

auto reply for restaurants via WhatsApp Business API

With the WhatsApp API, restaurants can set up auto-responder features for common questions such as opening hours, seasonal menu, number of waiting seats, etc. to provide real-time customer support, queries and complaints. Customers can easily contact the restaurant via WhatsApp and reduce waiting time.

2. Simplified booking and order management

WhatsApp API for restaurants

Customers can book a table directly through WhatsApp and the back office automatically confirms the booking and sends a reminder notification. This reduces the pressure of phone booking and improves the efficiency of booking management.

At the same time, the WhatsApp API also supports sending order confirmations, ready-to-finish notifications, and delivery updates to keep customers informed of the status of their orders and enhance the customer experience.

3. Personalized marketing and membership services

Personalized marketing and member services

Restaurants can send menus to customers with access to the WhatsApp API, including holiday specials, limited-time promotions, or new dishes. This can increase sales and entice more customers to dine in or order takeout, increasing sales.

Send customers information about the loyalty program, including member's point accruals, rewards, and special offers via WhatsApp. This helps promote customer loyalty and increase repeat business.

With theYCloud's Integrated Marketing Solutions, restaurants can quickly collect customer information through QR codes and encourage customers to Opt-in, thus reaching them easily.

4. Multi-channel integration

multichannel integration

WhatsApp API can be integrated with a restaurant's CRM system, online ordering system, payment system and logistics system to achieve data synchronization and information sharing and optimize the overall operation process.

How do restaurants integrate WhatsApp Business API?

Accessing WhatsApp API can significantly improve customer service quality and operational efficiency in the restaurant industry. Here are the detailed steps and considerations for accessing WhatsApp API in restaurants:

1. Understanding the basics of WhatsApp APIs

There are Two Types of WhatsApp Business

WhatsApp Business App: For small businesses, simple to use but with limited functionality.
WhatsApp Business API: Suitable for medium and large enterprises, providing more functionality and flexibility, and suitable for integration with existing systems. Meanwhile, it supports enterprises to add green label authentication to improve account credibility and effectively reduce the risk of sealing.

2. Sign up for the WhatsApp Business API

Choose your BSP (Business Solution Provider)

WhatsApp does not provide API access directly, but instead provides services through BSPs, or solution providers. Common BSPs are Twilio, MessageBird, Vonage, and YCloud Among them, YCloud has the best quality of service of them all, and largerPrice advantage.

Choosing a reliable BSP is the key to successful access.

Prepare the necessary information

Facebook Business Manager Account：WhatsApp API needs to be managed and verified through Facebook Business Manager.
WhatsApp Business Account: Register by providing information such as business name, business type, and phone number.
Verify Phone Number: Ensure that the phone number used can receive text messages or phone calls for verification.

3. Setting up the WhatsApp Business API

Step 1: Register and configure on the YCloud platform

Register for an account on the YCloud platform and submit your business's Facebook Management information and phone number as required.

Step 2: Verified by Facebook

Verify business information in Facebook Business Manager.
Submit your phone number for WhatsApp Business account review.

Step 3: Obtain API Credentials

Upon approval, YCloud provides the API credentials, including the API key, URL, and Webhook configuration.

4. Unlock personalized business operations with YCloud's automated marketing solutions

Set up message handling logic in YCloud's workbench to handle customer bookings, inquiries and orders.
Implement auto-responder and notification features such as booking confirmations, order status updates and promotional message delivery.

Use Cases of WhatsApp Business API for Restaurants

Coffee chains use WhatsApp to easily open private domain operations

WhatsApp Business API for chain coffee shop

Indonesia's largest coffee chain, K Coffee, saw a threefold increase in customer orders from promotional notifications after replacing underperforming notification channels with WhatsApp. Additionally, customer retention on WhatsApp doubled compared to traditional channels.

The K Coffee team integrates their membership management system with the WhatsApp API to send verification messages and marketing information, thereby increasing customer engagement and coffee orders. Customers can also join WhatsApp groups to stay informed about company news and updates. Additionally, they have introduced WhatsApp direct ads and automated replies to run special promotions for customers on the WhatsApp channel.

*Case Source: Meta

Q&A on WhatsApp Business API for Restaurants

Q1: Can I receive payments through the WhatsApp Business API?

Yes, the integration service can be used to collect order payments directly in chat.

Q2: How can restaurants use the WhatsApp Business API to interact with customers?

This can be done through automated messaging, chatbots and can be used to improve customer service and streamline the ordering process. Customer feedback and surveys can also be conducted through WhatsApp to collect valuable data.

Q3: How to integrate WhatsApp Business API with CRM database?

Integrating WhatsApp with CRM databases like HubSpot can improve order management and customer retention.

Q4: What specific features are possible with the WhatsApp Business API?

Table Reservations: Customers book a table by adding a WhatsApp account or scanning the store's QR code, and the system automatically confirms and sends reminders.
Meal ordering service: Customers browse the menu, place orders and make payments, which are automatically processed by the system and provide order status updates.
Customer Support: Autoresponders to frequently asked questions, transferring to human customer service for complex issues.
marketing campaign: Send personalized offers, promotions and holiday greetings to increase customer stickiness.
Membership growth and customer maintenance:Invitations to join are sent to customers via WhatsApp, with ongoing notifications of points accumulation, rewards and special offers.
There are more features waiting to be developed and explored ......

Q5: How can WhatsApp API help improve marketing results for restaurant companies?

A. WhatsApp API allows catering companies to send personalized marketing messages and offers based on customers' consumption habits and preferences.WhatsApp API messages have an open rate of 99%, and through instant messaging pushes, companies are able to more accurately reach their target customers and improve the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and customer engagement.YCloud provides catering companies with complete YCloud provides catering enterprises with perfect user growth tools, customer service tools and user list management tools, helping large chain restaurant enterprises to quickly acquire customers and maintain business growth!

Access to WhatsApp API provides an efficient and convenient customer communication channel for the restaurant industry. By choosing the right BSP, conducting system integration and development, and continuously optimizing and monitoring, restaurants can significantly improve customer service quality and operational efficiency, achieving a win-win situation for both business growth and customer satisfaction.

You canContact Usright now, and get started on your WhatsApp API journey!