Digital Marketing in and around us make our life much easier. Although the new WhatsApp Business version has plenty of advanced options, the old version is still loved by entrepreneurs and companies. In this article, we will explore the old version of WhatsApp Business, highlighting its features, the impact it had, and its continued relevance in the landscape of digital communication today.
WhatsApp Business 1.0 (an old version)
Source: WhatsApp Business was launched in 2018 for a growing number of businesses wanting a direct means of communicating with their customers. The first edition included basic functionalities that would help improve communication and customer service. As the old version now seems rudimentary in comparison to what exists today, it was a revolutionary leap towards enhancing the interaction between business and customers.
Features of Old Version of WhatsApp Business
Business Profile
In the previous version, businesses had a separate profile wherein critical business information like business name, address, website, and hours of operation were included. The features were basic, but WhatsApp Business represented a major step up from standard WhatsApp, which did not provide such customized tools for business:
Quick Replies
The previous version provided the option for businesses to draft stock replies for common queries, allowing businesses to respond more rapidly to questions asked by potential customers. These quick responses made it possible for companies to provide timely assistance, especially for small companies with fewer resources.
Automated Messages
Old version of WhatsApp Business had very basic automated messaging feature that allow businesses set up greeting message away message. It proved particularly useful for companies that wanted to keep the same professional image for customers out of hours when they could not be available.
Labeling Chats
The previous version of WhatsApp Business also got chat labels, allowing businesses to effectively categorize their chats based on their nature like new customer, pending order, important, etc. By having it this way, it gave companies a ease of managing various conversations and keeping
Older Version of WhatsApp Business Advantages
WhatsApp Business’ previous generation laid the foundation for the communication that businesses continue to rely on today. While it hard core functionalities, it provided some benefits to enable a more seamless businesses operations:
User-Friendly Interface
The old version of WhatsApp Business had one of its main selling points in its simple and intuitive interface. Even non-tech companies could have set it up and started using the app. Its ease of use served small business owners, independent contractors and freelancers.
Free to Use
It was entirely free for businesses — WhatsApp Business was therefore an affordable tool for businesses with limited budgets. Due to the platform’s affordability, numerous small businesses were able to establish
Wide Reach
One of the most popular messaging platform in world is WhatsApp. WhatsApp Business allowed businesses to contact a large audience of billions of active users directly. This set of valuable information proved especially beneficial for businesses aiming to reach out to international customers or those located in remote locations where conventional communication methods were less effective.
End-to-End Encryption
WhatsApp Business also provided end-to-end encryption, just like its parent app, so that all interactions between businesses and customers were private and secure. Such an extent of security was necessary for businesses handling sensitive customer data and building trustworthiness.
The Evolution of WhatsApp Business
The old version of WhatsApp Business served as a set of basic tools for businesses, but as these businesses continued to grow, so did their needs. The new version of WhatsApp Business includes features like WhatsApp Web, lists and shopping features, and many more analytics. Allowing businesses to scale more efficiently and offer a more robust customer service experience.
The old WhatsApp Business was the seed to enable these improvements, even when the tools are now much better. The e-commerce tool was simple and easy to use, providing a good way for businesses to make their brand available online, act before customers, and build their trust: businesses could then go an extra mile and use sophisticated tools in the future as they find the need.
The Old Version: Why It’s Still Valuable
The old version of WhatsApp Business might have been succeeded by updates with greater features, but there still exist scenarios where the old version of WhatsApp Business proves to be built for some businesses. The old version may have all the core tools you need without the overhead of newer features that are burdensome for startups, small business owners, and those just getting started in the digital world.
Conclusion
The old version of WhatsApp Business has been a game changer in the way businesses interacted with their customers. ‘Simple’ by today’s standards but, at the time, it transformed the way basically every business in the world communicated and engaged directly and personally with their audiences. If you are a small business owner seeking a simple.