In the modern marketplace, this has become a global standard, the depreciation or formal business communication using new tools such as WhatsApp and RingCentral. Considering the number of its’ users, WhatsApp has become omnipresent for both informal communication as well as for customer communication, whereas RingCentral is a popular VoIP phone system designed specifically for business companies. Having a WhatsApp number linked to a RingCentral account will enhance your corporate communication by taking your informal chats and formal business calls to a new level.
This guide will show you, step by step, how to connect WhatsApp with your RingCentral number and its benefits, including what commonly asked questions people have.
Table of Contents
What is RingCentral?
RingCentral is a communication tool that operates over the internet and provides various services including voice calls, video conferencing, message exchange, and team events. Companies usually make use of RingCentral application for their multi-device phone and unified communication systems. With RingCentral, users can have a business appear to be professional by acquiring a business number which has some services such as call forwarding, voicemail, call logs, etc. In addition, RingCentral is known for being reliable, scalable, and integrating easily with various customer support applications.
What is WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is one of the most widely used apps worldwide that allows users to send text, voice messages, images, and videos, place voice and video calls as well as exchange documents over the internet. Initially developed as a social application, WhatsApp focused on personal communication but now it serves as a software for corporate communications since WhatsApp Business has more advanced options such as profiles for customers, message for customers automatically and reply to them promptly.
For companies, WhatsApp helps to communicate with their customers simply and quickly. The app is used for customer support and communicating with clients as many companies use WhatsApp for such services.
Why You Should Create a WhatsApp to RingCentral Number
There are many reasons why a business may wish to integrate WhatsApp and RingCentral. One reason may be that the casual, welcoming aspect of WhatsApp messaging, which their customers enjoy, can be professionally packaged using RingCentral’s extensive communications features. Some benefits are:
Simplified Communication: Companies can manage WhatsApp and calling all in one place by integrating ‘RingCentral’ with WhatsApp.
Resource Saving: Customer service reps can deal with all WhatsApp messages and RingCentral phone calls from a single interface, making it easier for them.
Increased Interactivity With Consumers: One of the most preferred platforms for messaging by consumers is WhatsApp, and now that its integrated into your business phone system, you can communicate with consumers on the platform they wish to use.
Unlimited Growth Potential: With the cloud-based infrastructure that RingCentral offers, you are able to expand your communication channels without having to think of hardware constraints.
Can You Integrate WhatsApp with RingCentral?
Currently, RingCentral does not offer a basic capability to integrate WhatsApp with its platform easily. Nevertheless, APIs can be employed to link WhatsApp and RingCentral via three-party services. Meanwhile, using RingCentral API as well as WhatsApp Business API allows businesses to create an integrated communication platform such that communication is enhanced across the two channels. This integration can enhance customer relations by making it less complicated to interact with them through different modes of communication.
Steps to Create a WhatsApp to RingCentral Number
The First approach: Quote RingCentral’s API to integrate WhatsApp
This method is quite effective provided you are technical or have a developer who can assist you in this integration. Here are the steps involved:
Sign Up for RingCentral API Access:
- First one needs to visit the RingCentral Developer Portal to register for the app.
- Once done with that the person can create an application and can generate an API key as well.
Set Up WhatsApp Business API:
- Creating WhatsApp Business account is mandatory, if WhatsApp needs to be integrated with other platforms.
- Requesting for API access which is controlled by Facebook (WhatsApp parent company) can eventually lead to unlocking the WhatsApp Business API. Post approving this, you will be provided access credentials to use the WhatsApp API.
Set Up a Webhook:
- Webhook is a technique to allow one application to send information in real time to other applications. You will need to create a webhook for WhatsApp to RingCentral message forwarding.
- You can make use of API client or tools like Zapier to connect RingCentral to your WhatsApp account and vice versa.
Write the Integration Code:
- Use The WhatsApp API and RingCentral API to construct the code responsible for messaging across both integration platforms.
- You’ll have to combine the incoming WhatsApp messages into the RingCentral and configure notifications intended to notify your team.
Test the Integration:
- Send a WhatsApp message and see whether it appears on your RingCentral dashboard to test the integration. Also, confirm that you are able to send out WhatsApp messages from RingCentral.
Method 2: Linking your RingCentral with WhatsApp Business Account (using Third Party Applications)
If businesses do not have access to development teams, there are other applications in the market that can assist in the connecting the RingCentral and WhatsApp. A popular among these is Twilio.
Register on Twilio:
- Twilio is a cloud communications platform which allows for WhatsApp Business API enrolment.
- Go ahead and register a Twilio account and enable your WhatsApp business API.
Set Up Twilio Integration:
- Integrate WhatsApp with RingCentral using Twilio’s built in workflows. Twilio makes it easy to send WhatsApp messages across and into your RingCentral account with their comprehensive tools and APIs.
- Assign incoming WhatsApp messages triggers that will enable them to be sent to your RingCentral system.
Sync WhatsApp and RingCentral:
- As soon as the integration has been completed, you will get WhatsApp messages on your RingCentral dashboard and you will also be able to send messages directly from the RingCentral dashboard.
Common Challenges in Integrating WhatsApp with RingCentral
The usage of RingCentral along with WhatsApp can indeed improve the communication, however, there are some complications that businesses are likely to face:
Complicated Installation Process: Establishing integration is not a child’s play as it involves deep technical education, especially when API’s are employed to perform the custom development. Not all the companies have developers in house, and outsourcing them to other companies means extra expenses.
Missing Direct Assistance: As of this moment, NO, ringcentral does not have direct native support for WhatsApp, which makes it all the more complicated.
Approval of WhatsApp Business Account: Getting such an account requires approval from WhatsApp and it is safe to say that there is no certainty that the account would be afforded to all businesses.
Fees: Depending on the solution you chose, either through third party apps or through API, there are likely to be costs involved to use other platforms such as Twilio.
FAQs
1 Can I link RingCentral and WhatsApp without asking a developer’s help?
Yes, there is no need for a developer, can link WhatsApp and twilio which can be integrated RingCentral. This will ease the task of connecting the two services.
2 What is the WhatsApp Business API?
The WhatsApp Business API describes business accounts on the popular messaging platform. This API is necessary to answer questions for a company, automate messaging, and connect different tools such as RingCentral.
3 Does WhatsApp work with RingCentral?
No and can be integrated using software interfaces or other services such as twilio. RingCentral does not have WhatsApp as part of its services.
4 If I want to connect WhatsApp and RingCentral, how long will it take?
It all depends on how you choose to go about it. For example, if you intend to use twilio, you will spend less time compared to using API integration that requires more technical skills and time.
5 Are there any alternatives for RingCentral to connect WhatsApp?
Indeed, many high-level cloud-based communication solutions, including Freshdesk, HubSpot, and Zendesk, can also connect WhatsApp for non-technical advanced users.
