Brazilian micro and small entrepreneurs now have an artificial intelligence solution to turn WhatsApp Business into an even more efficient sales, customer service, and relationship channel. Blip, the leading conversational intelligence platform connecting brands and consumers on social apps, has just launched a automation service for WhatsApp interactions that will streamline customer service and boost revenue for those selling products and services online.
Initially, the solution is free and arrives to meet a market need. According to Opinion Box, 79% of consumers communicate with brands and businesses via WhatsApp, and 56% have already made purchases through the app.
“A small entrepreneur who has a fashion store in Brás, for example, can use automated WhatsApp service to instantly answer their customers’ most frequent questions, such as product information, prices, and payment methods,” says Sérgio Passos, Chief Product Officer (CPO) and co-founder at Blip.
The initiative aligns with Meta’s recent announcement of the new SMB API Solution, the ‘Business-on-App,’ which allows the coexistence of WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Business API functionalities, focusing on micro and small businesses.
“We updated our Blip Go plan offerings, a business model aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises, and now offer a version with services for micro and small entrepreneurs. Companies that join this plan will have a Smart Contact on WhatsApp to communicate with their consumers using AI to interpret customer messages and respond based on knowledge configured by the store owner, enabling a dynamic and more natural conversation, similar to human service. Additionally, AI will help entrepreneurs stay in control of when automation should or should not take over the conversation. This speeds up the service process, improves customer experience, and reduces the risk of losing sales to competitors,” explains the expert.
With the solution, it’s also possible to send messages to distribution lists to promote, for example, new collections, flash sales, and seasonal promotions directly to the customer base, encouraging more store visits and driving orders via WhatsApp. “Entrepreneurs will also be able to track how many customers interacted with the campaigns sent, analyzing the impact of messages and adjusting their strategies for better results. This functionality is planned for a later stage,” comments Sérgio.
Another advantage of Smart Contact in Blip Go is the flexibility in automation. Entrepreneurs can turn AI on or off at any time, and if a human agent joins the conversation, the bot automatically deactivates, ensuring more personalized service when needed. “If a human agent sends a message during the conversation, AI interrupts the service, allowing human interaction when necessary. Everything is fully adjustable,” says Sérgio.
Before launching the service in the market, Blip conducted a study on the segments that will be most impacted. These include: retail clothing and accessories, beauty service providers (such as hairdressers and manicurists), food (food delivery, food trucks, and meal kits), consulting and training (coaching and marketing consulting), as well as e-commerce and online product sales.
“We have always been steadfast in our purpose of increasingly contributing to the rise of Brazilian small entrepreneurs. We also started our company journey one day to pursue a path of success, with many challenges. Blip Go arrives to support the journey of micro and small entrepreneurs who want to grow, who have ambition, and who believe in the conversational era and the power of a Smart Contact as a bridge to scale their businesses,” says Roberto Oliveira, co-founder and CEO of Blip.
How to join Blip Go
Micro and small entrepreneurs who wish to use Blip’s WhatsApp automation solutions can sign up on this website. The onboarding process involves a waiting list during the solution’s initial launch phase. Additionally, the company has created a VIP group, and entrepreneurs who join will get early access to product updates, educational content such as articles, ebooks, and videos to help grow their business, among other news.
