New AI solution on WhatsApp will help micro and small entrepreneurs boost results

Brazilian micro and small entrepreneurs now have an artificial intelligence solution to transform WhatsApp Business into an even more efficient sales, service, and customer relationship channel. Blip, the leading conversational intelligence platform that connects brands and consumers on social apps, has just launched a automation service for interactions on WhatsApp which will speed up service and boost revenue for those who sell products and services online.

Initially, the solution is free and meets a market need. According to Opinion Box, 791% of consumers communicate with brands and companies via WhatsApp, and 561% have made purchases through the app. 

"A small business owner who owns a fashion store in Brás, for example, can use automated customer service via WhatsApp to instantly respond to their customers' most frequently asked questions, such as information about products, prices, and payment methods," says Sérgio Passos, Chief Product Officer (CPO) and co-founder at Blip. 

The initiative is in line with the recent announcement of Meta's new SMB API Solution, “Business-on-App,” which allows the coexistence of features from the WhatsApp Business App and WhatsApp Business API, focusing on micro and small businesses.

"We've updated our Blip Go plan offering, a business model geared toward small and medium-sized businesses, and now offer a version with services for micro and small entrepreneurs. Companies that subscribe to this plan will have access to a Smart Contact on WhatsApp to communicate with their customers, leveraging AI to interpret customer messages and respond based on the knowledge set up by the retailer, providing a dynamic and more natural conversation, similar to human service. Furthermore, AI will help entrepreneurs always be in control of when automation should or shouldn't take over the conversation. This streamlines the service process, improves the customer experience, and reduces the risk of losing sales to competitors," explains the expert.

The solution also allows you to send messages to distribution lists to promote, for example, new collections, flash sales, and seasonal promotions directly to your customer base, encouraging more store visits and boosting orders via WhatsApp. "Entrepreneurs will also be able to track how many customers interacted with the campaigns sent, analyzing the impact of the messages and adjusting their strategies for better results. This functionality is planned for a later stage," comments Sérgio. 

Another advantage of Smart Contact at Blip Go is the flexibility of automation. Entrepreneurs can activate or deactivate artificial intelligence at any time, and if a human agent joins the conversation, the bot automatically deactivates, ensuring more personalized service when needed. "If the human agent sends a message during the conversation, the AI interrupts the service, allowing human interaction when necessary. Everything is fully adjustable," says Sérgio. 

Before launching the service, Blip conducted a study on the segments expected to be most impacted. These sectors include clothing and accessories retail, beauty service providers (such as hairdressers and manicurists), food services (food delivery, food trucks, and lunchboxes), consulting and training (coaching and marketing consulting), and e-commerce and online product sales.

"We've always been committed to contributing increasingly to the growth of small Brazilian entrepreneurs. One day, we also began our journey as a company, embarking on a path to success, albeit one that presents many challenges. Blip Go is here to support the journey of micro and small entrepreneurs who want to grow, who are ambitious, and who believe in the conversational era and the power of Smart Contact as a bridge to scaling their businesses," says Roberto Oliveira, co-founder and CEO of Blip. 

How to join Blip Go

Micro and small entrepreneurs who wish to use the automation solutions on WhatsApp offered by Blip can register on this siteThe membership process involves a waiting list during the initial phase of the solution's launch. Additionally, the company has created a VIP group, and participating entrepreneurs will have early access to product updates and developments, as well as educational content such as articles, ebooks, and videos that will help their business grow, among other features.