How to develop an instant messaging app like WhatsApp for Business?

Developing instant messaging apps like WhatsApp seems to be a revenue-generating idea.

It has to be. After all, WhatsApp itself is a successful messaging app across the world.

Here are a few statistics that prove WhatsApp success-

• By Q1 2019, WhatsApp had half a billion active Status users across the world ( Statista )
• As of July 2019, WhatsApp is the third most popular social network after Facebook and YouTube ( Statista )
• By 2023, 85.8 million U.S. mobile phone users will use WhatsApp to communicate ( Statista )

These WhatsApp statistics depict one thing prominently- instant messaging apps like WhatsApp have an immense future.

But, the challenge in communication within an organisation still persists. Personal interaction is effective on WhatsApp, but what about the professional ones?

You might think that using the existing messaging tools are far better than developing a new for your business. If this is the case, you need to understand a few things:

Why Lookout for the WhatsApp-Like Application for Your Business?

Collaboration is one of the important things you should implement when you need to run your business. Big deals need proper interaction with all departments involved in the operations.

WhatsApp is one of the trending messenger applications, but it isn’t efficient for businesses. People want to use dedicated applications that are specifically made for business communications. And this is how businesses intend to fix their collaboration problem.

The entire team will be able to establish better communication when the members are on one single platform. Gone are the days when you had to call one team member while dropping a WhatsApp message to another to bring them all on the same page. One unified business communication platform, unique to your organisational policies and practices, will create a better rapport for you all to interact.

Businesses will be able to build authority among the employees, and this initiative will allow employees to break the hesitation barrier of interaction with seniors or management heads. Any doubts or queries related to work or associated processes can be asked through messages, images or videos.

Businesses seek WhatsApp-like app development because of the features the original application provides. Just like WhatsApp, you might need to send images, documents, audio, texts and much more, but specific to work. The only difference is the volume of data being exchanged over the platform. WhatsApp might not be able to handle the transfer of such big files or documents, which a custom application can.

Therefore, businesses are seeking WhatsApp-Like communication applications and aren’t relying on WhatsApp itself.

So, how to build an app like WhatsApp? Before that, you need to know if you can get along with the existing one or consider developing a new one.

Whether to use the existing one or to develop a new one?

Most enterprises have this doubt whether to invest in developing an instant messaging app like WhatsApp or to use the existing ones like Slack, Skype, and more.

Well, not a single mobile application for the business consists of the excellent features that WhatsApp has. Though Skype has video calls, chats, and more; people use the same quite less compared to WhatsApp.

Now, Slack is just a messaging app, and there are no features like WhatsApp. So, if you think not to develop one, your employees would depend on multiple applications. On top of that, the data won’t remain with your company.

Why? Because after all, these are the third-party applications.

You must consider making your communication messenger for handling business interactions among the employees and management. The workplace has been consistently evolving over the last couple of decades.

The remote working culture is now becoming more common among employees, as the pandemic taught them to attain work-life balance. Even the surveys have stated that people working from home will be more productive.

Therefore, companies are allowing them to avail of that facility. But, the problem that arose with this initiative was the lack of communication between the operational teams. Thus, it affected the team’s productivity!

Therefore, introducing a dedicated messenger application is to help the company employees stay in touch, interact with one another, have fun, celebrate birthdays, discuss games and do almost everything to enjoy corporate life.

If you consider using third-party applications, as specified above, you will lose the liberty of adding your specific features. Suppose you want to automate a few specific company policies and conditions upon the messenger application. In that case, the third-party applications can’t be tweaked for your needs. For that, you will need a specific business-oriented application.

This calls for a decision to develop an instant messaging app like WhatsApp for your company.

Let’s find out why you should develop an instant messaging app like WhatsApp for your business.

Benefits of developing instant messaging apps like WhatsApp for businesses

If you are starting up a new business and are planning on setting up a good communication medium for your employees, then WhatsApp-like app development is of utmost importance. But how will it be beneficial for your business? Well, here are some of the benefits that your business will experience over time when you integrate your messenger application:

1. Effective communication within the organisation

One of the top advantages of developing an app like WhatsApp is to bring effective communication within the organisation.

By now, we have been communicating on emails. But, emails are emails, and they sometimes delay an interaction.

All employees don’t have access to company emails on their mobile phones. How would you communicate with those employees in case of some important news or updates?

An instant messaging app becomes a gift for your business as communication becomes faster and equally effective.

The messaging applications act as easy-to-access platforms with instant updates related to the ongoing project. Following that, the messages are instantly conveyed, and the notifications are quick and alarming for people to get the required information on time. Groups can be created over such messenger apps for making announcements or sharing group insights.

Messenger apps are also implemented with video conferencing to allow remote teams to interact better. Phone conferencing is quite outdated and creates a lot of hassle, as you mustput the existing members on hold until the other members get online. Work messenger applications allow you to implement video conferencing and allow members to join the platform without halting the ongoing conversation.

2. Customised app based on your business requirements

Several instant messaging apps like WhatsApp exists for businesses. They are-

• Slack
• Facebook Workplace
• Google Hangouts
• And, more

But, they have standard features for all companies. You cannot add any special features to it. Your employees need to use it as is.

What if you want to have some features specific to your organisation? Well, that is only possible when you develop a customised instant messaging app.

An essential benefit of having your instant messaging app, right?

3. Improved relations with employees

This benefit is worth looking at when it comes to developing your business app.

An instant messaging app means a messaging app for instant communication. Times when your employees are busy in meetings or out of office due to some office work, they feel connected when they receive important updates on the messaging app.

For example, an appraisal form is sent in an email. The respective employee is not in the office, and your HR team needs to communicate this with him/her. Now, if the HR messages the employee about the same using a WhatsApp-like messaging app, they feel that the company cares for them.

4. Seamless communication with prospects and customers

The communication platform you build for the businesses is also ideal for the clients to interact with the concerned person in your team. Whether you want to explain to the clients about the new product or want to take consent on some development change, this messenger tool will be helpful to establish a seamless interaction.

When the clients feel confident and comfortable connecting with your business, they will be more interested in connecting with you for their service needs. You lose the formal appeal when you communicate with clients through a pre-existing messaging app. With the dedicated business application, you will build that brand presence among the target audience.

Your prospects will respond to you on an instant messaging app like WhatsApp faster than emails.

5. Efficient and secured track of communication

As this is the company’s customised instant messaging app, the data of communication remains with the company. So, during any misunderstanding or dispute, you can check the data at the backend and resolve the same instantly.

And, this is the crucial reason to develop an instant messaging app like WhatsApp for your business.

Tracking the communication and keeping a tab of it will enable your office culture to be cautious about what they text and how they interact with the members across various departments. The disciplinary committees within workspaces can take care of complaints associated with inappropriate messages being sent to any of the members within the company.

Suppose someone has raised a disciplinary complaint against an employee who sent inappropriate messages; the committee will check the message history from the main database and find the culprit for making the right decision. So, if you are keen on learning how to create a social media app like WhatsApp, learn the key features that you should add to it.

Top 11 features you must have in your instant messaging app like WhatsApp

The instant messaging app, WhatsApp, became successful because of the features it has. So, consider the following features to make your instant messaging app successful within your organisation:

1. VOIP phone calls

Instant messaging is incomplete with Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).

What is VOIP?
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is a methodology and group of technologies that help you deliver voice communication and multimedia sharing over the Internet.

So, the audio calls and multimedia sessions that you make over WhatsApp consists of VOIP technology. And, VOIP should be in your list of top features in your instant messaging app.

Why? Because VOIP allows your employees to conduct business from anywhere in the world.

2. Video chats

Another vital feature your instant messaging app must have is video chats.

The way VOIP phone calls are essential for your employees, video chats are equally important.

As per the latest report by Reuters, the corporate video conferencing market is expected to grow a CAGR of 10% of 11 billion by 2024.

This report indicates you must take the benefit of video conferencing and have video chats as the key feature.

3. Group calls/chats

The way you make group calls over Skype or WhatsApp, you need to have group calls/chats in your instant messaging app.

With this mobile app feature, your scattered team across the globe can conduct meetings seamlessly, and your work does not stop.

4. Ask & join group feature
WhatsApp has an element of asking to join a group and joining a group using a link. This feature needs to be in the instant messaging app that you want to develop.

What if a new employee joins the team and needs to be a part of the group? So, don’t forget you must have this essential feature in your app to make it beneficial like WhatsApp.

5. Geolocation integration

One of the most prominent features WhatsApp has and which you must have in your messaging app is the geolocation integration.

Your employees or customers should be able to share location on a real-time basis. Even if they don’t share the location, at least your salespeople know where your customers are.

This even helps your marketing teams to plan their location-based advertising campaigns effectively. That’s where you hit a bull’s eye.

6. Multimedia sharing

Well, this app feature has to go hand-in-hand with other essential functionalities of your instant messaging app.

Sharing of files, videos, graphics, and more is essential in day-to-day communication. Also, multimedia files can be shared across multiple networks such as email, other social networking sites, and more. So, missing this feature is unaffordable.

7. Chat deletion

This feature must be available in your instant messaging mobile app. But, make sure it is used cautiously.

Humans are prone to make mistakes. And, your employees should be allowed to make mistakes in typing, copy-paste, and more.

This instant messaging app feature should be able to delete messages sent within a specified period. But, your employees cannot entirely remove the chat. It remains in the database for your future references.

Well, most enterprise messaging apps have this customised feature.

8. Payment integration

Payment integration allows your employees, prospects, and customers to make the payment instantly.

Well, not necessarily you have this feature in your instant messaging app. But, having it can save you time in receiving payments.

9. Data security

Data security remains the most crucial feature of an instant messaging app. When there are employees, stakeholders, and customers using the same app, there increases the risk of data security.

For that, you can have various options- password-protected chats (discussed in the next section), double-layered authentication, and more.

10. Calendar sync

One of the very productive features your instant messaging app must have is the calendar synchronization.

Your employees should be able to sync any important meetings, reminders, and more in the calendar right from the app. It makes them more productive and responsible for their tasks.

11. Multi-platform communication

Your instant messaging app must be accessible across multiple platforms such as desktops, mobile phones, and tablets.

Well, these days, wearables are also gearing up since their last announcement from Google I/O. So, if your app can be connected to a smart watch, it’s impressive.

Unavoidable features that WhatsApp lacks, but you must have

Some features that an organisation needs when it comes to building a business-focused mobile app. And, WhatsApp, being a social networking app, lacks them. Make sure you have the following features in your instant messaging app for business:

1. Password-protected chats

Like discussed in the data security feature, password protection becomes imperative when it comes to communicating across enterprise channels.

Some communication between the top management or middle management can be crucial and should not be leaked. So, a different layer of security can be incorporated in a customised way.

2. Push notifications

No, not at all, push notifications are not only used by e-commerce businesses. You can use it too for reminders, notices, alerts, and more.

Specific HR messages can be sent using push notifications as well.

3. Emails

Yes, being an instant messaging app for business, it is obvious to have email integration in it. Your employees are connected over the messaging app and email through one medium.

4. SMS

SMS has gained popularity again. Some messages such as the leave balance, company policy updates, and others can be sent via SMS.

A well-planned process to use your company’s messaging app can streamline your entire business workflow.

How to make money by developing an app like WhatsApp?

This is the most common question we receive when people consider developing a WhatsApp-like app. If you’re looking to build this app for your organisational use, you should not consider app monetization.

And, if this is not the case with you, use the following ways to earn money by developing an app like WhatsApp:

1. Advertising

When you showcase ads in your mobile application, you can make money with the same. Google’s AdMob and Apple’s iAds help you with both your- Android and iOS apps advertising.

2. In-app purchases

When your app provides selling of a few products or services, it is called in-app purchases. It is mostly seen in games.

3. Sponsorships

You may find a sponsor to fund your entire mobile app project. That’s how most startups gain money from investors.

4. Subscription

The way you pay for Netflix subscription, you ask your users to pay monthly to utilize your premium mobile app features. This app monetization tip is certainly not for the organisational use.

Create your WhatsApp-like app now

Developing an app like WhatsApp is a successful business idea. It can be successful only if you know exactly how and what you want in your mobile app.

Now, your next steps to develop your WhatsApp-like app are-

• 1. Define your target audience (if it’s not for your organisation)
• 2. Select the platforms – Android, iOS or both (both are recommended in this era)
• 3. Identify the features to be included
• 4. Set up your budget
• 5. Choose the right mobile app development company

Your instant messaging app like WhatsApp can help you streamline your business processes efficiently. Work on your app idea, gather as much information as you can, and consult the right development company to bring it into life.