How to Use WhatsApp Business API for Restaurants

Hello restaurateur! So would you like to make your restaurant great using WhatsApp Business API? Then the right place is here!

The WhatsApp Business API for restaurants helps food merchants market, sell, and support through messaging. Some of the popular platforms have opened new paths to bring food merchants and their customers closer while being convenient for the local community. Such platforms include Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, BigBasket, Behrouz, Blinkit, and more. The commissions often range between 15% to 35% which can “take away a big share” from food sellers.

So, WhatsApp Business API enables restaurant owners to connect with customers without increasing food prices. Restaurant owners need to understand how to exploit a WhatsApp food ordering system with the help of WhatsApp Business or WhatsApp Business API to avail riders or drivers to supply their food orders, save costs, and increase sales without the demanding commissions on these food delivery platforms.

This guide is super easy to understand, and it’s only for you. We are gonna teach you how to use WhatsApp to reach your customers and get more orders. Are you prepared to make your restaurant awesome? Let’s get started!

What is WhatsApp Business API for Restaurants?

WhatsApp Business for restaurants is useful in many ways. It is already a popular application having over 2 billion people on board, and restaurants can interact directly with customers. This way, it ensures they can provide better support, provide offers/deals, and solve their issues promptly. Further, it is cheaper than all these ways of reaching the customer to place food orders, and this makes ordering fast and easier too. This way, restaurants might be able to sell more.

WhatsApp offers a highly friendly interface as well as a whole lot of functions. The app is ideal for customer interaction and automating processes. Restaurants can also engage in personalized customer care through the direct messaging channel on WhatsApp. This thus increases the level of satisfaction and loyalty.

Why do Restaurants need WhatsApp Business API?

Think of WhatsApp – the messaging app you already use but with cool features for businesses like yours.

Now, with the WhatsApp Business app, you can get messages from your clients personally. They chat with you just like a friend and respond to you in time. It is simple. You use message broadcasts and can inform about special dishes for today; answer them or help to place an order in real-time. At the same time, you can create an order system on WhatsApp restaurants.

The good news? You do not need to have a technical degree to use this feature. It is the same application for you to use as WhatsApp, but then you can have a special profile for your restaurant. This profile may show the menu, opening hours, and location. It’s kind of like having a mini-website right inside your WhatsApp.

Top 8 Benefits of Using WhatsApp Business API for Restaurants

1. Seamless Integration and Payments

You get paid for food orders right in the chat. This means customers can order and pay without going through all that hassle. It’s much easier for them, and that makes everything all the smoother.

Furthermore, using WhatsApp Business API such as Getgabs. For example, you can text many of your customers in bulk when for instance you are having a special deal or a new menu item. You can also get new customers. It is a fine way of informing people about your restaurant to keep coming back to it.

2. Accessing customer information

Restaurants join the WhatsApp Business API so they have an immediate connection to their customers’ information and deep insights into what they like. Whenever a customer sends you a message on WhatsApp, you can see his name and phone number. Moreover, when customers send their location on WhatsApp, you can make use of such information to have an idea of where your orders are coming from and how you can offer excellent services to cater to that area in the future.

3. Making Food Ordering Simple

Another great reason to use WhatsApp Business for restaurants is, that ordering food could be super duper easy. Imagine that. Customers can just send a message to order their meal-the way they would text a friend- so for them and you, it’s fast and easy.

And guess what? Most of them like ordering their food online these days, around 70% of the population! Making it easy for your customer to order through WhatsApp will make him happy. The more it becomes easy for people to order, the more will order, which means more sales for your restaurant. Win-Win!

4. Promotions and Offers

If you want your restaurant to be renowned for its fantastic deals, WhatsApp Business will be of great assistance to you. You can directly send such promotions and offers to the phones of your customers. It’s almost like you have a direct line to give them information about your daily specials, happy hour deals, or even your seasonal discounts.

Because you are sending direct messages, you can more people reach and get excited about what you’re offering. Using the features of WhatsApp, you can tell every one of your customers what is happening in the latest and greatest at your restaurant. This will give your sales a boost and also have people talking. Before you know it, more people are walking through your door.

5. Resolving Issues

Problem Solving sometimes customers may have something that has disturbed them or something they are not pleased with. WhatsApp Business makes this easy for them to tell you what is going on. The customers can simply send a message to your restaurant like they would to a friend and therefore allow you to quickly sort the problem out.

The best thing is that all the issues are usually resolved in a hurry and the clients are always satisfied. When you respond quickly and correctly, your customers find you care. That not only feels good for them but also reflects how good your restaurant looks.

This will make a not-so-great situation turn into an opportunity to show your value to customers. It will make them want to come again, and they can even make some loyal fans of your restaurant. Using WhatsApp Business is no longer just about chatting but about keeping the satisfaction of your customers, and making them feel special.

6. Fully Integrated with CRM Databases

Another wise move you could make is to couple WhatsApp Business with a Customer Relationship Management, or CRM system. Then you will be able to know your customers; you know what they like, what they ordered before, and how often they order.

That way, with all of this information, you can tailor your marketing. For example, offer special deals to the customer who loves a certain dish, or keep the regulars informed of a new offering that they will like. That way, your customers feel considered because you are paying attention to what they like.

This is way beyond sending cool messages. It helps manage orders more efficiently and keeps customers coming back to your restaurant. In the long run, this will mean your restaurant earns more and continues to grow because you are using WhatsApp Business and CRM together to better understand and serve your customers.

7. Improve messaging content with rich media

WhatsApp Business API will help in creating notification templates that can capture order details and alert the customer regarding the status of their orders. You can share any rich media consisting of images, maps, menu templates, receipts, and much more with WhatsApp. Also, if there is any problem with the order of any customer, they can immediately reach your customer support executive on WhatsApp for speedy resolution.

8. Develop brand loyalty

If you offer some discount level and cashback in your attempt to raise customer engagement, you are sure to heighten customer loyalty towards your brand.

For example, the Starbucks loyalty program enhanced the revenue of the company by 2.65 billion dollars. If you are reliant on food delivery apps then customer loyalty is toward the application and not to your restaurant.

WhatsApp Business API for Restaurants: Marketing Strategies

Broadcast messages and generate leads with WhatsApp Business API

Have you ever wished that you could let lots of customers know about your restaurant’s latest deal or new menu item? That’s what WhatsApp Business API is all about. It’s like an announcement to a crowd, but this time through their phones. You can let everybody know what your special offers are, and what’s new on your menu, and get them interested enough to pump up the sales.

It gets even better with the WhatsApp Business API. You can even attract new customers by setting up automatic responses to every individual when they first contact you. For example, you could ask for their details, like name or email, and give them something special in return, such as a discount. That is a very smart way to increase the list of your customers and people coming for more of your tasty food.

Upload Your Food Menu with the Catalog Feature

You can upload your whole food menu directly on WhatsApp. It is like having an animated version of your menu to be seen by your customers through their phones. You could include the name of your dishes, the descriptions, how much they cost, and even pictures.

Super convenient for your customers. They will now view what you have and pick what they want to eat, all without ever having to leave the app. And when they are ready, they simply send you a message with their order. Easy for them, and great for you, because it makes ordering so easy.

Automated Messages, Chatbots, and FAQs

Automating WhatsApp Business will make your life much easier as a restaurant owner. You can set up automated messages, for instance, saying “hello” to the customers automatically, telling them about the status of their orders, or answering frequently asked questions. It’s like having a helper who is always there at hand to talk to your customers.

It has chatbots. It can take orders, give menu recommendations of what a customer likes to eat, and answer questions. Thus, help gets delivered speedily to a customer while work on the part of your team is reduced.

You can also include answers to the most asked questions (that is, create an FAQ section). This way, you’ll immediately inform customers of what they are looking for. This helps you both save time and eliminates the chance of making the whole ordering process unclear.

Use Cases of WhatsApp Business API for Restaurants

Taking Orders

The WhatsApp chatbot can take orders easily in a very simple automated way without the need to have to call the restaurant. Or a request like placing an order also might include requests like table reservations, event bookings, and so on.

Sending Notifications

Customers can be reminded that their order is ready through WhatsApp. It can be used in menu changes, closure of the business, receipt of orders, among others, etc. 

Send Transactional/Promotional Messages

Restaurant owners can use pre-approved WhatsApp Message Templates to send transactional and promotional messages including discount and offer messages to enhance customer engagement. This helps them send updates to their customers.

Use Media

Send notifications with rich media to customers who have opted in, with the notifications template feature on WhatsApp Business API.

Quick Replies

Utilize the quick replies feature of WhatsApp Business API to answer the most frequently asked questions that customers have.

Send Menus

WhatsApp can also be used to send the menu with specials of the day for all restaurants to the customers.

Delivery Tracking

Delivery updates are one of the major factors that ensure a good customer experience. Alarms can be sent across when it is out for delivery and the approximate arrival time can also be shared along with the contact number of the delivery man so that the customers are in touch with him during tracking.

Customer Engagement

Share updates in real-time so the customers can be updated on the status of their orders. Customer engagement is tracked using read receipts, clicks, shares, and location.

Boost Your Restaurant Business with WhatsApp Business API: Getgabs 

You could provide communication through the WhatsApp Business API and help your customers reach out to you on WhatsApp, have their conversations managed by you, and boost engagement to trigger sales. Subscribe to WhatsApp Business API today on Getgabs and give your customers the service they deserve so that they can keep coming back for more, this is a chance to set up your restaurant business for success, and that starts with subscribing to Getgabs today and enjoying your free trial.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1 What is WhatsApp Business API for Restaurants?

A. WhatsApp Business API is a huge communication tool for businesses in the food and beverages, and Restaurant industry. Using such, restaurants can offer one-on-one customer support, send out promotions, and address other issues.

Q.2 What benefits will WhatsApp Business bring to the restaurants?

A. WhatsApp Business helps the food merchant advertise sell and support through messages. Restaurant owners can reach their customers without the high commissions usually charged. Acceleration of speedy ordering and speed in the convenience of food sales leads to increased sales.

Q.3 Which is the best WhatsApp Business API provider?

A. Getgabs is the best API service provider. It is an end-to-end WhatsApp API solution designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It has features like WhatsApp Automation, an AI chatbot, and pre-written Template, etc. 

Q.4 In what ways can WhatsApp Business enhance customer service? 

A. Optimizing the Food Ordering Process: the use of automated messages, FAQs, and chatbots will be used to enhance Customer Service. Customer Feedback and Surveys: conduct surveys and collect data using WhatsApp.

Q.5 How can restaurants expand their business by using WhatsApp Business?

A. WhatsApp Business helps restaurants acquire customers, then offer improved services and scale their business through lead generation, answering query questions, accepting and confirming orders, accepting payments, tracking orders, returns, and refunds, repeat orders, collection of feedback, referrals, and collection of information on customers.

Conclusion

WhatsApp for restaurants, put simply, is a very handy tool for restaurants in the year 2024. It can easily communicate with customers, take orders without being confused, and have many more things on its list. You can have customer chats, give pre-programmed answers to their questions, and even display your menu on their cell phones. This is ideal for any restaurant, be it small or large, because it makes everything easier and helps to sell more.

The bottom line is: that if you use WhatsApp Business API, it will mean better service for your customers and a better-run restaurant for you.

If you want to learn more about how can you increase your business, you can read our blogs like WhatsApp Business API for Takeaways and WhatsApp Business API for Hotels and Hospitality Industry. It can help to boost your business by 2x speed. So give it a try, and see how it helps your restaurant keep up with the times and keep your customers happy!