Unlocking New Trends In Retail: Live Shopping with WhatsApp

October 17, 2023

The world of retail has undergone significant transformations over the past few decades, with the rise of e-commerce. A new innovation in the retail space is live shopping, and WhatsApp is emerging as a powerful augmentation for it. In this blog, we will delve into the exciting world of live shopping using WhatsApp. Join us as we explore its potential benefits and how businesses can leverage this trend for the modern retail landscape.

TL;DR

Live shopping features live video broadcasts for showcasing and selling in real-time
The process of doing so on WhatsApp includes
1. Setting up a WhatsApp Business Account
2. Announcing the live stream to contacts via WhatsApp
3. Use WhatsApp for engagement while streaming
4. Directly sell on the app using a Shopify integration
5. Follow up with customers on WhatsApp after the stream
WhatsApp is ideal for live shopping as
1. It provides a high level of user engagement
2. It features multimedia and product catalog capabilities for showcasing products
3. It has several levels of encryption and data security:
4. It lets you send personalized messages to clients
5. It provides valuable insights for strategic improvements
6. It lets you reduce the middlemen involved in online shopping

The Rise of Live Shopping

In live shopping, brands and businesses host live video broadcasts to showcase and sell their products or services in real-time. It is also known as live commerce or shoppable live streams. This trend first gained popularity in Asia and has since made its way to other parts of the world.

Live shopping is an innovative fusion of entertainment, engagement, and e-commerce, offering customers a unique and interactive shopping experience. Viewers can watch live presentations of products, ask questions, receive instant answers, and make purchases without leaving the live stream.

How Live Shopping Works on WhatsApp

Before diving into the potential benefits of live shopping with WhatsApp, it's essential to understand how the process works:

Setup WhatsApp Business Account

Businesses must set up an official WhatsApp Business account for their live shopping events. This account allows for more advanced features, including customer segmentation and automated responses.

Announce Your Live Stream

Now, your business can schedule a live shopping event and announce it to its WhatsApp contacts and subscribers. These events can be one-off product launches, regular shows, or themed broadcasts.

Use WhatsApp For Engagement

During the live stream, customers can interact with the host or presenter using WhatsApp. They can ask questions, seek product information, and request demonstrations, fostering a real-time connection.

Sell Directly On The App

WhatsApp allows businesses to showcase products during the live stream, complete with descriptions, prices, and links to make purchases. This can be made even easier with a Shopify integration. Customers can add items to their carts or directly proceed with the purchase. Customers can then complete the purchase without leaving the app.

Post-Event Follow-Up

After the event, businesses can follow up with customers via WhatsApp to provide order updates, shipping details, and customer support. They can also use it to collect customer feedback, reviews and suggestions.

WhatsApp: The Ideal Supplement for Live Shopping

Live shopping on WhatsApp offers a plethora of advantages for businesses, customers, and the platform itself. Here's why WhatsApp is the ideal choice for businesses looking to incorporate live shopping into their strategies:

High User Engagement: WhatsApp boasts a high engagement rate, as it is often used for personal and professional communication. Chats on WhatsApp feel like a one-on-one conversation, enhancing the customer experience. This direct engagement not only boosts sales but also strengthens brand-customer relationships.
Multimedia and Catalog Features: WhatsApp supports various media formats and product Catalogs, which makes it easy to showcase products and services. Businesses can use both to sell to their audience. Companies can showcase their products and provide additional images, videos or documents as needed.
Encryption and Data Security: WhatsApp's robust privacy features offer a secure environment for both businesses and customers. Shoppers can trust that their information and transactions are safe, which is crucial for e-commerce activities.
Personalized Customer Experience: Businesses can segment their audience and tailor live shopping events to different customer segments, ensuring a more customizable shopping experience.
Data Insights: With integrations, WhatsApp can offer analytic tools to track the performance of live shopping events. Businesses can analyze data, including views, click-through rates, and conversions, and segment audiences according to them.
Reduce Middlemen: Live shopping on WhatsApp is a cost-effective way to facilitate virtual retail events without the need for a dedicated e-commerce website or mobile app.

Concluding,

Live shopping on WhatsApp is a game-changer for the retail industry. It provides a dynamic and interactive shopping experience that is relatively new in the majority of the market. Since businesses need innovative ways to connect with customers, live shopping offers a promising avenue for a competitive advantage. By embracing this trend, companies can create memorable shopping experiences for their audience, transforming shopping in the digital age.

At kwiqreply, we help you fully leverage the features of the WhatsApp Business API for your organization. kwiqreply is a trusted WhatsApp Business Solution Provider that has helped companies scale up their sales and customer satisfaction. It brings you tried and tested features like bulk messaging, custom message templates, quick response message buttons, etc. Combined with WhatsApp’s capability for media-rich messages, you can send visually appealing messages and gather data for your surveys.

So, seize the opportunity, leverage WhatsApp's potential, and propel your business toward sustainable growth and success! Know more about WhatsApp Business API’s features and start sending surveys by checking out our website today!

Click here to book a free demo and let us show you how you can do more business with WhatsApp.