WATI, a CRM software constructed for WhatsApp, raises $23M led by Tiger International • TechCrunch

WhatsApp is utilized by greater than two billion around the globe, and is a vital software for a lot of small companies. However as they scale up, even WhatsApp for Enterprise may not be capable of sustain with their wants. That’s the place WATI (WhatsApp Workforce Inbox) steps in. Constructed on WhatsApp for Enterprise’ API, WATI has buyer gross sales and engagement instruments created for the messaging app. At present the Hong Kong and Malaysia-headquartered startup introduced it has raised $23 billion in Collection B funding to scale its staff and product.

The spherical was led by Tiger International with participation from returning traders Sequoia Capital India & Southeast Asia, and new traders DST International Companions and Shopify (marking the e-commerce platform’s first enterprise funding in a startup working within the Southeast Asia area). WATI’s final spherical of funding was an $8.3 million Collection A introduced 10 months in the past, and its new spherical brings its whole raised to greater than $35 million since 2020.

WATI founders Bianco Ho and Ken Yeung started working collectively in 2016, constructing Clare.AI, an omnichannel AI digital assistant for giant Asia enterprises. In 2020, they launched WATI to provide SMBs a self-service, low-code product on the WhatsApp for Enterprise API. The startup at the moment has greater than 6,000 clients in 75 nations, together with SMBs in areas like home cleansing, faculties, schooling facilities, edtech, fintech, medical services, D2C manufacturers and Shopify shops.

Ho advised TechCrunch that whereas she and Yeung have been engaged on Clare.AI, “our assumption was that solely bigger enterprises had the sources to deploy a profitable digital assistant with synthetic intelligence.” After just a few years of working with their shoppers, nevertheless, the 2 realized many have been on the lookout for an easier answer, so WATI was created. A part of the explanation for its launch was the digital acceleration brought on by the pandemic, as many companies rushed to get on-line.

In lots of rising markets, and mature markets like Europe, WhatsApp is the popular communication channel between clients and companies. WATI helps non-technical companies scale their buyer help, buyer engagement and acquisition via its CRM.

WATI’s buyer engagement software program is constructed on WhatsApp for Enterprise’ API and lets shoppers ship personalised notifications. The platform features a collaborative staff inbox utilized by a number of brokers, and options like sensible routing, canned responses, information tagging and analytics. Interactions could be automated via low-code workflows and chatbots, and linked to e-commerce platforms and CRMs. WATI additionally has integrations with platforms like Zoho, Shopify and Google Sheets.

An instance of how WATI is used is a big e-commerce firm that depends on its to handle campaigns like Prime Day. The corporate normally will get 60 to 100 messages a day from clients via WATI’s staff inbox, nearly all of which come from its web site’s WhatsApp chat, and sends about 30,000 messages daily when campaigns are lively.

One other instance is an edtech shopper that has used WATI for nearly two years. They depend on about 50 templates a month for lead era, nurturing, fee reminders and sophistication updates, and ship 20,000 to 30,000 messages a day. WATI additionally helps them get high-quality natural leads via a WhatsApp widget on their web site.

Ho mentioned WATI’s closest competitor is the native WhatsApp for Enterprise app, which most SMBs begin off utilizing, however WATI is an acceptable match for them as their companies scale.

Funding can be used on hiring and investing in WATI’s product stack for low-code automation. The corporate additionally has go-to-market plans for rising markets, like Latin America and Southeast Asia