Instant messaging app Telegram takes on Meta platforms such as WhatsApp as it launches its new set of business-focused features designed to streamline customer relationship management and business communication.
“Starting today, anyone can turn their Telegram account into a business account – and get access to business features, such as opening hours, location, quick replies, automated messages, custom start page, chatbot support, and more.” Telegram says.
All the New Features of Telegram Business
Hours and location
Users of Telegram Business will be able to display their hours of operation and pin their location on a map. Displaying operating hours allows customers to quickly determine if the business is currently open and their opening hours.
Start page
The update gives businesses the power to customise their start page for empty chats. Telegram Business users can choose which text or stickers customers will see before they begin a conversation, showcase information about their offerings, or welcome customers with branded artwork.
Quick replies
With the new update, Telegram Business users can create and save preset messages, which they can send as quick replies. Type “/” in the message bar, and a panel with all of your quick replies will be displayed. You can send or edit them with a single tap. Take note that this only works in private chats and not for group messages.
Greeting and away messages
For more automation, users of Telegram Business can craft greeting messages for those who contact the business for the first time. An away message can also be set and sent to customers when a user’s business is closed or on vacation.
Tags for chats
Users can also assign coloured labels to chats, adding unique tags based on the folders in which the chats are located.
Links to chats
This feature allows users to create links to chat with businesses. When tapped, these links will seamlessly open a chat with you and paste a message suggestion for the user.
According to Telegram, these links can be used both within and outside the Telegram app. Each link will show the number of times it was tapped, allowing the business to monitor the link’s performance.
Chatbots
Telegram Business allows users to seek help from Telegram bots to process inquiries and respond to messages on their behalf. “This allows businesses to seamlessly integrate any existing tools and workflows or add artificial intelligence assistants that manage their chats,” Telegram wrote.
Telegram highlights that the new business features can be enjoyed by users even without any coding experience and can be used without any fee, but only for those with a Telegram Premium account. For Telegram Premium users who wish to access Telegram Business, go to Settings > Telegram Business.
Along with its new business-focused features, Telegram has also announced that it’s giving public channel owners with at least 1,000 subscribers 50% of the revenue from ads displayed in their channels.
Telegram was founded by Pavel Durov and Nikolai Durov and now has over 900 million monthly active users.