When it comes to OTP verification messages, you must be familiar with them:
In the digital age, One-Time Password (OTP) has gradually gained more recognition from raising number of businesses and organizations due to its greater advantages in protecting users’ privacy and sensitive information.
The use of Short Message Service (SMS) to send OTPs for verification has become a common verification method for enterprises. However, with the innovation of technology and channels, many enterprises have started to choose WhatsApp as a more secure and cost-effective way to send OTP verification messages, especially in regions with high WhatsApp penetration rates like India, Indonesia, Brazil, Africa, and the Middle East.
Why Choose WhatsApp API to Send OTP Messages?
01 End-to-end encryption
WhatsApp messages (including OTP) are all encrypted end-to-end. Third parties cannot crack verification code information, thus preventing information leakage and guarding the security of privacy data.
02 Mutual communication
WhatsApp’s instant communication enables flexible interaction between enterprises and users. WhatsApp users can communicate with enterprises in real-time in any situation, enhancing the overall user experience and gaining user trust.
03 Cheaper price
Sending OTP via WhatsApp API is more cost-effective than traditional SMS OTP. In March 2023, Meta announced a new pricing rule for WhatsApp, further subdividing the message types for WhatsApp business accounts, and significantly lowering the price of verification-type messages that OTP belongs to. The prices in some countries/regions are much lower than international SMS, including: Egypt, France, Germany, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Spain, Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Western Europe.
04 Higher reliability
The dissemination threshold of SMS is lower, but the reliability of text messages is not easy to guarantee. Many senders have not configured their own brand Sender ID, which lacks source authentication display. However, all WhatsApp business accounts have been verified and authenticated by Meta, and enterprises can also choose to apply for Green Badge certification to further ensure account reliability and win customer trust.
Difference between SMS OTP and WhatsApp OTP
SMS OTP (SMS One-Time Password) and WhatsApp OTP (WhatsApp One-Time Password) are two different verification methods used to confirm the user’s identity and authorize access to their account. They have the following differences:
In practical operation, sometimes SMS verification code cannot be filled in with a single click, and users need to manually enter the verification code. WhatsApp OTP has two options for automatic filling of the verification code and one-click copying of the verification code, thereby saving operation steps.
Best Practices for Sending OTPs via WhatsApp
01 Inform users of the validity period of OTP
OTP messages often have a time limit, so we recommend that you inform users of the validity period of OTP messages, which reflects the enterprise’s emphasis on users and better complies with compliance requirements.
02 Combine SMS as a backup OTP channel
In areas with high WhatsApp coverage, when choosing to send OTP via WhatsApp, you may encounter situations where the recipient is not registered with WhatsApp or the network is unstable, resulting in sending failure. At this time, you can use SMS OTP and WhatsApp OTP in combination, with the former as a substitute, and send SMS verification messages to supplement the WhatsApp OTP message that failed to be delivered, thus effectively improving the efficiency of verification message delivery.
In areas with low WhatsApp coverage, before receiving OTP, you can provide users with a sending channel, and users can choose to receive OTP through SMS or WhatsApp.
03 Real-time tracking of OTP delivery rate and filling rate
Recording all sending actions to understand the OTP sending situation is crucial for evaluating delivery efficiency and controlling message costs. All data can be fed back from the data background to make timely adjustments to abnormal sending.
Send cheaper OTP verification messages instantly with YCloud
With higher efficiency and security, WhatsApp is quickly becoming an excellent platform for sending OTP messages. If you want to integrate WhatsApp OTP into your workflow, please choose WhatsApp official BSP YCloud to access efficient, convenient, and cost-effective OTP verification message services.
Click to visit the YCloud official website, or call the hotline: 400-089-2617 to learn more.