Viber for Business vs. Community: Which Platform Powers Your Growth?

Executive Summary

This article explores the key differences between Viber Business Messaging and Viber Communities, two distinct offerings from the popular messaging platform. We delve into the unique features, use cases, and benefits of each service, helping businesses and community managers choose the right solution for their needs. The integration of Viber Business Messaging with 8×8’s CPaaS platform is also discussed, highlighting how this combination can enhance business communication strategies. Whether you’re looking to improve customer engagement or build a thriving online community, this guide provides valuable insights to leverage Viber’s capabilities effectively.

Understanding Viber’s Solutions for Businesses and Communities

Viber has grown into one of the most widely used messaging platforms across the globe with more than one billion unique users across more than 190 countries, offering a range of services tailored for both businesses and large-scale communities. However, there is often confusion between Viber Business Messaging and Viber Communities. Both services offer unique benefits but serve vastly different purposes. Understanding the differences between the two is crucial for businesses, marketers, and community managers looking to make the most out of Viber’s capabilities.

This blog will explore the key differences between Viber Business Messaging and Viber Communities, while also highlighting how 8×8 ties into optimizing business communications through Viber.

What is Viber Business Messaging?

Viber Business Messaging is a professional communication platform that allows companies to engage with customers through branded messaging, two-way conversations, and transactional alerts. 

Key Features of Viber Business Messaging:

• Branded Messaging: Businesses can integrate their logo and company name into messages, adding a layer of professionalism and trust.
• Rich Media: Sending images, videos, and links enhances the customer experience beyond traditional text messages.
• Two-Way Conversations: Viber Business Messaging enables real-time interaction with customers, facilitating customer support, inquiries, and transactions.
• Global Reach: Viber’s extensive network covers over 190 countries, making it a powerful tool for businesses looking to scale their communication efforts globally.
• Automation: Using platforms like 8×8, businesses can automate reminders, updates, and customer outreach to improve efficiency.

Use Cases for Viber Business Messaging

Security and Authentication: Viber Business Messaging enhances security by allowing companies to send one-time passwords (OTPs) to customers for two-factor authentication, adding an extra layer of protection to their accounts. Additionally, real-time alerts and notifications for transactions, logins, or changes to account settings help customers quickly detect and report unauthorized activities, ensuring the safety and integrity of their accounts.

Customer Support: Viber Business Messaging enables companies to provide real-time customer service, offering timely responses to questions, resolving issues, and delivering personalized solutions directly within the chat. By fostering effective communication, businesses can not only address customer concerns quickly but also build trust and ensure a positive experience. This proactive approach enhances customer satisfaction, going beyond simply reducing friction.

Transactional Notifications: Businesses can send automated order confirmations, delivery updates, and payment reminders via Viber. This not only ensures customers are kept informed but also reduces manual work for businesses.

Marketing Campaigns: Through branded messaging and promotional content, businesses can send targeted offers, new product launches, or seasonal promotions to engage customers and drive conversions.

What is Viber Community?

While Viber Business Messaging focuses on customer communication, Viber Communities are designed for large groups to engage with one another. Communities can range from a few hundred to over a million members, making them ideal for organizations, fan groups, or special interest communities looking to foster discussions and share content.

Key Features of Viber Communities:

• Unlimited Members: Unlike group chats, which have member limits, communities can host an unlimited number of participants.
• Public or Private: Communities can be made either public for anyone to join or private for closed group discussions.
• Admin Controls: Community administrators have control over who can post, moderate discussions, and pin important messages.
• Broadcasting: Admins can send announcements and updates to all members of the community without allowing replies, ideal for large-scale communications.
• Content Sharing: Communities are hubs for sharing content such as links, images, videos, and files among members.

Use Cases for Viber Communities

Fan Engagement: Many brands, influencers, and public figures use Viber Communities to engage with their fans or followers. Communities offer a platform to share updates, exclusive content, and even live event discussions.

Educational Purposes: Teachers, trainers, or coaches can create private communities for their students, sharing materials, conducting discussions, and providing real-time feedback.

Business Networking: Companies or industry experts can use Viber Communities to bring together professionals, enabling knowledge sharing, networking, and industry discussions in a digital space.

Key Differences Between Viber Business Messaging and Viber Communities

1. Purpose:
   • Viber Business Messaging is designed for companies to communicate directly with customers, providing a two-way conversation platform for support, marketing, and transactional communication.
   • Viber Communities are designed for engaging large groups of people around common interests or topics, allowing interaction between community members.
2. Communication Type:
   • Viber Business Messaging focuses on one-to-one communication (business to customer), whereas Viber Communities enable one-to-many communication (admin to members) and interaction among members.
3. Automation and Integration:
   • Viber Business Messaging can be integrated with CPaaS platforms like 8×8, allowing companies to automate their communication processes, including reminders, promotions, and customer support.
   • Viber Communities, while offering admin controls, do not offer the same level of automation or integration for business purposes.
4. Target Audience:
   • Viber Business Messaging targets customers who are interested in a company’s products or services.
   • Viber Communities target groups of people with shared interests, such as fans, students, or industry professionals.

Choosing Between Viber Business Messaging and Viber Communities

When deciding between Viber Business Messaging and Viber Communities, businesses must first identify their communication goals. If the focus is on engaging directly with customers, offering support, and building brand awareness through transactional messaging and branded content, then Business Messaging is the right choice. It offers a more structured approach to customer relations, with automation capabilities provided by platforms like 8×8.

On the other hand, if the goal is to build a community-focused network of members who share common interests and can interact with each other, then Viber Communities would be the optimal choice. These are best suited for public figures, organizations, or enthusiasts looking to create a space for conversation, rather than purely business transactions.

Why Viber Integration with 8×8 CPaaS Is Essential for Modern Businesses

In today’s increasingly digital world, businesses need to communicate with customers efficiently and effectively. With the rise of messaging platforms as the go-to communication medium, traditional channels like email and phone calls are no longer enough. Integrating 8×8’s Viber Business Messaging API offers businesses the opportunity to reach customers where they already spend their time—on messaging apps.

Efficiency and Automation: By pairing Viber with 8×8’s campaign manager, businesses can streamline communication, sending personalized messages, reminders, and updates without manual intervention. Automation of transactional notifications, customer outreach, and reminders reduces operational overhead, ensuring timely and consistent communication.

Unified Messaging: 8×8 enables businesses to manage multiple messaging platforms—Viber, SMS, WhatsApp, and others—from a single platform. This unified approach ensures seamless omnichannel communication, improving engagement and response rates across various customer touchpoints.

Global Reach: With Viber’s extensive international user base and 8×8’s direct mobile network connectivity, businesses can engage customers worldwide, breaking down geographical barriers to reach broader audiences.

Enhanced Engagement: Viber’s ability to support rich media, such as images and videos, enhances the customer experience, encouraging higher engagement rates compared to traditional SMS. Businesses can provide interactive, visually appealing content, fostering stronger customer relationships.

Analytics and Insights: Integrating Viber with 8×8 also provides businesses with access to valuable analytics. Metrics like open rates, response times, and engagement trends offer insights to optimize communication strategies, allowing businesses to refine their campaigns and better meet customer needs.

For businesses aiming to stay competitive in the digital age, leveraging 8×8’s Business Messaging API is not just a smart choice—it’s an essential one.

Conclusion: Viber Business Messaging vs. Viber Community—Which One Is Right for You?

In summary, Viber Business Messaging and Viber Communities cater to two very different communication needs. While Viber Business Messaging is ideal for companies looking to engage with customers through transactional and promotional messaging, Viber Communities is more suited for fostering community-driven conversations and engagements among members.

8×8 Viber Business Messaging API offers seamless integration and optimization, helping businesses leverage the full potential of Viber’s features to improve communication, enhance customer experiences, and drive engagement.

With 8×8, businesses can automate, scale, and personalize their messaging strategies—ensuring that they remain competitive in today’s fast-paced digital world. Reach out to an expert at cpaas-sales@8×8.com to find out more.