If WhatsApp is critical to your sales or support motion this page is an honest breakdown. Strkr Messaging is US-first SMS and MMS. WhatsApp integration is supported through webhooks and partner platforms. Here is what works and what does not.
Teams running international sales motions (especially in LATAM, India, Southeast Asia, parts of Europe) often use WhatsApp as the primary customer communication channel. The pain points below are what Strkr onboarding hears from WhatsApp-first teams evaluating CRM options.
In Brazil, India, parts of Southeast Asia, Spain, and other markets WhatsApp is the primary customer communication channel. Email response rates are 10 to 20 percent of what WhatsApp response rates are. A CRM without WhatsApp integration in those markets is a non-starter.
Salesforce, HubSpot, and most US-origin CRMs built WhatsApp support late and often through third-party add-ons. The integration surface is typically narrower than SMS or email integration. Strkr WhatsApp integration runs through partner platforms (Twilio, 360dialog, Infobip, MessageBird) through the standard webhook spec.
The WhatsApp Business API requires template message approval from Meta for outbound messaging. Templates must be approved before use. Unsolicited outbound outside the 24-hour window requires an approved template. The approval process takes 3 to 7 days typically. Strkr workflow handles template management with Strkr AI drafted template creation suggestions.
Different markets have different data protection laws. Brazil LGPD, India DPDP Act, EU GDPR, UK Data Protection Act. Each has specific consent, notification, and data residency requirements. Strkr compliance posture includes GDPR today, with region-specific documentation available for the DPA on request.
In many markets the same customer messages through WhatsApp, email, and SMS depending on urgency and context. A CRM that silos these channels creates fragmented history. Strkr unifies the conversation thread across channels on the contact record with channel-specific metadata preserved.
WhatsApp Business API has a 24-hour messaging window (free-form messaging allowed only within 24 hours of last user message). Outside the window only approved templates work. Tier-based rate limits apply. Strkr workflow respects these rules automatically and routes outbound through the right path.
Strkr handles WhatsApp through partner integrations with Twilio, 360dialog, Infobip, and MessageBird. The integration runs through the standard webhook spec with HMAC signing. The cards below are what works today.
Incoming WhatsApp messages route to Strkr through the partner platform with the contact matched or created, message content preserved, and media attachments linked. The team sees WhatsApp conversations in the same thread view as email and SMS.
Within the WhatsApp 24-hour window Strkr sends free-form replies through the partner platform. The team drafts replies in Strkr (with Strkr AI drafting support), reviews, and sends. The message delivers to WhatsApp with the business account branding.
For outbound outside the 24-hour window Strkr workflow uses approved templates. The team manages templates in Strkr with Strkr AI drafted template suggestions. Template approval goes through the partner platform (typically 3 to 7 days from Meta).
WhatsApp supports media attachments (images, documents, voice notes). Strkr captures incoming attachments to the contact record and outbound attachments send through the partner platform. Attachment limits follow WhatsApp platform rules.
The unified thread view shows WhatsApp alongside email and SMS on the contact record. The team sees the full conversation history across channels with channel-specific metadata preserved.
WhatsApp conversations capture to the audit log for compliance review. Consent records capture at opt-in with the consent language. The compliance posture meets GDPR requirements and the regional DPAs available on request.
Strkr Messaging is US-first SMS and MMS through regulated carrier connections. For teams primarily operating in the US the native Strkr Messaging covers the full messaging workflow without third-party integration. The cards below are what Strkr Messaging ships.
Strkr Messaging prices SMS at 2 cents per message and MMS at 5 cents per message. Carrier fees pass at cost. For a sales motion sending 2000 SMS per month the typical monthly cost runs about $40 plus carrier fees. International SMS and MMS run at higher per-message rates depending on destination country.
Strkr Messaging ships with 10DLC compliance support for A2P (application-to-person) messaging in the US. Brand registration and campaign registration run through Strkr with the typical approval window of 2 to 4 weeks for brand and 1 to 3 days for campaign.
TCPA compliance requires STOP keyword handling. Strkr Messaging processes STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, QUIT automatically with opt-out confirmation reply and persistent opt-out status on the contact record.
TCPA quiet hour rules (no outbound messaging between 9pm and 8am local to the recipient) configure per tenant with time-of-day lockouts. The messaging workflow respects quiet hours automatically.
The cadence engine runs multi-touch sequences across SMS and email with per-contact personalization. Strkr AI drafts the sequence copy. The engine respects opt-out, bounces, and reply events across channels.
Inbound SMS replies route to the right AE or SDR based on the contact assignment with notification via email, Slack, and mobile push. Reply classification identifies common patterns (interested, not now, remove me) and routes accordingly.
Different motions have different messaging needs. The cards below cover decision guidance for when WhatsApp integration fits your motion versus when native Strkr Messaging covers everything.
If your primary market is the US and your customers prefer SMS or email over WhatsApp, native Strkr Messaging covers the full messaging workflow. WhatsApp integration adds complexity without meaningful customer response rate lift.
If your primary market is Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, or other LATAM markets, WhatsApp is the primary customer channel. Integration through Twilio or 360dialog is critical. Strkr handles this through the standard webhook spec.
In India WhatsApp Business dominates with over 400 million active users. SMS has limited reach. The WhatsApp integration through Infobip or 360dialog is the primary messaging path for Indian market deployments.
For multi-country motions the right channel varies by region. Strkr supports both native SMS (US-first) and WhatsApp through partner integrations in the same tenant. The team sees unified conversation threads regardless of channel.
Enterprise WhatsApp motions typically require 10 to 40 approved templates for different outreach types. Template management runs in Strkr with Strkr AI drafted template creation suggestions. Approval cycles through the partner platform.
For hybrid customer bases Strkr contact records carry channel preference. The outbound routing selects the right channel per contact. Preference capture happens on opt-in or through conversation history analysis.
Some CRMs built specifically for WhatsApp-first markets (Wati, Interakt, DelightChat) focus narrowly on WhatsApp. Strkr offers broader CRM capability with WhatsApp integration through partners. The comparison below focuses on tradeoffs.
| Feature | Strkr | WhatsApp-first CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Native WhatsApp integration depth | Through partner platforms. | Direct Meta Business API. |
| Broader CRM capability | Full pipeline, forecast, custom objects. | WhatsApp-centric, limited CRM. |
| Multi-channel unification | WhatsApp, SMS, email, calls. | WhatsApp primary with limited others. |
| Template management | With Strkr AI drafting. | Native in WhatsApp-first tools. |
| US SMS native | Strkr Messaging at 2 cents per message. | Rarely strong on US SMS. |
| Enterprise custom objects | Full schema flexibility. | Limited customization. |
| International reach | WhatsApp plus SMS global. | WhatsApp regions only. |
| Flat per-seat pricing | $29 to $119 per seat per month. | Varies, often per-WhatsApp-conversation pricing. |
The playbooks below are patterns Strkr onboarding sees across WhatsApp-focused deployments.
A LATAM e-commerce brand selling across Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina ran customer service primarily through WhatsApp. On Strkr the Twilio WhatsApp integration brought conversations into the CRM thread view with Strkr AI drafted response suggestions. Response time dropped from 4 hours to 20 minutes and customer satisfaction scores lifted by 24 points.
An Indian B2B SaaS startup selling to SMBs used WhatsApp Business as the primary sales channel. On Strkr the 360dialog WhatsApp integration powered the sales motion with approved templates for outreach, free-form conversation within the 24-hour window, and multi-touch cadence respecting WhatsApp platform rules. Monthly qualified leads lifted by 86 percent.
A multi-country consumer app operating in 11 countries used mixed messaging channels (WhatsApp in LATAM and India, SMS in US and UK, email everywhere). On Strkr the unified messaging workflow routed outbound through the right channel per contact preference. Campaign response rates lifted by 42 percent on the right-channel optimization.
A Brazilian financial services firm used WhatsApp for client communication under LGPD compliance requirements. On Strkr the WhatsApp integration respected LGPD consent requirements with explicit consent capture at opt-in and audit logging of all conversations. The compliance posture passed the firm internal audit on first review.
A Southeast Asian B2B wholesale distributor serving 180 retail customers across Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia used WhatsApp as the primary channel for order communication. On Strkr the WhatsApp integration tied orders to customer records with Strkr AI drafted order confirmation and shipping update messages. Order processing time dropped by 42 percent.
Book a 30 minute call. We will walk through the WhatsApp integration options, the native Strkr Messaging for US SMS, the multi-channel unification, and the compliance posture for your markets.
Strkr integrates with major WhatsApp Business API providers through the standard webhook spec with HMAC signing. Supported providers include Twilio, 360dialog, Infobip, MessageBird, Gupshup, and Yellow Messenger. Each provider has its own pricing (typically per-conversation plus setup fee) and regional strengths. Twilio and MessageBird are strong globally. 360dialog and Infobip have strong EMEA presence. Gupshup is strong in India. The integration setup typically takes 1 to 2 weeks per provider.
WhatsApp Business API pricing has two components: Meta conversation pricing (varies by country, typically $0.005 to $0.08 per conversation depending on category and country) and partner platform pricing (typically $0.005 to $0.02 per message plus monthly platform fee). For high-volume WhatsApp motions the Meta pricing dominates. For low-volume motions the platform fee dominates. Strkr pricing is per-seat so your Strkr cost does not change with WhatsApp message volume.
WhatsApp Business API only allows free-form outbound messaging within 24 hours of the contact last inbound message. Outside the 24-hour window outbound requires approved templates. Strkr workflow tracks the 24-hour window status on each contact and routes outbound through free-form or template path automatically. The team sees the window status on the thread view with clear indicators of what messaging options are available.
Template messages require approval from Meta before use. Strkr workflow manages templates with Strkr AI drafted template suggestions based on your typical outreach types. The team submits templates through the partner platform for Meta approval (typical window 3 to 7 days). Approved templates become available in the outbound message workflow. Templates can carry dynamic variables (customer name, order number, appointment time) that fill from the Strkr contact record.
WhatsApp conversations fall under local data protection law in each market. For Brazil LGPD applies, for India DPDP applies, for EU and UK GDPR applies. Strkr is GDPR compliant today with region-specific DPAs available on request. Each market has specific consent requirements for business messaging. Strkr workflow captures explicit consent at opt-in with the consent language preserved for audit. The compliance posture meets the common regulatory requirements in major markets.
Strkr prices flat per seat at $29 Starter, $59 Pro, $119 Scale per user per month with a 14-day trial. The AI add-on is $49 per workspace. WhatsApp pricing passes through from the partner platform and Meta (typically $0.005 to $0.08 per conversation depending on country and category). For a 10-person team on Pro with heavy WhatsApp usage the typical monthly cost runs about $590 Strkr plus $49 AI plus $200 to $800 WhatsApp depending on volume. Comparable WhatsApp-first CRMs often price higher on a per-conversation basis.
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