Journalist (J):
Today, we have the opportunity to learn more about Callbell, a bootstrap start-up success story, in an exclusive interview with its COO, Giacomo Morandi. So, Giacomo, for our readers unfamiliar with Callbell, could you explain what it is?
Giacomo Morandi (GM): Of course. Callbell is a French tech start-up that was founded in 2018 by Carlo Morandi and Gianluca Bargelli. Our mission is to streamline business communication in the age of instant messaging applications. We’ve developed a B2B SaaS tool that enables companies to manage their customer interactions over messaging apps, with a particular focus on WhatsApp. We offer automation modules, marketing tools,API that can be integrated with external systems and CRMs, and an omnichannel inbox for sales and customer support.
Fascinating. Could you share how this unique venture began?
GM: Absolutely. Our journey began when we observed a trend in the changing patterns of customer communication. More and more people were using messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, and businesses were having a tough time managing interactions across these diverse platforms.
We thus began to develop an initial beta to propose to a select group of customers. With the advent of Covid19, the demand for solutions of this kind literally exploded, and from there we didn’t stop anymore. Let’s say we arrived at the right time with the right product.
Your company has been seeing impressive growth recently. How are you scaling?
GM: You’re right. Our growth, particularly in the Indian and Asian markets, has been phenomenal. We attribute this success in this area largely to the launch of our free service Callbell shop, which allows businesses to use our tool at no initial cost. Callbell Shop is a digital platform that allows businesses to create a free online store to showcase their products and services, and to facilitate customer inquiries and orders through WhatsApp.
We firmly believe in our product and its potential to transform business communication. By providing a free tier, we’ve been able to bring Callbell to a wider audience and gain a
foothold in these high-growth markets.
We also implemented a long-term SEO strategy in 5 languages, publishing dozens of high-quality, value-added content each week. This strategic approach has enabled our company to secure a sustainable and lasting positioning, optimally establishing its presence in the online landscape.
That’s impressive. Now, looking ahead, what are Callbell’s future plans?
GM: At Callbell, we’re committed to the continuous development of our product suite. We see a huge potential for growth in the area of instant messaging, particularly with WhatsApp and services that can be integrated with it. Our product development team is actively working on new features and enhancements that can bring additional value to our users.
In terms of geographic expansion, Asia and Latam are our primary focus. We believe that there’s a significant untapped market there. As such, we’re restructuring our sales team to increase its size and presence in this region.
Could you elaborate more on the restructuring process and how it’ll help Callbell grow?
GM: We’re investing in our sales team, both in terms of size and skills. This investment involves hiring local talent who understand the unique dynamics of the Asian and Latam markets. We’re also providing intensive training to our existing team to ensure that they can effectively communicate the value of Callbell to potential clients.
We believe that a larger, more skilled sales team will enable us to increase our market share in Asia and provide an improved service to businesses in the region. Our goal is not just to sell our product, but to establish a long-lasting relationship with our customers, and this requires a strong, capable sales team.
Your journey with Callbell is truly inspiring, Giacomo. Any final thoughts you’d like to share with our readers?
GM: I’d just like to say that we’re extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, and we’re even more excited about what lies ahead. The journey has been challenging (I remind you that our company was founded and grew without a single cent of outside investment), but seeing the positive impact we’re making in the world of business communication makes it all worthwhile. We remain committed to our mission of improving business communication, and we’re eager to bring Callbell to even more businesses worldwide.
