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Native WhatsApp Voice Notes With In App Transcriptions

· 3 min read
SMBcrm Team
SMBcrm Team
Product Team

Native WhatsApp Voice Notes With Transcriptions​

Outbound WhatsApp voice notes sent from the SMBcrm Conversations inbox are now delivered as native WhatsApp voice messages instead of downloadable audio attachments. This reduces friction for your customers and makes voice messaging feel more like a standard WhatsApp conversation.

What’s included in this update​

With this change:

  • Voice notes are auto-downloaded and playable instantly inside WhatsApp
  • Customers can view voice message transcriptions directly in WhatsApp (when enabled in their WhatsApp settings)
  • Your outbound voice messaging experience aligns with WhatsApp’s native capabilities

What changed and why it matters​

Previously, voice notes sent through the Conversations inbox were delivered as audio attachments. That meant customers had to manually download and open the file before they could listen.

Now:

  • Voice notes are sent in WhatsApp’s native voice note format
  • They play inline, just like voice messages sent from the WhatsApp app
  • WhatsApp’s built-in voice transcription feature is supported

For teams using WhatsApp to talk with leads and customers, this can help with:

  • Higher engagement: people are more likely to listen (or read) when it plays instantly
  • Better accessibility: customers can read a transcript instead of listening
  • Better clarity: transcripts help when someone is in a noisy environment or can’t play audio
  • More natural conversations: voice notes feel personal without adding extra steps

How it works​

  • Outbound WhatsApp voice notes from SMBcrm are now sent in OGG format
  • This format is compatible with WhatsApp’s native voice message transcription
  • If the recipient has voice transcripts enabled, they’ll see a Transcribe option directly on the voice note
  • No changes are required in SMBcrm for this to work. It applies automatically to outbound voice notes sent from Conversations

How customers enable voice transcripts in WhatsApp​

If you want to see transcriptions, you must enable the feature inside WhatsApp.

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Steps for recipients:

  • Open WhatsApp on a mobile device
  • Go to Settings → Chats
  • Tap Voice message transcripts
  • Select Manually (tap Transcribe when needed)
  • Choose a preferred Transcript Language
  • Return to the chat and tap Transcribe on any supported voice note

Note: If this setting is turned off or set to Never, transcripts will not appear.

Impact for your team​

  • Native WhatsApp voice notes instead of downloadable audio attachments
  • Faster playback for customers, with optional transcription
  • Improved accessibility, clarity, and message comprehension
  • A more seamless WhatsApp messaging experience for your business

If you have questions or want help optimizing your WhatsApp messaging workflows, visit our Support page or Contact Us.