Consultations are an integral part of a number of industries because they provide access to subject matter experts who can help businesses achieve their goals and better understand the market they function in. Currently, the global consultancy market is worth $250 billion across all industries. Despite being such a ubiquitous need, consultations continue to be a process that is burdened by multiple steps, convoluted structures and limitless back-and-forth without clarity.
However, the consultation marketplace aims to disrupt a needlessly complex industry and simplify things. It is made even easier to use by consultation chat software, which enables seamless communication.
The Lowdown on Consultation Marketplaces
Marketplaces for consultation help fill the resource gaps and skills in a business with just a few clicks of a button. They typically are holistic platforms where independent consultants can make their services known and rendered directly to a customer, without using a mediator.
“One must learn to embrace the expertise of others, just like one expects one’s own expertise to be embraced by others.”
–– Abhijit Naskar in When Call The People: My World My Responsibility
The benefits of a consultation marketplace are:
- Better conversions: Service providers are able to communicate with customers more easily in real-time and close offers.
- Conversation-friendly features: Apart from text messages, video and audio calls facilitate a partnership between provider and customer.
Flexibility of rates: The chances of payment delays and follow-ups are negated by several payment gateways.
- Social media integration: Manage orders on Facebook and Instagram from one account
- Trackable analytics: Keep track of daily income, buyer conversions and successful sellers
How In-app Communication Features Work for Consultation Apps
A consultation chat app is the most popular way of facilitating communication between provider and buyer, and something that those looking to build a successful consultation app must explore. It enables real-time contact between the two key stakeholders, taking third-party platforms out of the picture and the process.
An in-app chat platform for a marketplace ensures high levels of customer support. This is because experts are able to clarify their processes and share their prices in one go. Aside from in-app chat messaging, additional features such as file-sharing, video calling, emoji reactions and presence indicators increase the user experience significantly. A consultation chat for marketplace means that all-important information is in one place – perfect when any party needs to refer to previously shared information.
Here are Ways to Expand the Reach and Use of an In-app Chat Platform for Business Towards Different End Goals: 
1. Leverage Real-time Interactions to Facilitate Buyer-seller Confidence
Real-time chat, video and audio features help sellers pitch their services better, build a rapport with a buyer and close deals quicker. They also facilitate better working relationships and negate intermediaries. Some of these features include:
- Typing indicators
- Availability indicators
- Personalised buyer and seller profiles
- Automated questions
- File-sharing
- Emoji reactions
2. Connect Buyers and Sellers with On-demand Video and Audio
On-demand video allows sellers to create streamlined video pitches to explain their services better. These help buyers visualise their end goals using this service and enables them to make better purchasing decisions. Critical features that help achieve this goal include:
- Call recording
- Voice mute options
- Group calls
- Message broadcast
- Real-time comments
- Emoji reactions
3. Convert Passive Viewers to Active Users with Live Streaming Chat
Chat for live streaming allows viewers to engage with the broadcaster through comments, questions and emoji reactions. This facilitates content reach and message retention and helps create a loyal user base out of otherwise passive followers. Make sure your app of choice includes the following features:
- Video live streaming
- Emoji reactions
- Synchronous chat
4. Facilitate Intimate Interactions Through Group and Private Chat
Consultation marketplaces need private chats to maintain buyer confidentiality and ensure security. However, group chats foster a sense of community and allow buyers or sellers to discuss critical topics. Features that help create such an engaging environment include:
- Personalised profiles
- Individual roles
- Emoji reactions
- Hand-raising features
- Mute options
- Presence indicators
Features That are Must-haves for Consultation Marketplace Apps
Given that there are a plethora of features to choose from to enhance your consultation app, it can be a bit confusing, figuring out where to start. These are some must-have features to look for when choosing an in-app messaging solution for Android and iOS.

Video calls allow the service provider and users to connect on a more personal level and build a visual rapport. Quite a few consultation types, such as those in healthcare, require visual aid to facilitate decision-making processes. High-definition video calls mustn’t falter in quality regardless of bandwidth or the number of users. They must be end-to-end encrypted and safe to use.
An in-app chat for website and consultation apps allow for quick consultations without needing to connect over a voice or video call. Chat allows users to get to the bottom of their issues quickly, share important information and even provide files important to the conversation. It prevents delays in conversations and allows for immediate discussions, just like what would occur in face-to-face circumstances.
Group calls allow for better conversations, especially when critical business decisions are involved that need more than two participants to facilitate. Group calls involve entire teams in the process and allow everyone to feel a sense of comfort before taking a critical call. They also enhance message retention and distribution.
Several consultation processes are dependent on file-sharing, which adds more information to the process and prevents users from switching to other apps. These files could be PDFs, Word documents, photos, receipts, even video; allowing users to share this ensures that their conversations are that much more information-rich. Security is an integral part of this process; files must be limited to the participants alone as they could be private and confidential.
In the case of troubleshooting and consultations, it helps to have screen-sharing as an essential feature. It facilitates clarity and transparency in conversations and reduces information gaps. It also helps service providers be more proactive about their solutions, as they can identify problems and deliver their expertise much more easily.
Top In-app Chat Providers for In-app Chat API and SDKs
Whether you’re on the lookout for an in-app messaging API for iOS, in-app messaging SDK for Android or a third-party plugin for your website, these top providers are a great starting point to kick off your search.
1. MirrorFly
One of the best in-app chat platforms available today, MirrorFly’s solution is ideal for consultation marketplaces. Alongside an in-app chat SDK and API, you’ll find that MirrorFly also offers voice calling and video calling functionality. Aside from these basic features, the platform also offers screen sharing, group chats, smart reply and real-time language translation. It is highly secure and has setups for spam protection and profanity filters.
2. Apphitect
Apphitect offers a complete messaging solution that powers real-time communication through high-tech integrations. Their in-app communication API and chat SDK facilitates several great features including group chat, offline messages, presence indicators, voice calling, video calling and screen-sharing. It is highly secure as well– Apphitect leverages high-end technology to ensure end-to-end encryption and privacy.
3. Chat SDK
Chat SDK is a free and open-source way to add an in-app chat for Android application, iOS or browser. They provide a handy UI framework that allows you to integrate the app and get started in a jiffy. Their extensive list of features includes private and group chats, multiple message types, push notifications, social login, personalised user profiles and message history.
4. Stream
Stream’s in-app communication SDK and API consists of a highly reliable infrastructure that can easily be plugged into an existing app. The platform is customisable enough to keep as a messaging platform or even to create an alternative to Slack and popular workplace apps. Some powerful features that they offer include direct and group chats, organised chat threads, file sharing, GIF and emoji sharing, message search and link previews.
The Bottom Line
Marketplaces for consultations are the newest way to bring experts on board your project without the hassles and procedures that are typically involved.
It’s a great idea to integrate communication features that will leverage your existing benefits and encourage conversations and transparency.
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