What is Chat SDK? Everthing You Need to Know About Here [Complete Guide 2021]

In today's quick, virtual, and digital dominant age, smooth communications are one of the keys to maintaining a robust relationship with customers. This is the reason that most businesses are moving forward to the idea of creating efficient communication platforms. And, thanks to a chat SDK , also called Software Development Kit, that makes for one of the best kinds of chat solutions.

A chat SDK is that special kit which has all essential chat features. Wondering what chat SDKs are and how they can help you? Fret not! In this article, we shall discuss everything about a chat SDK that can help you gain a deep understanding about it. So, stay with us and keep reading.

What is a Chat SDK

Before we dig into the crucial aspects of chat SDKs, it is essential to understand the meaning of it clearly. Well, building a chat app from scratch requires a large chunk of your time and resources. But in such circumstances, chat SDKs have got your back.

Chat SDK can be described as a programming package or a suite of software tools and programs that enable developers to build chat applications efficiently and effectively.

Important Components of Chat SDK

Now, SDK is a whole package of several highly essential components. They act as the cornerstones of chat SDKs and make it efficient for your use. Let's take a close look at the top 3 components of chat SDKs.

• Chat APIs API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is also known as libraries To put it simply, chat API can be defined as the collection of programmable codes, kind of, building blocks that can be leveraged to enable real-time chat features in your mobile and web applications.

• Integrated development environment IDE or Integrated Development Environment can be defined as a comprehensive software suite that facilitates chat application development. The main function of IDEs is to enhance the efficiency of developers by combining the various tasks of writing software codes into one single application. Integrated Development Environment consists of editing source code, building executables, local build automation, and much more.

• Dependencies Dependencies are different enhanced SDK tools that can be leveraged to conduct various functions such as debugging, running tests, and so on and so forth.

What are the important utilities offered by Chat SDK?

Chat SDKs can provide you with a plethora of chat services to level up your business communication game. However, here we shall dig into two essential chat services that chat SDKs have to offer.

• Private one-on-one chat As the name suggests, private chats are personal in nature. It takes place between two app participants or users. It can either be the communication between business and customer or business to business.

• Group chat Group chat is kind of public in nature. This type of chat is carried out between three or more people. Group chats have gained a lot of popularity these days as they help conduct smooth collaborations. This, in turn, maximizes the efficiency of businesses.

Present modern-age chat SDKs are well-equipped with both private and group chat functions.

Main features of Chat SDK for Android, iOS, & Web

An efficient instant messaging chat SDK for web, Android, or iOS brims with numerous highly advanced features. In this section, we shall cover some of them. Let's take them one by one.

• High scalability Business activities and approaches keep on evolving with time. Hence, it becomes important for any chat SDK to be scalable in order to adapt to the communication pattern changes in the future.

• Accessibility of source code An efficient chat SDK provides you with complete source code as a license holder. The best part about the source code is that not only is it well-documented but also has the scope to be modified.

• Push notification feature SDK keeps you updated on all your conversations via the push notification feature. It alleviates the scope of missing any message. In fact, modern chat SDKs also allow you to utilize different notification tones for different notifications such as sent messages, received messages, media downloads and others.

• Conversation backup Any advanced chat SDK enables you to store all conversations via a smooth functioning cloud backup system. It allows you to synchronize and retrieve all valuable data across different devices and platforms.

• Customization function Every business is unique and so are their business requirements. Hence, it becomes extremely important to choose chat functions that are best suited to your business goals. New-age chat SDKs have got your back as they come with various customizable functions that can be utilized to improve the efficiency of your online chat platform.

• Data accessibility Complete data access helps you track and assess your communication activities and offers a sense of ownership. With chat SDK, you get full control over your chat application including client source code, message data, and others.

• Multiple chat options An efficient SDK supports different kinds of chat formats such as messaging, audio calling, video conferencing, location sharing, and others. It also offers fun and interactive integrations such as GIFs, stickers and emoji to enhance your conversation style.

• Flexible authentication Modern chat SDKs allow you to follow authentication procedures of your choice. Also, they enable you to login not only as an admin but also as an anonymous user. However, one thing that you need to make sure is to authenticate your current server with a custom authentication system.

• Feedback & updates A well-structured chat SDK offers regular feedback and conversation updates. For instance, the online/offline status, read message notification, typing status, audio call notification, and much more. All these updates help you keep up with your customers' expectations and requirements, thereby, paving the way for customer satisfaction.

• Profanity filter and blocking feature Modern chat SDKs have functionalities that tend to protect you from fraud or spam conversations. For instance, an efficient block feature. This, in turn, helps you avoid any kind of nuisance that might happen on your communication platform.

Advantages of getting Chat SDK for iOS, Android, & Web App

With powerful slash commands, chat SDKs make communication processes far much smoother. Well-functional SDKs make your app easy to use and interact with, thereby, boosting consumer satisfaction. Let's have a look at the top benefits of a real time chat SDK .

• Highly cost-effective Building chat apps right from the scratch can incur a lot of additional expenses like infrastructure set up, personnel salaries, and a lot more. On the other hand, opting for a chat SDK can help you get advanced chat functionalities into your application within a reasonable amount.

• Privacy & security Privacy is one of the major concerns for customers these days. A well-structured chat SDK is always protected with end-to-end encryption. This way, all your conversations are secured and no personal information is mishandled.

• Improved customer experience Integrating chat SDKs into your communication platform makes it well-equipped with all the modern and advanced chat features that people look forward to in present times. With these modern features, you can quickly reach out to your customers and make them feel more valued. This tends to enhance customer experience.

How to choose the Best Chat SDK for your communication needs?

Chat SDKs can help you quickly launch your chat platform. However, please consider the following points before choosing a chat SDK for yourself:

• Appropriate documentation Make sure that the chat SDK comes with a suite of tutorials and useful instructions that can help you develop your chat system. The documentation should be easy to comprehend and straightforward.

• Scalable nature It is important to ensure that your chat SDK is scalable. It should be able to adapt to the changing communication requirements in the future.

• Developer contributions It is essential that you look for chat SDKs that are an open source and have scope for high contributions from developers. This helps to keep SDKs updated with the latest functionalities.

• Technology One thing that you need to ensure is that whatever chat SDK that you choose should sync with the current technologies that you are utilizing to build your chat platform.

• Usage & popularity Choose a chat SDK that fits your business communication requirements. Also, try to choose a popular one, in which people have rested their faith before. Popular and efficient SDK providers are conscious about their image and can offer you quick solutions, in case of emergencies.

• Types of services Make sure that you choose a chat SDK that suits your communication preferences. Perform a detailed research before arriving at any conclusion.

• Regional coverage feature Many SDK providers do not have latency and coverage in all regions. Ensure that the chat SDK you select covers the location where your customers are based.

• Customization scope It is advised to go for a chat SDK that offers customized options. There's more scope to innovate that way. Hence, you should look forward to a flexible chat SDK.

• Cost efficiency Chat SDK providers offering free trials are good options for the start. You can test different SDKs and then choose the best among them. When two chat SDKs are offering the same functions but the cost for one is lesser, it is advised to go for it. This way, you can save some amount for other operations.

• Security & protection Always choose a chat SDK that offers end-to-end encryption. This ensures secure media sharing and conversations, thereby, clearing the way for optimized customer satisfaction.

  How to utilize chat SDKs to build a chat app?

The more familiar you are with chat SDKs, the faster you can build your chat app. Most of the SDKs have a similar method for integration. To cut it short, here are some common steps that you need to follow.

1. Get your unique identity from your provider.

2. Download the chat SDK.

3. Get your registration code.

4. Customize your profile and you're ready!

Conclusion

Chat SDKs empower your chat applications and give way to top-grade communications with customers. We hope our article helped you comprehend the basic aspects concerning chat SDKs. Choose the best chat SDK for your communication platform and ace customer interaction.