WhatsApp Cloud API
Prerequisites
Before you can start using WhatsApp Business API, you'll need the following:
A Facebook account.
Administrator access to your Meta Business Manager account. If you don't have a Meta Business Manager account, you can create one during the embedded signup process. also the meta business account must not be blocked (here you can see if there are any restrictions on your META business account)
Credit Card (Mastercard / Visa → No American Express!)
A phone number that can be registered as a sender. This number must not be connected to any WhatsApp account (private or WhatsApp Business API). You'll need access to this number to receive an SMS or a voice call for verification. If you have an existing account, you can find instructions on how to delete it here.
Steps
Workspace Dashboard -> WhatsApp Cloud -> Connect WhatsApp Cloud
Login to your Facebook account
Create/select a Meta Business Manager
You can either select an existing Meta Business Manager account on which you have administrator permissions or create a new Meta Business Manager account. To create a new account, you will need to prepare the following information:
Legal business name
Business phone number
Business website
Business email address
Country
Corporate address
City
State/province/region
Create a WhatsApp Business Profile
WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) Name - Internal name, your customers will not see this information on your WhatsApp profile
WhatsApp Business Profile Display Name - This name will be visible to others on the WhatsApp app. Display names need to be reviewed by Meta. A display name must have consistent branding with external sources (for example, a company's website or marketing).
Display names should be related to your business and must not violate WhatsApp Commerce and Business policies. In addition, the display name must comply with WhatsApp display name guidelines.
Verify WhatsApp Business Number
Enter the phone number that you want to use as your WhatsApp business number. Please note this phone number can’t use any other WhatsApp services. I.e. WhatsApp consumer app or WhatsApp Business App.
Sync numbers
Click on sync numbers:
By default, the status is set to "Paused". Click on it to activate:
Register number
To finalise the connection, click on the 3 dots "..." -> "Register number":
Once done, in the same menu, click on "Phone Numbers" to check the connection status:
🎉 End of setup process 🎉
WhatsApp Cloud Settings
Health Check
Business verification status (Recommended)
If you have not completed the Business Verification process, you will be limited to associating with only two phone numbers and can have a maximum of 250 conversations per day.
If this limit is exceeded, the account will be automatically disabled after 15 days.
However, during this period, you can still test the service. Once your business has been verified, you can associate WABA with up to 20 phone numbers and the conversation limit will increase to 1000 per day
Check payment method
If you haven’t connect to a valid card, and start sending WhatsApp template message, you will see the error below:
[ { "error_code": 141006, "error_description": "There is an error with the payment method.", "possible_solution": "There was an error with your payment method. Please add a new payment method to the account." } ]
You can set your payment at https://business.facebook.com/billing_hub/payment_methods and see WhatsApp Payment Method.
Phone numbers
Redirected to Phone Numbers section on Meta's WhatsApp Manager.
Statuses are classified as follow:
Connected: Sender functions normally.
Flagged: This status occurs when the sender quality rating reaches a low (red) state. During this state, you cannot upgrade the messaging limit tier. If the quality rating improves to either a medium or high state within 7 days from the day the sender status was moved to Flagged, the status changes to Connected. If the quality rating does not improve, the sender status returns to Connected, but the messaging limit decreases to the next lower tier. The lowest tier for verified businesses is Tier 1.
Restricted: This status occurs when the sender reaches the messaging limit. During the Restricted phase, you cannot send any outbound (notification) messages until the 24-hour window is reset. You can only respond to messages that end users initiate.
Pending: You can click “registrate numbers” to connect your phone numbers.
Add a phone number to a WABA
Currently, each Verified Meta Business Manager can have up to 20 phone numbers, regardless of the number of WABAs.
If you would like to add a new number, please add it through the embedded signup process.
Change display name
Each phone number has its display name, and this name should be related to your company name or brand name. The display name will be reviewed by Meta.
Delete phone number from a WABA
For complete removal, please follow the steps below:
In the Business Manager, go to your Business Settings page.
Go to Settings > Business Settings > WhatsApp Accounts > WhatsApp Manager > Phone Numbers.
From the WhatsApp Manager, find the phone number that you wish to delete. Click on the trash icon under Delete in the upper right.
Message Templates
This link will redirect you to the WhatsApp Template section of the Meta WhatsApp manager. You may choose to either create a WhatsApp template on Meta's builder or Chatrena's builder.
If you choose to create a template on Meta's builder, you will have to sync with Chatrena before you can use it in any flows
There is no difference in functionality between the two builders.
FAQs
How to add extra phone numbers?
Access the Phone Numbers dashboard. Workspace menu -> WhatsApp Cloud -> Click on ... -> Phone Numbers
Add new phone number
Head back to Chatrena to sync new numbers
Verify phone number
Register number
How to update WhatsApp business name?
Your business can change the display names up to 4 times in a 30-day period. Once the 30-day period is up, a new 30-day period begins and your businesses can again change the display names up to 4 times in this new 30-day period.
Your display name will need to be approved by WhatsApp before an updated certificate becomes available. After this is approved, please re-register your number.
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