Getting a WhatsApp API
To automate chats on your WhatsApp number, you need to procure a WhatsApp API from Meta or any other BSP.
Below shows the process of getting a WhatsApp API from Meta:
Step 1: Setting up a Meta (Facebook) Business Account and App
If you already have Facebook Business account, you can skip this step.
Create a Meta (Facebook) Business Account:
Visit here.
Enter your business name, your name, and work email address. Click "Next".
Provide your business details and click "Submit".
Enter your business details and click Submit.
2. Create a new Meta (Facebook) App at https://developers.facebook.com/.
"Log in" to your Meta (Facebook) Developer Account.
Select "My Apps".
Click "Create App"
Choose User Case: "Other" and click "Next".
Choose App Type: "Business" and click "Next".
Provide app details: App Name, App Contact Email, Business Account (Optional), and click "Create app".
Step 2: Setting Up Meta (Facebook) App for WhatsApp Integration
1. Add WhatsApp to your Meta (Facebook) App.
In the "Developers Dashboard", choose your app.
Locate "Add products to your app" in your app's dashboard tab.
Choose "WhatsApp" for setup.
Select your Meta (Facebook) Business Account (if not selected in step 2).
Navigate to App settings > Basic from the sidebar
Set the Privacy Policy URL to https://wotnot.io/privacy.
Save changes.
Set App Mode to Live.
Step 3: Generate a permanent WhatsApp Token
To obtain a permanent WhatsApp Access Token, follow 1 to 3 steps:
1. Create a "System User":
Visit the Meta Business Suite.
Find your business account in the top-left dropdown menu and click its Settings (gear) icon.
Click Business Settings.
Go to Users > System users.
Add an Admin system user.
2. Add Assets.
After creating the system user, click on Add Assets.
Navigate to Apps > "Your app name".
Select your app and grant full control to manage the app.
3. Generate System User Access Tokens.
Click the Generate New Token button on the system user.
Choose the app that will use the token and set the token expiration to never.
Select "whatsapp_business_messaging" and "whatsapp_business_management" permissions.
Generate the token.
Copy the access token and store it securely.
4. Add a new Business Number for WhatsApp
You can use your own business number or utilize the provided test number for your WhatsApp chatbot.
In WhatsApp Developer Dashboard, navigate to WhatsApp > API Setup from the sidebar.
Proceed to "Step 5: Add a Phone Number," click Add phone number.
Provide details required in the following form.
Verify your number using the received code.
Once successfully added, select your phone number in Step 1 of API Setup.
Make sure you choose your selected number. And not the Test number.
5. Add a Payment Method
To send messages via WhatsApp, you need a valid payment method. Visit here for details.
After adding your business phone number, click "Add payment method" to address the "Missing valid payment method" alert.
You'll be directed to your WhatsApp account settings. Click "Payment Methods" > "Add business payment method" and follow the prompts to add your card info.
6. Test your new Business Number for WhatsApp
Return to WhatsApp Developer Dashboard, navigate to API Setup > Step 1.
Enter a testing "To" number.
Click "Send message" to verify successful message delivery.
Step 4: Configure WhatsApp API on WotNot
1. Retrieve WhatsApp Account Information
In WhatsApp Developer Dashboard, navigate to WhatsApp > API Setup
Copy the App ID
Copy the Phone number ID
WhatsApp Business Account ID
Paste this copied data into WotNot's WhatsApp channel configuration screen
Also, paste the phone number
Paste the permanent token (Received from Step 3)
Click 'Save' and you will see a 'Webhook URL' field generated. This will be used in Step 5.
Step 5: Configure WhatsApp API Webhook settings
1. Verify WhatsApp Webhook Callback.
In WhatsApp Developer Dashboard, navigate to Configuration.
Under Webhook, click edit
Paste the "Webhook URL" (Received from Step 4) and the "Permanent Token" (Received from Step 3)
Click Verify and save
2. Configure Webhook Subscription Field
Under "Webhook Fields," click Manage.
Find the "messages" field and subscribe to it by checking the box.
Step 6: Activate your WhatsApp bot and test
Make sure the WhatsApp chatbot is deployed and activated
Last deployed would show some recent time
Switch should be turned on
Send a message to the WhatsApp number
On doing this, the the chatbot should respond back
You should be able to see the chat on the Live chat screen
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