Getting WhatsApp API (Old approach)

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.

  1. 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.

  • 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.

  • 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":

  • Find your business account in the top-left dropdown menu and click its Settings (gear) icon.

  • Click Business Settings.

  • 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

  1. Paste this copied data into WotNot's WhatsApp channel configuration screen

  1. 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

  1. Make sure the WhatsApp chatbot is deployed and activated

  • Last deployed would show some recent time

  • Switch should be turned on

  1. 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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