Facebook announced WhatsApp cloud API on 20th May, and it’s available to any business of any size, big and small.
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This documentation will teach you how to set up WhatsApp cloud API with UChat. You will be able to build your WhatsApp chatbot with a free testing number offered by Facebook, and also switch to the live production when your bot is ready to go live!
Please note:
For now, due to certain limitations of WhatsApp cloud API, every business needs to create its own Facebook App in order to use WhatsApp cloud API. Once Facebook allows platforms like UChat to create a WhatsApp business account, we will improve the process to use WhatsApp cloud API.
Here is the overview video how to build your first WhatsApp bot with Cloud API
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Embedded signup is a convenient way to register your sender on the WhatsApp Business API directly from the UChat website. After registration, you can start using the API with the help of UChat to enhance your customer engagement experience.
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.
Video Instructions
In this video, you can find a step by step guide of how to set up WhatsApp Cloud:
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Sign in with Facebook
To start the process, log into the UChat platform, and navigate to the “dashboard” and click “WhatsApp Cloud” from the left sidebar, and click “ Connect WhatsApp Cloud” Button:
In the popup window, login your facebook account or select the account that you already login in your browser.
Step 2: Create or Select a Meta Business Manager account
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
Step 3: Create WhatsApp Business Profile
1.Enter the name of your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA)
Your audience will not see this information on your WhatsApp profile.
2.Enter the name of your WhatsApp Business Profile Display Name
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Display Names Display names need to be reviewed by Meta, which is one of the important factors in increasing the number limit. 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. |
3.Choose a business category from the list
4.Enter a description for your business
You can edit the description at any time, including after sender verification.
Step 4: 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 WhatsApp services.
Choose one of the following verification methods:
SMS
Voice call
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Once your number is verified,
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you will be redirect to the screen below, and click “finish” button, you will be redirect back to UChat platform.
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Step 5: Complete registration your number
Once you’re redirected to UChat platform, you will see the screen below, and click “Sync Numbers” button:
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and you will see the numbers you just registrated inside of UChat platform. By default, the status is “Paused”, you need to switch the status to “Active”.
By default, if you go to “WhatsApp manager”, and then go to “Phone numbers”, you will notice the status is “Pending” as per the screenshot below:
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Now, if you go back to UChat, and click the “settings” as per the screenshot below, and click “Register number”, and register your number:
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And once your complete the registration, and then you will see your phone number status is “Connected” now.
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And now your bot is ready to test!
But before you start testing, it’s very important to set up your billings & verified your meta business manager(it’s not mandatory, but it’s highly recommended to do)
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Before you send any template message to test or push your chatbot to live, connect your valid credit card to the billing section in WhatsApp Manager. Also, It’s risky to get your number/meta business manager account restricted if you don’t have a verified meta business manager account. |
WhatsApp Cloud Settings
UChat offer a few settings that can help you manage your WhatsApp API easily, if you click the 3 dots in the WhatsApp Cloud, and you will find the settings below:
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Health Check
Business Verification Status
Check payment method
Phone numbers
Message Templates
Catalog
Two Factor Authentication
De-Register number
Business verification process of BM(Optional)
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 canceled 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.