WhatsApp Channel Setup for BM Instance

1. Introduction

The Platform Owner can operate as Meta Tech Provider, and by using a single Meta App for the WhatsApp channel, can offer a full range of WhatsApp Business Platform services to their business customers. Customers having their own Business Messenger accounts, can use the same Meta App, without setting the WhatsApp separately. As a Tech Provider, Platform Owners do not have credit lines. Instead, business customers onboarded by a Tech Provider, must provide their own payment method after onboarding is complete. Meta will then bill these customers.

The implemented Meta Embedded Signup allows Platform Owners to onboard business customers. Embedded Signup is an authentication and authorization interface that can be launched directly within the Business Messenger application. Embedded Signup automatically generates all required WhatsApp assets for business customers who successfully complete the sign-up flow. The flow enables Platform Owner to quickly activate WhatsApp messaging services for their business customers with minimal manual setup.

Before the Platform Owners can officially begin onboarding business customers for WhatsApp, they must submit their Meta App for App Review.

In order to be eligible for onboarding, business customers must verify their business with Meta.

Note: Even when you are the Tech Provider, you can still Allow Independent Apps for your customers to have their own Meta App for Business Messenger Account WhatsApp channel.

The following instructions are for the BM Instance Owner. Please find below the key elements for setting up the WhatsApp channel for the instance.

2. Create Meta Business Portfolio

A Meta Business Portfolio allows organizations to manage their Facebook Pages, Instagram accounts and other business assets in one place. It also enables centralized control over user access and permissions using business tools, such as Meta Business Suite.

More about Meta Business Portfolio please find on About business portfolios Meta's page.

For setting up the WhatsApp channel, you can use your Meta Business Portfolio if you already have one, or you can create a new one by going to Meta's page for creating Business Portfolio.

Find here more details on how to Create a business portfolio in Meta Business Suite.

2.1 Submit your Business Portfolio for Business Verification

To become a Tech Provider, you need to submit your Business Portfolio for Business Verification. Business verification confirms that Meta Business Portfolio belongs to an actual business or organization.

More information and steps of the verification process with Meta, please find here:

• About business verification
• How to verify your business on Meta

Note: Your business must be verified before you can start the App Review process.

If you already have a verified business, and it is linked to your Meta App, this step will be marked as completed and you can start the App review process. Please find details below.

3. Meta App

Before you can create a Meta App that you will need for the process, you need a developer account. If you don't already have a developer account, you can register for a new one.

3.1 Register as a Meta Developer

To register as a developer, navigate to developers.facebook.com/async/registration/ and follow the prompts.

If you need help on how to register as a Meta Developer, please visit Meta for Developers page for further details.

3.2 Create a New Meta App and Set Up with WhatsApp

It is recommended to have a separate Meta App for setting up the WhatsApp channel.

Before you start creating a Meta App, you need to be logged into your Meta developer account. To create a new Meta App, navigate to developers.facebook.com/apps and click "Create App" button. Follow the steps below:

• Add App name, and click the Next button.
• Select the Connect with customers through WhatsApp use case, and click the Next button.
• Select the Business Portfolio you want to connect to the App (or follow the prompts to create a new one, if needed). Click the Next button.
• Finish creating your App. The App Dashboard page will be opened.

More about Meta App please find on Create an App with Meta Meta's page.

3.3 Basic App Details

From the Dashboard page of your Meta App, navigate to side menu App settings > Basic section, and add the needed details for your App. Add App icon, Contact email, Privacy policy URL, Terms of Service URL, and for the Category, select "Messenger bots for business". For the "Data Protection Officer contact information" add the needed data.

Find in the page your App ID and App Secret data. You will need these details for the channel setting process.

3.4 App Customization and Requirements

From the App Dashboard, in the App customization and requirements section, do the following:

1. Select the Customize the Connect with customers through WhatsApp use case option.
   A Use cases > Customize page will be opened, where you have to select Tech Provider onboarding directly from the left side menu.
   The Tech Provider onboarding page will be opened, showing Step 1: Verify your business and Step 2: App Review.

2. Select the Facebook Login for Business option.
   In the newly opened window, in the "Client OAuth settings" section, set the following toggles to "Yes":

   • Embedded Browser OAuth Login
   • Login with the JavaScript SDK

   For the Allowed Domains for the JavaScript SDK field, add the allowed domains (domain for your service).

   Click "Save changes" button.

   

3.5 Create a Facebook Login for Business Configuration

A Facebook Login for Business configuration defines which permissions to request, and what additional information to collect, from business customers who access Embedded Signup.

Navigate to Facebook Login for Business > Configuration from the side menu. In the Configuration panel, click the "Create configuration" button, and do the steps below.

1. Provide a name for the configuration.

2. For "Login variation", select the "WhatsApp Embedded Signup" login variation.

   

3. Select the "WhatsApp Cloud API" in the section "Products".

4. In the "Access token" section, for the token expiration, select the option "Never".

5. In the "Assets" section, add the following assets permissions by clicking the select field:

   • VIEW_PHONE_ASSETS

   • VIEW_TEMPLATES

   • MESSAGING

     

6. in the "Choose permissions" section, click on the select field. Check the permissions whatsapp_business_management and whatsapp_business_messaging.

Click the "Create" button to finish the process of the configuration creation.

When you complete the configuration flow, capture your Configuration ID, as you will need it in the next step.

4. The Business Messenger Instance Settings

In order to get the Verify Token and the Webhook URL, navigate to the Business Messenger app's Admin > Settings section, and then settings for the BM WhatsApp channel by selecting the WhatsApp option.

A new window will be opened where you can add the following details:

1. For the "Provider Type", select the "Technology Provider" option
2. App ID
3. App Secret
4. Business Portfolio ID (find this info from Meta Business Suite > Business Info section for your business)
5. Config ID (find this info from Facebook Login for Business > Configuration for your Meta App)
6. Check the "Allow Independent Apps" option to allow the customers independent apps.

After saving these data, a pop-up window will show the Webhook URL and the Verification Token. You need to copy these values and save them in your Meta App.

4.1 Set Up the Webhook

To receive messages and other events sent by users, the App should enable webhooks integration. You can set a webhook with a Verify Token and a URL you got from the Business Messenger app.

To do so, go back to App Dashboard page for your App. Navigate to Dashboard, and select the Customize the Connect with customers through WhatsApp use case option. In the Customize use case page, navigate to the Configuration from the side menu to open the Configuration page. Add data for Callback URL and Verify Token fields with the data you've got from the Business Messenger app. Click "Verify and Save" button to save the details.

The "Webhook Fields" section will be displayed below, where you have to select the following fields and set to "Subscribe":

• messages
• user_preferences

5. Meta App Review

In order to make your Meta App publicly accessible, which means here to start chatting with all WhatsApp users that correspond with your business, you have to go through App Review Meta's process.

The average turnaround time for App Review is about 24 hours. Before you request permissions or features, take time to get familiar with App Review on Meta's page.

5.1 Prepare for the App Review

App Review is an important part of the App development process. It enables Meta to verify that your App uses their products and APIs in an approved manner.

You'll need to complete the following tasks:

• Review your App settings: Your App needs basic settings, such as an app icon, privacy policy, and app category. Find more details on App basic settings Meta's page.

• Create and submit videos of your App: To pass App Review, you need to submit a separate screen recording for each requested permission:

  • For whatsapp_business_management - a video of your App, or WhatsApp Manager, being used to create a message template.
  • For whatsapp_business_messaging - a video of your App sending a message to a WhatsApp number, and the WhatsApp client (web or mobile) receiving and displaying it. You can use the App Dashboard > WhatsApp > API Setup panel to generate a cURL request for this. If you are partnering with a Solution Partner, you can also ask them to share a video with you for this submission.

  Find more details on Videos Meta's page.

• Submit documentation for App Review: Get approval to access advanced permissions and features so that you can manage your clients' accounts and information. Find more details on Submit documentation for App Review Meta's page.

The needed permissions are: whatsapp_business_management, whatsapp_business_messaging. For each permission a separate written explanation and screen recording are needed.

Note: To continue recording videos, you have to check if your App is in Live mode. The App status can be checked in the App Dashboard.

Important: Your App must have Advanced access for the public_profile permission. Most newly created apps are automatically approved for Advanced access for this permission. To confirm, navigate to App Review > Permissions and Features panel, and check the access level for the public_profile permission. If it is set to Standard access, you need to manually upgrade it by selecting the Request advanced access option.

5.2 Submit Your App Review for Meta Approval

Once you have all required documents and videos prepared, submit your "App Review" for Meta approval for needed permissions and features.

On the Tech Provider onboarding page (see 3.4 App Customization and Requirements), under Step 2: App Review, click the Begin App Review button and follow Meta's instructions to complete your submission.

Alternatively, you can navigate to Review > App Review section for your Meta App and click the "Edit App Review request" button.