WhatsApp Channel

1. Introduction

In order to set up the WhatsApp channel, as the Business Messenger app Account Owner you will need the following details:

WA Business Account Name - the name of your WhatsApp Business Account.

WA Business Account ID - the ID of your WhatsApp Business Account. This ID is provided by Meta.

Facebook App ID - the Facebook App ID is the ID provided by Meta and can be found in the App Dashboard. The App has to be separated FB App just for your WhatsApp Business Account.

Facebook App Secret - the FB App Secret is a string provided and only visible in the App Dashboard.

WA Access Token - the token is a string that is required to authorize the WhatsApp. The token is provided by Meta.

After setting up this configuration, from the Business Messenger app UI you will get the Webhook URL and one more token, and these info you will have to enter into your FB App to finish the settings.

2. Setting Up the Channel

The following instructions are for BM Account Owner.

2.1 WhatsApp Business Platform

Businesses all over the world use WhatsApp to communicate with their customers. Now with the Cloud API on WhatsApp Business Platform, you can directly integrate your platform or your application with WhatsApp.

If you do not have a Meta Business account yet, you can create one on Meta Platform page.

2.1.1 Creating a Meta App

Before you start, you must be logged into your Facebook developer account. If you do not have a Facebook developer account yet, please visit Register as a Facebook developer page, where you'll find the instructions how to register.

As with all Meta Graph APIs, you'll need a developer App. Please visit How to create an App page and follow the instructions.

Once you have completed the App creation flow, your App will be loaded in the App Dashboard.

2.1.2 Adding WhatsApp Product to Your App

The next step is to add the WhatsApp product to your App from the App Dashboard 'Add products to your app' section. To add WhatsApp, click the Set up button.

Whatsapp add product

To use the WhatsApp API, your App needs to be associated with your business. Here you can connect your WhatsApp Business Account to your Meta Business Account.
If you have an existing Meta Business Account associated with your FB Developers account, you can select it here. Or you can create a new one.

Whatsapp add business account

After the setup is completed, you will have the FB App with WhatsApp product, that is linked to your Business Account.

With WhatsApp 'Getting Started' page, which you can select from the side menu on the App Dashboard, you will find some basic developers tools to get you started.

Whatsapp getting started

To start sending messages to any WhatsApp number, add a phone number by clicking on the button Add Phone Number (see the previous screenshot).

2.1.3 Meta Business Account System User

On WhatsApp Getting Started page you can find Temporary access token. In order to get a Permanent access token, the one you'll need for setting up the WhatsApp channel in the Business Messenger app, you have to create System User for your Meta Business Account.

Please visit Meta page to Create System User for your Meta Business Account. Click Add button.

Whatsapp add system user

Add System Username, and select 'Admin' for System User Role.

Whatsapp add system user

By clicking on the Create System User button, System User will be created.

Here you can add assets that the System User can access, by clicking on the button Add Assets.

Whatsapp add system user

Select 'Apps' asset type, select your App, and activate 'Manage app' option. Click the button Save Changes.

Whatsapp add system user

A permanent token can be generated by clicking on the Generate New Token button.

Whatsapp add system user

In the opened dialog window, after selecting your app from the list, you have to select two permissions from the list that will appear below: whatsapp_business_messaging and whatsapp_business_management, and click Generate Token button. The permanent token will be generated and displayed in a new dialog window.

Whatsapp generate token

Important: You have to copy and save this token as it won't be stored at Facebook.

Now you can start setting up the WhatsApp channel in the Business Messenger app.

2.2 Setting Up the BM WhatsApp Channel

On the BM Settings > Channels page, by clicking on the Edit Channels button Edit channels a new window will be opened, where the WhatsApp channel can be set up.

Channel Setup WhatsApp

WA Business Account Name - The name of your WhatsApp Business Account.

WA Business Account ID - The ID of your WhatsApp Business Account. This ID is provided by Meta and can be found on your App Dashboard page WhatsApp section.

Facebook App ID - The Facebook App ID is the ID provided by Meta. Meta App has to be separated FB App just for your WhatsApp Business Account. Find this info in the Basic section under Settings side menu item of your FB App.

Facebook App Secret - The FB App Secret is a string provided and only visible in your App Dashboard. Find this info in the 'Basic' section under 'Settings' side menu item of your FB App.

WA Access Token - Your Meta Business Account generated permanent token.

By clicking on the Save button, a new pop-up window will appear with additional details for the channel setup.

The WhatsApp channel details will be presented on the Channels page. To complete the WhatApp channel setup, you need to setup manually the Webhook URL and Token into WhatsApp Configuration page for your FB App. The Webhook URL and Token you can find on the Channels page in the Business Messenger app.

Click the Verify and save button to save Webhook URL and Client Token.

Whatsapp setting webhook

For the Webhooks fields, click on the Manage button and select Subscribe for 'messages'.

Whatsapp setting webhook

Setting is done, the WhatsApp channel details will be presented on the Channels page.

Channels

Clicking on the QR code icon QR Icon will open a new window where WhatsApp channel details are presented.

Channel Details

The QR code allows a user to access information instantly. Scanning the QR code with the scanner on a mobile phone, will open WhatsApp.
QR code can be downloaded as PNG and SVG, and can be copied to clipboard by using the given options at the top of the opened window.

2.3 Setting Up the Opt-in/Opt-out Rules

Opt-in/Opt-out Rules should be created in the BM Opt-in/Opt-out Manager > WhatsApp section.

Creating Opt-in/Opt-out rules is very important. Without defined Opt-in/Opt-out rules and configured keywords, no contacts will be stored, since there is no definition about if and how to store new contacts.

If the Easy Dialog default contact list is set in the Default Settings section, which is recommended, all the contacts that send a message to the Business Messenger app by using WhatsApp channel, will be saved in the Easy Dialog default contact list.

3. Updating the Channels Configuration

From the BM Settings > Channels page by clicking on the Edit Channels button Edit Channel in the top left corner of the screen, a new window will be opened where the Channels configuration data are presented.

Edit Channel Settings

For the WhatsApp channel, details can be updated if it is needed.