This step-by-step guide we’ll guide you through the WhatsApp Business onboarding. Free to reach out to our Support team if you need any help.

Step 1: Sign up for WhatsApp business 

Sign up for WhatsApp Business. We’ll qualify your application and sent it to WhatsApp for approval. You’ll be able to track the status of your application in the MessageBird Dashboard. 

A few things you’ll need:

• Your Facebook Business ID for your WhatsApp account. If you don’t have one already, you’ll need to set up a Facebook Manager Account, just log in or sign up on https://business.facebook.com/
• The business ID is required to connect your business account with the WhatsApp Product. If you don’t have it now, we’ll send you a reminder via email. You’ll receive a notification in your Facebook Business account where you can accept access to the MessageBird WhatsApp platform.

Step 2: Choosing a number and a number name 

Once WhatsApp approved your application, it’s time to connect the number you'll be using for WhatsApp. This will be the number that customers can reach you at and from where you can send your messages. The number can be a MessageBird Virtual Mobile Number (VMN) (check available destinations or contact our Support team), or you have the option to use one of your current numbers; this can either be mobile or a landline. Please note that when you use your own number, it should be a clean number, that is, a number that has not been associated with WhatsApp before.  Need some help? Learn how to pick a number for use with WhatsApp.

Each number needs a number name. This will be the name display in your customer's setting and is unchangeable once activated.

Step 3: Verify your number with WhatsApp

Once you have selected the number(s) you would like to use, they will need to be verified by WhatsApp. Once verified, we will send your Number VNAME certificate. You'll need this when connecting your account to the MessageBird Dashboard.

Step 4:  Activate the WhatsApp channel in your MessageBird account

The WhatsApp access has been added to your MessageBird account and your number name and number are approved? It is time to activate your channel!

Go to the Channels directory on the left panel in your MessageBird Dashboard, click on "WhatsApp", and find your very first WhatsApp channel. You should see "Activate channel" as a green button.  To activate the channel, a verification code will be sent to your WhatsApp number. You can either receive the code via SMS or phone call. If you see the status "Pending", wait a couple of minutes and refresh the page. Please contact our Support team if the status has not changed for more than 30 minutes.

Step 5: Registering a Message Template

To reach out to your customers, you need a pre-approved Message Template. This needs to be approved by WhatsApp. You can submit Message Templates via the WhatsApp Template Manager on the MessageBird Dashboard. Once your Message Template has been approved, it can not be edited anymore;  however, you can add new HSM’s at any time.

Step 6: Get ready to use WhatsApp

Once the number has been verified, you are all set to start using our WhatsApp Business. Connect your CRM with our Conversations API to get the full use of our options!