Skip to main content
rendevo

Connecting WhatsApp Business

Connect your WhatsApp Business account to receive and respond to customer messages.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  1. Facebook Business Manager Account

    • Create one at business.facebook.com if you don't have one
    • Must be an admin or have appropriate permissions

  2. WhatsApp Business API Access

    • This is different from the WhatsApp Business app
    • Must be set up through Facebook Business Manager
    • Requires a verified business phone number

  3. Verified Business Phone Number

    • Cannot be a personal WhatsApp number
    • Must not be registered on regular WhatsApp
    • Should be a number you control and can receive verification codes on

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Start Integration

  1. Go to Settings → Integrations
  2. Find WhatsApp Business card
  3. Click Connect

Step 2: Meta OAuth Authorization

  1. You'll be redirected to Facebook
  2. Log in with your Facebook Business Manager account
  3. Review the permissions requested
  4. Click Continue to authorize

Step 3: Select Business Account

  1. Choose your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA)
  2. Select the phone number you want to connect
  3. Confirm your selection

Step 4: Webhook Subscription

  • The system automatically subscribes webhooks
  • This enables real-time message delivery
  • No manual configuration needed

Step 5: Verify Connection

  1. You'll be redirected back to the Integrations page
  2. Status should show Connected with a green pulse indicator
  3. Send a test message to your WhatsApp number
  4. Check your Inbox to see the message appear

What Happens After Connection

Incoming Messages

  • Customer messages appear in your Inbox
  • AI agent can automatically respond (if enabled in Settings)
  • You can manually respond to any conversation
  • All messages are encrypted for security

AI Agent Integration

  • AI can handle booking requests automatically
  • Recognizes customer intent (booking, question, complaint)
  • Escalates to human when needed
  • You can enable/disable AI per conversation

Common Issues

"Integration Not Found"

Cause: Phone number not properly connected in Meta/Facebook Solution:

  1. Go to Facebook Business Manager
  2. Verify your WhatsApp Business Account is active
  3. Ensure the phone number is properly registered
  4. Try reconnecting the integration

"Messages Not Appearing"

Cause: Webhook not properly configured or delayed Solution:

  1. Check integration status shows "Connected"
  2. Send a test message
  3. Wait 30 seconds (webhook processing time)
  4. Refresh your Inbox
  5. If still not working, disconnect and reconnect

Security & Privacy

Access Tokens

  • Stored securely in encrypted vault
  • Never exposed in client-side code
  • Automatically rotated for security
  • Can be revoked at any time through Facebook

Message Encryption

  • All messages encrypted at rest in database
  • Decryption only happens when viewing
  • Encryption keys managed securely
  • Compliant with privacy regulations

Managing Your Connection

Disconnecting WhatsApp

  1. Go to Settings → Integrations
  2. Find WhatsApp Business card
  3. Click Disconnect
  4. Confirm disconnection
  5. This will stop receiving new messages (existing messages remain)

Reconnecting

  • If disconnected or showing error
  • Click Connect or Resume Setup
  • Follow the OAuth flow again
  • Previous message history is preserved

Best Practices

  1. Test Thoroughly: Send test messages before going live
  2. Monitor Inbox: Check regularly for new messages
  3. AI Settings: Configure AI agent behavior in Settings
  4. Response Time: Enable notifications for faster response
  5. Token Rotation: Reconnect every few months for security