2Chat offers two connection methods for WhatsApp. The best choice depends on your business needs. Please review the differences below to determine which is right for you.
1. WhatsApp Web
Use this connection if you do not have a Meta Business Account or a WhatsApp Business App account. It connects by scanning a QR code, allowing you to manage communications using a standard WhatsApp Web session.
2. WhatsApp Business API
Use this connection if you have a Meta Business Account or you are using the WhatsApp Business app.
Key Requirements & Restrictions:
Initiating Conversations: You must initiate outbound contact using pre-approved message templates. Once a customer replies, you can exchange messages. If the customer messages you first, you can reply freely.
24-Hour Window: After a customer’s last message, you have a 24-hour window to respond. If this window closes, you must send a new message template to re-engage the customer.
Note: These restrictions are enforced by Meta to prevent spam. In 2Chat we highly recommend to our users the use of WhatsApp Business to reduce the risk of being flag as Spammer or being block by WhatsApp blocking your business operations.
To run this process, you must have an administrator role in 2Chat. Operators in 2Chat can't create channels.
Steps:
Go into the Channels > WhatsApp > New WhatsApp Connection button.
Once you click on the button it will display 2 options that will guide you to choose the best connection for you in just 3 steps.
The first option is allowing you connect thought the official connection of Meta. You should choose the first option if you are using WhatsApp Business App or you have a WhatsApp Business Account in Meta (or you want to create a new one), otherwise if you want to create a WhatsApp Web session you should choose the second option.
1.A Choosing WhatsApp Business
In case that you choose the first option 'Yes, I have or I want to create a WhatsApp Business account in Meta'
To complete this process correcty you should be administrator in your Meta Business Account
Our Guiding Tool System will allow you to choose between 2 options.
The first one is for the users that already have install the WhatsApp Business App, in this case 2Chat will set the integration with Meta using Coexistence, this means that you will be able to use your WhatsApp busisness account from either your WhatsApp Business App or from 2Chat, the connection will be shared and reflected on each side.
The second option is if you are not using the WhatsApp Business App.
Finally, on the last step our guiding system will display some aditional information for consideration and by click on the button of 'Continue' can start the onboarding process on Meta (you should be able to see in your screen as the image below after hit on the button Continue).
1.B Choosing WhatsApp Web
In case that you choose the second option 'No, I just want to use the WhatsApp app'.
Our Guiding Tool System will display a warning message to remind you to use the WhatsApp Business connection if you are going to create message campaigns in order to preserve the health of your number.
Once confirm that you are not going to use your whatsapp connection for sending campaigns our Guiding Tool System display the last step, click in the button of 'Continue with QR' so you can start a normal whatsapp session.
2. Enter the number settings
Once in the channel configuration you need to fill the form
Enter the phone number in international format (e.g.: +59598123456)
Enter the name of the channel, this is a name that will appear on your connection list and you can use to identify the connection.
You can enable or disable the import of your contacts in 2Chat by hiting on the option 'Enable contacts importing', this is going to bring all of your WhatsApp contacts into 2Chat, you will be able to see it in the Contact menu.
After fill the information hit on the button 'Add & Connect'. This will generate a QR code, similar to the image below, that you need to scan to start the whatsapp session.
Scan the code generated with the WhatsApp app on your device
2. Once you finish the connection of your whatsapp channel you should be able to see the new connection in your list.
If you have any question let us know.