A WhatsApp app is what connects your WhatsApp business number to your webhook (the main element of the experience: this is where you receive, process and send messages. ) and is where you configure various settings for the WhatsApp experience.

In this guide, you'll learn how to set up a WhatsApp app.

Requirements

Before you begin, a few things will need to be created. Make sure you have all of the following:

• Facebook Developer Account: Your developer account is needed to create new apps, which are the centerpiece of any WhatsApp integration. You can create a new developer account by logging into the Facebook https://developers.facebook.com/ developer website and clicking the "Get Started" button.

• Facebook Business Account: Meta Business Manager is a tool that helps you organise and manage your business. You can create your business manager by following this guide Create a Business Manager

• Facebook app: The Facebook app contains settings for your WhatsApp experience. To create a new app, visit the app dashboard by clicking "My Apps" in the top bar of the developer page.

• Webhook URL: Actions that take place in conversations, such as new messages, are sent as events to your webhook.  Along with the callback url, a verification token will be provided that will need to be used when installing the app. CTLiveSocial needs to be reachable via a public WebHook according the following format

https://<public_ctlivedomain>/ctlivesocial/<tenantname>/whatsapp/<appid>

Creating a new Facebook app

To create a Facebook app, from the Facebook developer page (https://developers.facebook.com/ ), click on "My Apps" and then on the "Create an app" button.

Then follow the following steps in the wizard:

• Select the type of app. App types determine which products can be added to an app in the app dashboard and what permissions and features can be requested for approval through the app review process. For this app, choose “Business” type.

• Enter details about the app such as app name, email address, and purpose. Do not forget to link your Business account to the app. Then press the "Create App" button to finish the creation process.

Installation steps

Before you begin, make sure that you have met all the requirements listed above.

Add the WhatsApp platform to your Facebook app

• In the app's settings sidebar under "PRODUCTS", click "Add Product".

• Hover over "WhatsApp" to see the options.

• Click the "Set up" button. The WhatsApp platform will be added to your app and the WhatsApp settings console will appear.

Configuration

Under the section WhatsApp, select the “Getting started” option and go to step 5 Add a phone number to start sending messages to any WhatsApp number.