What Is WhatsApp?
WhatsApp is a popular communication channel in many countries outside the United States. It is used as a less expensive and more reliable alternative to SMS. Akia uses WhatsApp as the primary platform for customers outside the United States and Canada; however, any customer can get WhatsApp.
Please note that WhatsApp does have some messaging limitations. The most important is that you can only send a WhatsApp pre-approved message template in your initial message to a new phone number, or after 24 hours after the end-user last engaged with your messages. You will be able to create as many of these WhatsApp templates on the Akia platform to allow your team the most flexibility when reaching out to guests, but for more information about WhatsApp Business Policy, please refer to the article here: https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/business-policy/?lang=en.
How Do I Get WhatsApp?
Expectations
There is a one-time $150 fee for customers in the US and Canada. There is no charge for customers located outside the US and Canada. There are no monthly charges for sending messages through WhatsApp.
Registration Process
- Email help@akia.com with your Facebook Business Manager/Portfolio ID or provide it to us through the Support chat.
- If you do not have a Facebook Business Manager account, you can create one at https://business.facebook.com/overview.
- Your Facebook Business Manager/Portfolio ID is located at the top of the Business Information page https://business.facebook.com/settings/info/
- Fill out the Business Details section under https://business.facebook.com/settings/info/.
- You do not have to start business verification as this will case delays.
- Akia will submit a request for WhatsApp access on your behalf. Once you have been pre-approved, Akia will contact you.
- You should have a request from Twilio to message on your behalf under https://business.facebook.com/settings/requests/received_requests. Approve this request.
- Akia will submit your WhatsApp sender profile for registration. Once your business profile is registered, we will configure your account and let you know.
If you have more than 2 WhatsApp Senders
Business Verification is required if you have more than 2 WhatsApp senders per WhatsApp policy.
You should be able to go here: https://business.facebook.com/latest/settings/security_center to begin the verification process, but in the situation that you do not see the prompt to begin verification, you can follow the steps below:
- Make sure you have completed your business information on the settings > About section of the business manager page here: https://business.facebook.com/settings/info
- Turn on 2-factor authorization for your admin users
- If the verification option still doesn't appear - go to the Facebook developer page and create an app - https://developers.facebook.com/apps/
- Associate the new app with your Facebook Business Page
- In your App dashboard - go to settings and basic and scroll down to business verification
- Click on verify here and upload the required documents