This document outlines the steps to create a WhatsApp chatbot using the Flask Python framework and the Kommunicate platform. It includes details on setting up the webhook, configuring intents, and integrating WhatsApp for testing purposes. Once set up, users can test their bot through the Kommunicate dashboard.

1. How to Create a
WhatsApp Chatbot
using Flask Python
Framework

2. Step 1:
Log in to your Kommunicate dashboard. If you don’t already have a
Kommunicate account, you can create one here.
Navigate to the Kompose bot builder category and create a new bot by
selecting the “Create Bot” button.

3. Step 2:
Use Python with Flask & enable the webhook server
The webhook requires a URL, and it should be an HTTPS protocol. The
webhook URL will receive a POST request from the Kompose Bot every time
an intent triggers the webhook.
We use the Python programming language and the Flask framework to create
the webhook.
Create a file (for example – app.py). Import all the necessary libraries (ex: os,
JSON, flask_ngrok, request) needed for Python. Please check if you have
Flask on your system. If not, install it using pip, and here’s the documentation
for the same.
To handle all the agent webhook requests, we need to define and add a
route/webhook method with a POST request. A POST request will be sent to
this URL /webhook. It executes all the methods inside the method.

4. After setting up the Python process, let’s use flask ngrok to create a public
URL for the webhook and listen to port 5000 (in this example). For the
Kompose webhook, you will need an HTTPS-secured server since the local
server (localhost) will not work. You can also use a server and point a domain
with HTTPS to that server.
You will get the following URL:
https://85e6-203-189-248-8.ngrok.io/webhook
, where the webhook is the POST route for Kompose we mentioned in the
Python file.

5. Step 3:
Navigate to the Kompose Bot Builder, select your bot, and click on the “Settings”
option at the top right corner.
Click on the Webhook option present on that page.
Copy the URL you created
(https://85e6-203-189-248-8.ngrok.io/webhook) – in this example.
Paste it into the Kompose webhook URL field.

6. Step 4:
Create an intent by clicking on the +Add button under the “Answer”
section and Train the Bot.
Here, I created Flask intent and added a training phrase such as “What is
Flask?”
Step 5:
Click on the “Bot Says” option and select the webhook you created
earlier. Now click on “Train Bot.”

7. Step 6:
Integrating your WhatsApp number with Kommunicate
Navigate to the integration section and click on “Request Access” on
WhatsApp Tile and select on Sandbox option. Send a WhatsApp message
from your phone to the phone number 4930609859535 with the content
START.
As a response, you will receive your Test API Key on WhatsApp. Enter the API
Key in “Test API Key” and click on the “ Update Sandbox ” button.

8. Please note that we are using 360Dialog Sandbox for testing purposes. You
can do the same in Live Environment by selecting “Go Live” and submitting the
details asked on that page.
To learn more about WhatsApp Integration with 360Dialog in Live
Environment, please check this doc.
Now, our bot is ready, and we can test it on WhatsApp

9. We can test our Bot using the test Bot link on a Browser by navigating to the
Manage Bots section in our Dashboard and clicking on the “Test this Bot”
button on that Bot.
https://dashboard.kommunicate.io/bots/manage-bots

10. You have now created your WhatsApp chatbot in Flask Python Framework.

11. At Kommunicate, we are envisioning a world-beating customer support solution
to empower the new era of customer support. We would love to have you on
board to have a first-hand experience of Kommunicate. You can signup here and
start delighting your customers right away.
Connect with us: support@kommunicate.io
Thank You