Messaging apps have become the dominant form of digital communication, with WhatsApp being the most widely used globally. The WhatsApp Business API allows medium and large businesses to send notifications and updates to customers through WhatsApp in a personalized and scalable way. To access the WhatsApp Business API, businesses must apply for and be approved for a WhatsApp business account, then connect their API account to start interacting with customers, ensuring they have given consent to receive messages. The Business API allows sending template messages and responding to customer messages within 24 hours, with template messages being paid and responses within 24 hours remaining free.

1. All You Need to Know About WhatsApp
Business API.
Let’sUnderstand first Everything about Messaging Apps Globally.
Nowadays, messaging apps are the most generally used form of digital
communication. Smartphones are reshaping the way we interact with one another.
Messages are becoming more precise to engage with customers. Messaging apps
offer phone and video calls, as well as shopping features along with the central
service. Users want to have more personalized solutions addressing their emotions
as well besides just a text. Messaging apps are considered as a preferred medium not
only for personal matters but also for businesses.
Source: We are social, 2019
In the above image, We can see a number of apps providing messaging services
adding & giving competition to each other, the dominance of WhatsApp over other
messaging apps is well observed. One of the advantages of using WhatsApp is its
global ability to reach the right audience and well penetration in the market.
After WhatsApp announced its Business platform, it opened the doorof
opportunity for many. Businesses are leveraging WhatsApp for business by using

2. features like responding promptly to the customer, providing consistent brand
experience, being concise, being personalized and many more other features.
Currently, the WhatsApp eco-system consists of –
1. WhatsApp Chat App
2. WhatsApp Business App
3. WhatsApp Business API
Let me briefly talk a little more about this different category - Get More Information
here
First one is the WhatsApp App for individuals, for exchanging text & rich media
messages and is completely free to use.
The second one is also an app but useful & beneficial for small businesses and free
to use anywhere anytime within few compliance.
The last one is an API used by medium and large businesses for notifications and
updates from the business account. It’s a paid service and requires pre-approvalfrom
WhatsApp.
There are limitations on WhatsApp Business App like sending messages to the
limited number of users, scalability. Here we will be focusing on WhatsApp
Business API.
How to Acquire WhatsApp Business APIAccount?
First of all, is to apply for a WhatsApp verified Business Account through an
authorised WhatsApp partner or reseller.
Next is to submit company information to WhatsApp for accountapproval. For that,
you have to provide a Facebook business manager ID and have your company
verified on Facebook business before your account can get approved.
The last step is to activate the business number. The account approval takes roughly
3 to 14 business days depending on the WhatsApp partner. Once your number is
activated you canconnectyour API accountto a CRMand start interacting with your
customers.
Before sending messages on WhatsApp Business API to the user, users have to give
consent for receiving messages from the business. There are two ways for a user to
consent to receive messages:
1. The user sends the first message.
2. The user agrees to an active opt-in method
User opt-in can be obtained by various channels like Website Opt-in like
homepage/landing page, existing channels like SMS/emails, existing system opt-in
like during transaction process, in-store applications, sign up forms, etc.
Mandatory requirements while obtaining opt-in:

3. ● Businesses must mention that a person is opting in to receive messages from
the business over WhatsApp.
● Businesses must clearly state the business’ name that a person is opting in to
receive messages from.
● Businesses must comply with applicable law.
WhatsApp Business API is designed in sucha way that the businesses pay to interact
with the customers over their preferred channel. Messages can be sent via two ways
–
a. Initiating from the Business side (template messages)
b. Initiating from the customer side (sessionmessage respond to be made
within 24 hours)
Template Messages are common reusable messages a business may want to send.
Businesses must use Template Messages for sending notifications to customers.
It may include audio, image, document, sticker, or video files. It’s a paid service.
Session messages are free as long as the user response is made within the 24-hour
window. Once a two-way communication is started, a 24-hour window is opened.
Within this window, the messages are free.
In the end, let's conclude the WhatsApp API with few Do's & Don't.
WhatsApp Business API Do’s & Don’ts
Do's Don'ts
Prefer to respond to your customers within 24
hours(comes under session message)
Send duplicate notifications over multiple channels to the
user.
Abide by the policies outlined in the WhatsApp Business
Policy and WhatsApp Commerce Policy. Spamming user numbers with messaging multiple times.
Use multiple phone numbers for development, testing,
and production. Use toll free numbers for testing.
Provide product feedback. Direct Support is the best
channel for that.
Create a Business Manager only for WhatsApp
integrations. Use an existing one if available.
Provide details to reproduce your issue such as logs,
support info from the health and support nodes,
WADebug data, API calls to reproduce, etc. Never send promotional messages
Chose proper opt-in mediums
Don’t run multiple accounts with same business phone
number
Source of Inspiration : Developers Facebook