> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.autocalls.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# WhatsApp Business Integration

> Connect your AI assistants to WhatsApp Business for automated text-based customer conversations

<Note>
  **New: External Numbers** — You can now bring your own mobile number to WhatsApp! Use platform numbers or connect your existing mobile number with SMS/voice verification.
</Note>

## What is WhatsApp Business Integration?

WhatsApp Business integration allows you to connect your AI assistants to WhatsApp, enabling automated text-based conversations with customers through the world's most popular messaging platform.

With this integration, you can:

* **Receive customer messages** and respond automatically with AI
* **Send template messages** to start conversations or re-engage customers
* **Use AI-powered replies** for 24/7 customer support
* **Trigger automation flows** based on WhatsApp conversations
* **Track all conversations** in your dashboard

## How It Works

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
    A[Customer] -->|Sends WhatsApp message| B[Your WhatsApp Sender]
    B -->|Routes to| C[AI Assistant]
    C -->|Generates response| B
    B -->|Replies to| A
```

1. **Create a WhatsApp Sender** using a platform number or your own external number
2. **Connect an AI Assistant** to handle incoming messages automatically
3. **Create Message Templates** for outbound conversations (required by Meta)
4. **Customers message you** and receive AI-powered responses instantly

## Key Components

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="WhatsApp Senders" icon="phone" href="/whatsapp/senders">
    Phone numbers registered for WhatsApp Business messaging
  </Card>

  <Card title="Message Templates" icon="file-lines" href="/whatsapp/templates">
    Pre-approved message formats for business-initiated conversations
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Conversations" icon="robot" href="/whatsapp/conversations">
    AI-powered automated responses to customer messages
  </Card>

  <Card title="Automation" icon="bolt" href="/whatsapp/automation">
    Trigger flows and send messages via the automation platform
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Understanding WhatsApp Business Rules

WhatsApp has specific rules for business messaging that you need to understand:

### The 24-Hour Messaging Window

<Info>
  When a customer messages you, a **24-hour window** opens where you can send free-form messages. After this window closes, you must use an **approved template** to re-engage the customer.
</Info>

* **Within 24 hours**: Send any message directly
* **After 24 hours**: Must use a pre-approved template message

### Template Messages

Template messages are pre-approved message formats required for:

* Starting new conversations with customers
* Re-engaging customers after the 24-hour window
* Sending notifications, updates, or marketing messages

Templates must be submitted to Meta for approval before use (typically takes minutes to 24 hours).

### Quality Rating & Limits

Meta monitors your messaging quality. New senders start with limited messaging capacity that increases as you maintain good quality:

| Quality Level | Daily Message Limit |
| ------------- | ------------------- |
| New Sender    | \~250 messages      |
| Low Quality   | 1,000 messages      |
| Medium        | 10,000 messages     |
| High Quality  | 100,000+ messages   |

<Warning>
  High block rates or spam reports will lower your quality rating and reduce your messaging limits. Always send relevant, requested content.
</Warning>

## Supported Features

### What's Supported

* **Platform numbers** — Use numbers purchased through our platform with automated AI verification
* **External numbers** — Bring your own mobile number and verify via SMS or voice call
* AI-powered automated replies
* Template messages (Utility, Marketing, Authentication)
* Voice Call Request templates (request permission to call via WhatsApp)
* Conversation history and tracking
* Automation platform integration

### Media & Vision

* **Image analysis (Vision)** — When customers send images, your AI assistant can analyze them using vision-capable LLMs (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini). The AI describes and responds to image content within the conversation.
* **Voice message transcription** — Incoming voice notes are automatically transcribed based on your assistant's language settings. The transcribed text is processed by the AI just like a regular message.
* **Media attachments** — All inbound media (images, audio, video, documents) are stored as attachments on the conversation and accessible from your dashboard.

### Coming Soon

* WhatsApp voice calls

## Getting Started

<Steps>
  <Step title="Choose Your Number Type">
    Decide whether to use a **platform number** (purchased from us) or your own **external mobile number**. External numbers must be able to receive SMS or voice calls for verification.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a WhatsApp Sender">
    Navigate to **WhatsApp Senders** and follow the setup wizard to connect your number to WhatsApp Business.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect an AI Assistant">
    Link an AI assistant to automatically respond to incoming messages.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Templates">
    Set up message templates for outbound conversations and wait for Meta approval.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start Messaging">
    Your WhatsApp sender is ready! Customers can message you and receive AI-powered responses.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Next Steps

* Learn how to [create WhatsApp senders](/whatsapp/senders)
* Understand [message templates](/whatsapp/templates) and approval process
* Set up [automation triggers](/whatsapp/automation) for WhatsApp