What is WhatsApp Business API and why it's different from the App
WhatsApp Business exists in two versions: the free App for small businesses and the Business API for medium and large companies (no contact limits, multi-agent, advanced automations, CRM integrations).
The Business API is accessible through Meta-approved Business Solution Providers (BSPs), like Chat API.
Main Business API advantages: verified number with green checkmark, sending approved templates to any opted-in number, multi-agent, chatbots and automations, REST API integrations.
How to get started: setup and configuration
To get started with WhatsApp Business API via Chat API, you need: a Meta Business Manager account, a phone number not yet registered on WhatsApp, and a Chat API account.
The registration process typically takes 1-3 business days. The Chat API team assists in every phase.
Templates and proactive messages
To send proactive messages (outside the 24-hour active conversation window), you must use Meta-approved templates. The approval process takes 24-48 hours.
Next steps: automations and integrations
Once the basic implementation is started, next steps to maximize WhatsApp Business API value are: automations for most frequent use cases, CRM integration, and FAQ chatbot implementation.
Start from a simple use case with measurable ROI, measure the results, and then expand to other use cases based on collected data.
