Creating a WhatsApp Cloud API account allows you to use Alcmeon as your inbox for this new WhatsApp account, or to send messages to your customers and prospects on WhatsApp.

Using the WhatsApp Cloud API isn't free. Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, charges businesses that use it. Learn more: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/pricing

The WhatsApp Cloud API solution is different and offers many advantages compared to the WhatsApp Personal app or the WhatsApp Business app. What is WhatsApp Cloud API?

Prerequisites

1. Your Business Portfolio Meta must be verified.

To check if your Business Portfolio is verified, go to "Business Info" in your Business Portfolio https://business.facebook.com .

If your Business Portfolio is not verified, here is a link explaining each step to get verified: https://www.facebook.com/business/help/2058515294227817?id=180505742745347

Alternatively, you can have your Business Portfolio verified during the WhatsApp account creation process, which you will see in step 8 below.

2. You must have “Administrator” status in your Business Portfolio.

3. You must have "Administrator" permission in Alcmeon.

4. Log out of any personal Facebook accounts.

5. You must have a bank payment card.

Steps to Create a WhatsApp Account

1. Start

Click on “Connect an account” at the top right from the “Settings / Accounts” section.

Choose “WhatsApp Cloud API”.

2. Step "Account Type"

Click "next".

3. Step “Phone number”

After confirming that you have a completely new phone number that is not linked to any WhatsApp account, whether professional or personal, by selecting the first option, click "next".

Meta recently offered to provide you with a phone number, with the area code +555. You are allowed a maximum of two of these numbers. Choose this option later in the process if you prefer.

4. Step "Connect your account"

First, choose the region of the world where your WhatsApp account data will be hosted by Meta. The default location is the European Union (Germany), but depending on your legal requirements, you can choose others from the list. This list is enforced by Meta.

Then, click on “Continue and connect with Facebook”.

5. Connect with Facebook

In the Meta window that opens, log in with the login and password of your Facebook Administrator profile and then click "Continue".

Caution: Once this window opens, do not click outside it to avoid having to start the process again.

You will then be asked to confirm that you want to continue with the Facebook account you just logged in to.

6. Give your permission

Click “Continue” to authorize Alcmeon to manage your WhatsApp account.

7. Choose your Business Portfolio

You can choose your existing Business Manager or decide to create a new one if you don't have one yet.

If your Business Manager isn't "verified" by Meta, or you've created a new one, you can do so at this stage. To do this, you'll need to have a website whose domain is also your email address, and that exactly matches the brand name and logo you want to create a WhatsApp account for.

Then click “Next”

8. Choose your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA)

A WABA, or WhatsApp Business Account, is a sort of "folder" in which you can store one or more WhatsApp phone numbers (up to 30). Your payment method, which Meta will use to bill you, will be linked to this WABA and not to each phone number. We suggest grouping your numbers accordingly.

At this step, you can choose from the first drop-down menu to use a WABA you have already created, or to create a new one.

Please note, do not choose an existing WABA with phone numbers operated by a partner other than Alcmeon.

In the 2nd drop-down menu, choose to create a new WhatsApp Business Profile, which is actually the WhatsApp phone number and name displayed to your customers.

Then click on “Next”

9. Create your WhatsApp profile

Choose a name for your phone number, complete the category field accordingly, and then click “Next”

10. Telephone number

Add a phone number and choose how you want to verify your number (SMS or automated voice call) then click "Next"

A verification code (XXX-XXX) will be sent to the phone number provided. Enter this code into the form.

Once completed, the Meta window will close and the creation process will begin in the background on Alcmeon.

11. Finalization

12. Final checks

After successful creation, go to the "Settings / Accounts" section to find your new WhatsApp Cloud API account. Click on it and verify that the account page in Alcméon correctly displays the widget indicating the message limits associated with the account.

You can then click on the “Generate QR code” button, scan this QR code with your mobile phone to open your personal WhatsApp application: send a message and you will find it in your Alcmeon Inbox !

Remember to quickly add your bank card as a payment method for WhatsApp in your Business Portfolio, otherwise you will be limited in the messages you can send to your customers: WhatsApp Templates are chargeable.