Creating a WhatsApp Cloud API account is your gateway to leveraging Alcmeon as your central inbox for WhatsApp and to sending messages to your customers and prospects on WhatsApp.

It's important to note that using the WhatsApp Cloud API involves costs. Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, charges businesses for its usage. Learn more about Meta's pricing structure: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/whatsapp/pricing

Prerequisites

1. Your Meta Business Portfolio must be verified.

To check its verification status, go to "Business Info" in your Meta Business Portfolio: https://business.facebook.com .

If your Business Portfolio is not yet verified, follow the steps outlined here to get it verified: https://www.facebook.com/business/help/2058515294227817?id=180505742745347

Alternatively, you may have the option to verify your Business Portfolio during the WhatsApp account creation process itself (as noted in step 8 below).

2. You must have “Administrator” status in your Meta 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

From the "Settings / Accounts" section, click on "Connect an account" at the top right.

Choose “WhatsApp Cloud API”.

2. Step "Account Type"

Click "next".

3. Step “Phone number”

Confirm that you have a completely new phone number that is not currently linked to any WhatsApp account (whether personal or professional). Then click "Next".

Meta recently introduced an option to provide you with a phone number (with a +555 area code). You are allowed a maximum of two such numbers. If you prefer this option, you can choose it later in the process.

4. Step "Connect your Account"

First, select the region where your WhatsApp account data will be hosted by Meta. The default location is the European Union (Germany), but you can choose other regions from the provided list based on your legal or operational requirements. 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 using the credentials of your Facebook Administrator profile, then click "Continue."

Caution: Once this window appears, do not click outside of it to avoid having to restart the entire connection process.

You will then be prompted to confirm that you wish to continue with the Facebook account you just logged into.

6. Give your Permission

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

7. Choose your Business Portfolio

You can either select an existing Meta Business Portfolio or opt to create a new one if you don't have one yet.

If your chosen Business Portfolio is not "verified" by Meta, or if you've just created a new one, you will have the opportunity to complete the verification process at this stage. To do so, you'll need a website whose domain exactly matches your email address, as well as the brand name and logo you intend to use for your WhatsApp account.

Then click “Next”

8. Choose your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA)

A WABA (WhatsApp Business Account) acts as a central "folder" where you can manage one or more WhatsApp phone numbers (up to 30). The payment method Meta uses to bill you will be linked to this WABA, not to individual phone numbers. We recommend organizing your numbers within WABAs accordingly.

At this point, using the first drop-down menu, you can either select a WABA you have already created, or choose to create a new WABA.

Please note: Do not select an existing WABA that contains phone numbers currently operated by a partner other than Alcmeon.

In the second drop-down menu, choose to create a new WhatsApp Business Profile. This profile essentially represents the specific WhatsApp phone number and the display name that your customers will see.

Then click “Next”

9. Create your WhatsApp Profile

Choose a display name for your phone number, complete the category field accordingly, and then click "Next."

10. Telephone number

Add a phone number and choose your preferred method for verification: SMS or an automated voice call. After selecting your method, click "Next."

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

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

11. Finalization

12. Final checks

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

You can then click the "Generate QR code" button. Scan this QR code with your mobile phone to open your personal WhatsApp application. Send a test message, and you should find it appearing in your Alcmeon Inbox!

Important reminder: Promptly add your bank card as a payment method for WhatsApp within your Meta Business Portfolio. Failure to do so will result in limitations on the messages you can send to your customers, as WhatsApp Templates are chargeable.