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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.asistian.com/llms.txt

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Asistian connects to WhatsApp through the official Meta WhatsApp Business API. This means your WhatsApp phone app stays connected and works exactly as it does today — Asistian runs alongside it. Once connected, all incoming WhatsApp messages flow into your unified inbox, where your team and AI assistants can respond, assign conversations, and close deals without switching apps.

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Overview

The Meta WhatsApp Business API gives businesses a reliable, policy-compliant way to send and receive messages at scale. Unlike unofficial workarounds, the official API keeps your phone number active in the WhatsApp mobile app while simultaneously routing conversations to Asistian. You get full delivery and read receipt tracking, support for media files (images, documents, audio, video), and the ability to send pre-approved message templates for business-initiated outreach.
Connecting through the official Meta API does not disconnect your WhatsApp mobile app. You can continue using WhatsApp on your phone normally while Asistian handles conversations in the background.

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Prerequisites

Before connecting WhatsApp, make sure you have:
  • A WhatsApp Business account associated with the phone number you want to connect
  • A Meta Business account (formerly Facebook Business Manager) with admin access
  • A verified phone number that is not already registered with the WhatsApp Business API through another provider

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Connect WhatsApp to Asistian

1

Open channel settings

In your Asistian dashboard, navigate to Settings → Channels, then click Add channel and select WhatsApp.
2

Sign in with Meta

Click Connect with Meta. A Meta login window opens. Sign in with the Facebook account that has admin access to your Meta Business account.
3

Select your Meta Business account

Choose the Meta Business account that owns the WhatsApp Business account you want to connect.
4

Select your WhatsApp Business account and phone number

Select the WhatsApp Business account and then the specific phone number you want to connect to Asistian. If you need to create a new phone number, you can do so from within this flow.
5

Verify your phone number

Meta will send a verification code to your selected number via SMS or voice call. Enter the code to confirm ownership.
6

Review and authorize permissions

Asistian requests the permissions it needs to send and receive messages on your behalf. Review the list and click Confirm to grant access.
7

Configure your inbox

Give your new WhatsApp channel a name, assign it to an inbox, and optionally select an AI assistant to handle incoming messages automatically. Click Save to finish.
Your WhatsApp number is now live in Asistian. Incoming messages appear in your unified inbox immediately.

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Message templates

WhatsApp requires businesses to use pre-approved message templates whenever they initiate a conversation with a customer (i.e., sending the first message after a 24-hour window has passed). Templates are reviewed and approved by Meta before use. Use message templates for:
  • Follow-ups after a customer inquiry goes cold
  • Order confirmations, shipping updates, and appointment reminders
  • Re-engaging contacts who haven’t messaged recently
When a customer messages you first, you can reply freely in plain text for up to 24 hours — no template required. After that window, you must use an approved template to reopen the conversation.
Create your message templates inside the Meta Business Manager before you need them. Approval typically takes a few minutes to a few hours, but can take longer during high-volume periods.

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Plan limits

The number of WhatsApp phone numbers you can connect depends on your Asistian plan:
PlanWhatsApp numbers
Starter1 number
Growth2 numbers
Scale3 numbers
To connect additional numbers beyond your plan’s limit, upgrade your plan from Settings → Billing.
Your use of WhatsApp through Asistian must comply with the WhatsApp Business Policy and Meta’s Platform Terms. Violations — such as sending unsolicited bulk messages or using unapproved templates — can result in your phone number being restricted or permanently banned by Meta. Review Meta’s policies before running any outbound messaging campaigns.