WhatsApp Business API Official Integration - Campaigns, Calls and Automation

Official vs unofficial WhatsApp - what's the difference

The market is full of "WhatsApp automation" services. Most use WhatsApp Web automation or QR-code unofficial APIs (e.g. WPPConnect, Baileys). That means:

FollowUP uses the official WhatsApp Business Platform Cloud API - Meta's certified production channel. In Georgia we are the only solution of our kind that is fully official and won't get numbers banned.

What you can do with the official WhatsApp API

1. Broadcast campaigns (Marketing Templates)

Send to 1,000-100,000 contacts at once with Meta-approved Marketing Templates:

All templates are pre-approved by Meta. Average open rate 80-95% - vs Email's 18-25%.

2. WhatsApp Call (Cloud API Calling)

Direct WhatsApp calls - outbound and inbound - from CRM, tied to contact history. Call a lead inside WhatsApp with full history at hand.

3. Conversational AI Chatbot

24/7 automatic responses (with the Conversation AI module) - lead qualification, FAQ, appointment booking, handoff to operator.

4. Click-to-WhatsApp Ads (CTWA)

Meta's "Send to WhatsApp" campaigns automatically create a lead in CRM - UTM, ad ID, creative ID fully captured.

5. Personal 1-on-1 chats in team Inbox

All operators work in a single Inbox. Auto-distribution, full history, internal notes - all available.

WhatsApp + CRM = unified lead history

Every WhatsApp conversation is logged on the lead's card in CRM:

You're not locked into the WhatsApp app itself. With CRM filters you can pull "everyone who mentioned the word 'price' in WhatsApp in the last 30 days" - and broadcast to them.

SMS campaigns - personalized

Alongside WhatsApp, FollowUP includes a native SMS module - personalized messages with variables ({name}, {company}, {amount}). Georgian carrier integration, deliverability tracking, opt-out management.

Use case: WhatsApp didn't deliver → automatically falls back to SMS. Unified fallback logic, unified history.

Native Email Campaigns module

You don't need a separate Mailchimp or SendGrid:

Every email event is logged on the same lead card - alongside WhatsApp, SMS and calls.

Full automation engine

FollowUP's Workflows module replaces Zapier or Make - natively, in your own ecosystem:

Complex multi-step automations - from operations to marketing - we build regularly for our clients. No 3rd-party tool needed.

Real-world example - full flow

1. User clicks Click-to-WhatsApp ad on Instagram

2. WhatsApp opens → chatbot asks 3 qualification questions

3. Based on answers a lead score is computed, lead is created in CRM on the right pipeline

4. If score ≥ 70 → automatically assigned to an available operator + Slack notification

5. 24 hours with no reply → automatic WhatsApp follow-up template

6. 3 days no reply → SMS fallback

7. After sale → CAPI Purchase event to Meta → Smart Bidding optimizes

All in one platform. You don't glue 5 separate tools.

Get started

Book a demo - see WhatsApp Business API + CAPI + automations live, on your business scenario.

FAQ

Do I need a license from Meta?

Yes. We help you fully set up WhatsApp Business Account and Meta Business Manager, verify your number and approve the Display Name.

Who approves Marketing templates?

Meta. We write the template to your messaging, get it approved by Meta (24-48 hours), then it's available for broadcast.

How much does WhatsApp Cloud API cost?

Meta charges per conversation separately - Marketing conversation roughly 0.07-0.10 USD. FollowUP setup and module price separate. You'll get an exact quote at the demo.

Can the number get banned?

With official Cloud API the number is not banned - Meta issues Quality Rating on different infrastructure than consumer WhatsApp.

What is a BSP (Business Solution Provider)?

A Meta-licensed partner authorized to resell WhatsApp Business Platform. FollowUP delivers BSP-grade integration on the Georgian market.

What do Quality Rating Green/Yellow/Red mean?

Meta's quality score for your number. Green - full messaging limits. Yellow - warning. Red - restriction and possible block if not improved.

What is the 24-hour messaging window?

When a user messages you, you can freely reply with any message for 24 hours. Outside that window - only approved templates.

Utility vs Marketing vs Authentication template - difference?

Utility - transactional (booking, invoice). Marketing - promo/offer. Authentication - OTP code. Pricing and approval rules differ.

Can templates use variables?

Yes - {{1}}, {{2}} placeholders for name, date, amount. Meta requires sample values for review.

What is the CPC for Click-to-WhatsApp ads in Georgia?

Avg $0.10-0.40 per click, depending on niche and creative. WhatsApp ads tend to deliver 30-50% lower CPL than Lead Forms.

How do I get the Green Tick (verified badge)?

Meta Business Manager → WhatsApp Manager → Apply for Green Tick. Requires verified brand notability (press, Wikipedia, recognition). FollowUP helps with the application.

What is Display Name approval?

Meta verifies that your WhatsApp Business profile name matches your legal company name. Branded names require additional documentation.

Can I reuse a number?

If the number has been free of consumer WhatsApp for 7+ days - yes. Phone Number Migration is a separate process between BSPs.

Does Inbox unify Instagram + Facebook + WhatsApp?

Yes - FollowUP's Unified Inbox shows all three channels on one screen, tied to a single lead history.

Can WhatsApp Business App and Cloud API run on the same number?

On the same number - no. The number is either in the consumer App or Cloud API. After migration the App stops working.

What is Conversational Pricing in 2026?

Meta's pricing moved from per-conversation to per-template-message (for Marketing). Stricter math, clearer budget.

Where is the chatbot configured?

In FollowUP's Conversation AI module - visual flow builder. Triggers via keyword, button, NLP intent. Handoff to operator at any stage.

What is WhatsApp Flows?

Meta's native UI components (forms, dropdowns) inside WhatsApp. Buy, book, fill an application without leaving the chat.

Which channel is best for NPS surveys?

WhatsApp leads with 80%+ open rate. A template with 1-10 score buttons; results auto-log on the lead card in CRM.

Does WhatsApp Catalog integrate with CRM?

Yes - Meta Commerce Catalog syncs into FollowUP; the user picks a product from chat, lead/order is created automatically.

What data do I get in export?

All conversations, template log, delivery/read status, contact opt-in/opt-out, ad attribution. CSV/JSON/API - full data ownership.