WhatsApp for Business

Last updated: December 3, 2025

How to configure WhatsApp Integration

WhatsApp for Business Setup Guide

This guide will walk you through setting up WhatsApp Business integration with your ChatLab bot. The integration allows your bot to send and receive messages through WhatsApp Business API.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • A Meta Business Manager account

  • Admin access to your business portfolio

  • WhatsApp business account

  • A verified business phone number

  • ChatLab subscription that includes WhatsApp integration (Standard Plan+)

Step-by-Step Setup Process

0. Create a meta business account

Check documentation on https://www.facebook.com/business/help/1710077379203657

  1. Go to https://business.facebook.com/

  2. Click Create a business portfolio after expanding dropdown in left top corner

1. Create a Meta Business App

  1. Go to Meta for Developers

  2. Click "My Apps" → **"Create App" **- if you dont have this option - you must probably must login or create account - in this case click “Get Started” in right top corner - you will create meta developer account

  3. Provide a name like ‘ChatLab WA’

  4. Select ‘Other’ as use case in next step

  5. Select "Business" as the app type

  6. Fill in your app details:

  • App Name
  • App Contact Email
  • Business portfolio (select your business) - you need to select one

  1. Click "Create App"

  2. Copy App ID

  3. When created - switch App Mode from Development to Live

Image 01

  1. Provide Privace policy URL when prompted

2. Add WhatsApp Product to Your App

  1. In your app dashboard, find WhatsApp

  2. Find "WhatsApp" and click "Set Up"

  3. Follow the setup wizard to configure WhatsApp Business API - if you dont have

2. Link application to you business portfolio

  1. Go to Meta Business Settings

  2. Click Apps in Accounts section

Image 02

  1. Click “Add” and select Connect an app ID. If you are the admin then the request will be approved automatically.

3. Create a System User and Generate Access Token

  1. Go to Meta Business Settings

  2. Navigate to "Users" → "System Users"

  3. Click "Add" to create a new system user

  4. Enter a name (e.g., "DefaultSystemUser")

Image 03

  1. Click "Create System User"

  2. Select user and click “Assign assets”

  3. Select the App you created in step 1 and select “Full controll” (”Manage app”)

4. Add System User to WhatsApp Business Account

  1. In Business Settings, go to "Accounts" → "WhatsApp Accounts"

  2. Select your WhatsApp Business Account

  3. Click the "WhatsApp Account Access" tab

  4. Click "Add People"

  5. Add your system user with "Full control"

5. Gather information to enter into ChatLab

You'll need to collect the following information for ChatLab:

Access Token

  • The token you generated in Step 3

  • This authenticates your application with WhatsApp Business API

Phone Number ID

  1. In your Meta app dashboard, go to WhatsApp → "API Setup"

  2. Find your test phone number or add a production phone number

  3. Copy the Phone Number ID (not the actual phone number)

Business Account ID

  1. In your Meta app dashboard, go to WhatsApp → "API Setup"

  2. Find Business Account ID - it is displayed next to the Phone number ID

Webhook Verify Token

  • Prepare a random string that will be used by WhatsApp as your individual key, a password that you will provide both to ChatLab in Step 6 and later to WhatsApp/Meta configuration in Step 7

6. Configure ChatLab Integration

Once you have all the required parameters from Meta, follow these steps to configure the integration in ChatLab:

  1. Log into ChatLab Admin Panel, select the bot and go to Connect tab

  2. Navigate to WhatsApp

  3. Enable Integration and provide required details

  4. Access token (Step 3)

  5. Phone number ID (Step 5)

  6. Webhook Verify Token (Step 5)

  7. Business Account ID (Step 5)

Click Save/Update and continue to Step 7

7. Configure Webhooks

  1. In your Meta app dashboard, go to WhatsApp → "Configuration"

  2. In the Webhook section, click "Edit"

  3. Enter your webhook details:

  1. In next step select Whatsapp Business account as product and finish off the configuration: subscribe to these webhook fields:
  • messages
  • message_deliveries (if available)
  • message_reads (if available)
  • messaging_optins (if available)
  • messaging_optouts (if available)
  1. Click **"Verify and Save"

**

Image 04

Verification and Testing

Test Your Integration

  1. Send a test message to your WhatsApp Business number

  2. Verify that:

  • Messages are received in ChatLab
  • Your bot responds appropriately
  • Messages appear correctly in WhatsApp

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

"Invalid Access Token" Error

  • Verify the token was copied correctly

  • Ensure all required permissions were granted

  • Check that the system user has access to the WhatsApp Business Account

Webhook Verification Fails

  • Confirm the verify token matches exactly

  • Check that the webhook URL is accessible

  • Ensure your ChatLab subscription includes WhatsApp features

Messages Not Sending/Receiving

  • Verify the Phone Number ID is correct

  • Check Business Account ID

  • Ensure webhook subscriptions are active

  • Review WhatsApp Business API rate limits

Common Configuration Errors

"Invalid Access Token"

  • ✓ Verify token was copied completely

  • ✓ Check token permissions include all required scopes

  • ✓ Ensure system user has access to WhatsApp Business Account

  • ✓ Confirm token hasn't expired

"Phone Number ID Not Found"

  • ✓ Use the Phone Number ID, not the actual phone number

  • ✓ Ensure phone number is added to your Meta app

  • ✓ Verify phone number is verified in WhatsApp Business

"Webhook Verification Failed"

  • ✓ Verify token matches exactly between ChatLab and Meta

  • ✓ Check for extra spaces or hidden characters

  • ✓ Ensure webhook URL is configured in Meta

"Business Account Access Denied"

  • ✓ Confirm system user has access to the Business Account

  • ✓ Check Business Account ID is correct

  • ✓ Verify account permissions in Meta Business Settings

Important Notes

  • Rate Limits: WhatsApp Business API has rate limits (200 calls/hour by default, 5000 for active accounts)

  • Phone Number Verification: Your business phone number must be verified with WhatsApp

  • Template Messages: For outbound messages outside of 24-hour response window, you may need approved message templates

  • Security: Keep your access token and verify token secure and never share them publicly

Support

If you encounter issues during setup:

  1. Check the Meta WhatsApp Business API documentation

  2. Contact ChatLab support with:

  • Your Business Account ID
  • Error messages (without exposing tokens)
  • Steps you've already tried

Reviewed on 27 Nov