Last updated: 28 August 2026

WhatsApp Business

WhatsApp Business

Live
Auth: Access token · Plans: Starter, Business, Enterprise · Tools: 4 · Category: Collaboration

Read WhatsApp Business conversations, send messages, and use approved templates through your AI.

Who needs this: Customer support and sales teams using the WhatsApp Business API for customer communication.

Example questions once connected

  • What messages came in on WhatsApp today?
  • Send a payment confirmation to +254712345678
  • Show me all unread conversations
  • Send the order-shipped template to customer 0722123456

What you need before starting

  • An active WhatsApp Business API account, registered directly with Meta or through a BSP (Africa's Talking, Twilio, Bird)
  • Your Phone Number ID from Meta Business Manager or your BSP
  • Your WhatsApp Business Account ID
  • A permanent System User Access Token (not a short-lived test token)
⚠️

This connects to the WhatsApp Business API, not the regular WhatsApp Business app on your phone. If you use the regular app, you need to migrate first. Contact us for help.

Step-by-step setup

  1. Find your Phone Number ID. Log into business.facebook.comWhatsApp Manager → Phone Numbers. Click your number and copy the Phone Number ID.
  2. Find your Business Account ID. In Meta Business Manager → Business Settings → WhatsApp Accounts. Copy the ID shown under the account name.
  3. Create a System User token. In Meta Business Manager → System Users → Add. Assign your WhatsApp phone number as an asset, then click Generate New Token. Select whatsapp_business_messaging and whatsapp_business_management scopes. Copy the token, it does not expire.
  4. Connect in Msharti. Go to Connectors → WhatsApp Business → Set Up. Enter your Phone Number ID, Business Account ID, and Access Token. Click Test Connection.
  5. Confirm success. "Connected: 3 tools active" means you are done.

Tool reference

These are the tools the AI can call on this connector. Each tool fires automatically when you ask a relevant question.

send_message() Send a WhatsApp text message to a phone number.
Inputs to (phone number with country code), message_text
Try asking "Send "Your payment of KES 5,000 has been received" to +254712345678"
Returns Message sent to +254712345678. Message ID: wamid.HBgL... Status: Sent.
list_conversations() List recent WhatsApp conversations with last message and unread count.
Inputs optional: status (all, unread), limit
Try asking "Show me all unread WhatsApp conversations from today"
Returns 4 unread: +254711234567 (2 msgs, 10 min ago), +254722345678 (1 msg, 45 min ago), +254733456789 (3 msgs, 1 hr ago)...
send_template() Send a Meta-approved message template to a customer.
Inputs to, template_name, language_code, optional: template_variables
Try asking "Send the order_shipped template to +254722123456 with tracking code TRK-0441"
Returns Template "order_shipped" sent to +254722123456. Variable substituted: TRK-0441. Status: Delivered.

Limits

  • Connects to the WhatsApp Business API — not the regular WhatsApp Business app. Migration from the phone app requires contacting your BSP.
  • Meta access tokens expire every 60 days. Msharti sends a reminder 7 days before expiry with a one-click reconnect link.
  • Outbound messages to new customers require an approved template (marketing or utility category).
Need help? [email protected], Nairobi-based, same time zone.