WhatsApp Settings

Overview#

This guide will walk you through the process of setting up WhatsApp for Business as a linked device using QR. WhatsApp integration allows you to communicate with your customers through their preferred messaging platform while managing everything through the QR interface. The setup process is straightforward but requires careful attention to specific requirements and settings.

Simplified Messaging Settings#

The messaging configuration has been simplified to a single ON/OFF toggle:

Connection Status Indicator#

A real-time status indicator shows your WhatsApp connection health:

• Green — WhatsApp is connected and ready
• Orange — WhatsApp is disconnected, messages will use SMS fallback (if enabled)

The indicator appears in both the messaging settings and when composing messages.

Channel Indicators#

Message history shows which channel was used for each message:

• WhatsApp icon — Sent via WhatsApp
• SMS icon — Sent via SMS
• WA→SMS badge — Intended for WhatsApp but sent via SMS fallback

Prerequisites#

WhatsApp Business Requirements#

• A dedicated WhatsApp Business number that’s separate from your personal WhatsApp account. This ensures clear separation between business and personal communications
• A main device running WhatsApp Business app - this will be your primary business account
• A properly configured business profile including your business name, description, and category
• The main device must be activated at least once every 30 days to maintain the connection. We strongly recommend using a dual SIM phone managed by your operations manager for this purpose

Configuration Steps#

1. Preparation#

• Contact the QR team to enable WhatsApp for your account.
• Consider your SMS fallback strategy - decide whether you want messages to automatically switch to SMS when WhatsApp isn’t available
• Ensure your WhatsApp Business account is properly verified and active

2. Linking QR Device#

• Navigate to QR Settings > WhatsApp
• Click on the connect button. You’ll see a unique QR code generated specifically for your account
• Open WhatsApp Business on your main device and scan the displayed QR code
• Give your linked device a meaningful name (e.g., “Quick Release”) - this helps identify the connection in your WhatsApp settings
• After scanning, wait for the confirmation message and verify that the connection is successful

Messaging Features#

Sending Messages#

• The system uses your existing SMS templates for consistency across channels
• When sending messages, you have two options:
  • Send via WhatsApp
  • Send via SMS (primary method)
• UP-links receive special treatment in WhatsApp - instead of showing as plain text, they appear as “Your personal balloon flight page” with proper formatting
• Any message you send through QR will also appear on your main WhatsApp Business device. This is normal and helps maintain message history or reply directly from your own smartphone.
• Messages are delivered instantly when recipients are online

Current Limitations:

• The system currently doesn’t support rich media content (images, audio, video, or location sharing)
• Messages sent directly from your WhatsApp Business phone won’t be visible in the QR interface

Receiving Messages#

• All incoming customer messages appear in your QR interface in real-time
• Text messages are clearly marked with the WhatsApp icon for easy identification
• When customers send unsupported message types (like images or voice messages), you’ll receive a notification explaining that the content type isn’t supported. Just verify the message on your smartphone.
• New messages generate notifications similar to the SMS system you’re familiar with
• Messages are threaded by conversation for easy tracking

SMS Fallback System#

• The system automatically checks if a recipient’s number is WhatsApp-enabled before sending
• If SMS fallback is enabled, messages will automatically switch to SMS delivery when:
  • The recipient’s number isn’t registered with WhatsApp
  • The WhatsApp message fails to deliver
  • The recipient’s WhatsApp account is inactive

Important Notes#

• Remember to keep your main WhatsApp Business device active - at least one activation every 30 days is required
• Any messages sent directly from your WhatsApp Business phone won’t sync back to QR - always use the QR interface for consistent communication
• While multimedia messages aren’t supported yet, this feature is on our development roadmap
• Keep your WhatsApp Business app updated on the main device to ensure proper functionality
• Regular system maintenance occurs during off-peak hours, but service interruptions are possible