Setting up WhatsApp for GymSales

Pre-Requisites for using WhatsApp for Business in GymSales

To integrate WhatsApp with GymSales, the following steps are required.

Step 1 – Get a WhatsApp Phone Number

You must have a WhatsApp phone number. The following phone number options can be used for WhatsApp in GymSales, but the steps and time required to complete setup will vary based on which option you select.

  • Option 1 – Buy a new number (Recommended): GymSales can purchase a new number (SIM) on your behalf to use for WhatsApp. This is our recommended option as it is the quickest method to setup, and no message history is lost.
    • The number must be accessible/usable on the onboarding call.
    • We will need to submit a payment method to keep on file to fund the number. Please note there is an additional cost to purchase and maintain the WhatsApp number. Pricing and rates for numbers vary by country. Your GymSales rep can walk you through available options and costs.
  • Option 2 – “Bring Your Own Number (BYON)”: You have your own number that is enabled with WhatsApp that you want to use in GymSales.

    If you want to use your existing WhatsApp number in GymSales we can enable this, with the following caveats:

    • You will no longer be able to use the number on your mobile devices (WhatsApp does not allow a number to be used on BOTH a mobile phone and a website/API).
    • You will lose access to your message history once we move the number. We will be moving the number to GymSales, but unfortunately are unable to move the conversations.
    • On the GymSales onboarding call, you will need to remove/disconnect the number from your mobile device. (How to delete).

Step 2 – Facebook Business Manager Account

If you already have a Facebook Business Manager account, there is no need to create another one. Make sure that you already have a personal Facebook Account to confirm your identity.

If you do not have a Facebook Business Manager account, use the following instructions to create one.

To create a Facebook Business Manager account:

  1. Go to https://business.facebook.com/overview.
  2. Click Create Account.
  3. Enter a name for your business, your name, and work email address, and then click Next.
  4. Enter your business Details and click Submit.

Step 3 – Business Verification on Facebook Business Manager

If your account is already verified, you're good to go!

WhatsApp requires all companies to submit Business Verification in their Facebook Business Manager account. This only has to be done once, but it is the longest part of the process. Average processing times by Facebook are 3-7 business days, but in some regions, this can take up to 4 weeks. Here's the process:

If you have not been business verified:

  1. Access the Business Settings page on Facebook Business Manager.
  2. Click Security Center.
  3. Click to Start the Business Verification process and complete Facebook's steps. For more information, refer to Facebook's help article.

Important! Please do NOT create a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) if you do not already have one; we will do this on the onboarding call.

If you already have a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) we will need to:

  • Create a new WABA on the onboarding call.
  • Migrate information if desired, with the help of our vendor partner Twilio.

Step 4 – Provide ABC Access to your Business Manager Account

Your ABC/GymSales Representative will need access to your Business Manager Account

On a meeting with your representative, you will need to have your credentials ready. We will ask you to login to your account in our Vendor Platform, Twilio.

Step 5 – Register your Number & Edit Sender

Your ABC Rep will be able to Register your number within Twilio (our vendor) then you will be able to edit your profile. You can add a Business Profile profile picture here as well.

Step 6 – Create WhatsApp Templates in GymSales

Before you create a WhatsApp Template in GymSales, please note the following.

  • You will create the WhatsApp Templates in GymSales in the Company Settings > Templates module. Then, your GymSales admin will need to submit these to Meta for approval via our messaging platform, Twilio.
  • The submission process takes about 5-10 minutes.
  • Meta will approve or reject template submissions in 48 hours or less, usually less.
  • WhatsApp Templates may have up to 1,024 characters.
  • WhatsApp allows a maximum of 250 message templates per account.

To create the Templates we will need:

  • The Template Name (for example, 'Thanks for your inquiry').
  • The Message Language (for example, Chinese (TAI ) ).

    Note: If you need the same template in different languages, we will need to know all languages.

  • The Message Body. The message body must be exactly as it appears in GymSales*. Please include all merge fields.

    *Please note that Templates must match exactly as they are in GymSales. If they do not match they will fail.

    **Anytime the Template name and/or content is updated in GymSales, you must notify your GymSales admin to make the changes and resubmit to Meta for approval. If this is skipped, the newly edited version of your Template will fail to be delivered as it is not yet approved by Meta.

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