Chat App Message Service:How to register as a Meta Tech Provider

1. What is a tech provider?

Tech Providers are technology integrators authorized by Meta. They can provide access services to enterprise customers through WhatsApp Cloud API. Also they can develop their own integration with the WhatsApp Business Platform to provide capabilities, such as sending and receiving messages for enterprise customers.

2. Applicable enterprises and advantages

2.1. Applicable enterprises

Applicable to the following:

• Independent software vendors

• Platform enterprises with self-built customer management systems

• Intermediary service providers in WhatsApp channels for multiple customers

• Enterprises that need to manage WhatsApp channels for multiple customers, but do not have sufficient technical resources

2.2. Advantages

• Directly serve end customers. When customers register through embedded signup, tech providers can directly manage their WABAs.

• After registration, enterprise logo can be displayed in the embedded signup page (non-tech providers display the Alibaba Cloud logo).

• Quick integration, reduced development costs, and shortened feature launch cycles by Chat App Message Service API.

3. Register as a tech provider

Enterprises with sufficient technical resources are recommended to start from this point.

3.1. Create a business portfolio

Make sure you have a business portfolio that contains correct business information, including address, website, email, and other business-related details.

If you don't have yet, please create a portfolio.

3.2. Register as a Meta developer

Use your Facebook account to visit the Meta Developer Platform and complete the developer registration process. This will convert your Facebook account to a Meta developer account.

After registration, create or manage applications in the developer platform dashboard.

3.3. Create a Meta application

Visit Meta's application creation page to create a new application:

1. In application details, fill in the Application Name and Contact Email, then click Continue.

2. In use case, select Other, then click Continue.

3. In application type selection, select Business, then click Continue.

4. In details, check the Application Name, Contact Email, and select your company's Business Portfolio from the dropdown menu.

5. Click Create Application.

3.4. Configure application details

Then, the page will automatically redirect to the application. Click App Settings > Basic, in the left navigation pane, and add the following:

• App Icon

  Supports JPG, GIF, or PNG format files, between 512×512 and 1024×1024 pixels. The file size cannot exceed 5MB.

• Privacy Policy URL

  The URL of your company's privacy policy. This link will be visible to customers.

• Category

  In the category dropdown menu, select Messaging.

• At the bottom of the page, click Add Platform, select the platform for application(for example, Website), and set relevant information according to different platforms.

• Click Save Changes.

3.5. Add WhatsApp product

Click Products > Add Product in the left navigation pane, find the WhatsApp application, and click the Set Up button.

Complete the setup process until the Quick Start panel appears.

3.6. Register as a tech provider

• In the Grow Your Business section, click the Get Started button and continue the process.

• Select Work with a Solution Partner.

3.7. Enterprise verification

Select Start Verification. It takes approximately 2-5 business days. If verification fails, resubmit based on the feedback provided by Meta. During the review period, check the verification status by visiting the Business Information Panel.

3.8. Create a partner solution

In the Quick Start > Registration Panel, find the App Review section and Create Partner Solution, click Create Partner Solution;

• Add a Solution Name;

• Enter Chat App's App ID: 324633502517598;

• Permission Configuration > Send Messages, select Partner Only;

  Important

  Chat App Message Service only accepts Partner Only solution requests. Make sure the option is correct, otherwise your partnership solution may be rejected.

• Click Send Request.

By there, the solution has been created and sent to Chat App Message Service. Please wait for acceptance. Once accepted, the solution status will change to Active. Copy the solution ID and add it to embedded signup configuration.

3.9. Prepare for application review

Application review is a necessary step to allow your application to access specific WhatsApp features. Meta's review team will review your submission and choose from approve it or request more information.

1. In the Quick Start > Onboarding panel, click the Review App Settings. In the interface, check if the application content is correct;

2. Record videos: As a part of the application review, provide two videos:

   1. First video: Show a process of creating a message, sending from your application, and receiving in a WhatsApp client (mobile app or web app).

   2. Second video: Show a process of creating a message template in your application.

3.10. Submit application for review

On the Quick Start > App Review > Request page, you can see an application review request. Click the Edit button to access the review process.

Explain how your application uses enterprise customer data and why you need advanced access privileges to obtain whatsapp_business_messaging and whatsapp_business_management.

When describing, attach the screen recordings or videos you created in the previous step:

• For whatsapp_business_messaging: Upload the first video.

• For whatsapp_business_management: Upload the second video.

Complete the process and submit the request. Review results will be notified via email, developer notifications. The status will be updated in the App Review > Request Panel.

3.11. Complete access verification

This process will collect basic information about your company. This is to verify whether it meets the standards for tech providers.

In the Quick Start > Onboarding panel, find the "Complete Access Verification" row and click Start Verification. Complete the process and submit for review.

3.12. Confirm status

After completing the above steps, the Quick Start > Onboarding panel will be displayed with green checkmarks, and congratulate you on becoming a tech provider.

4. Connect with enterprise customers

After confirmation, you can connect with enterprise customers. Customers need to complete embedded signup to authorize WhatsApp asset permissions.

4.1. Business Facebook Login configuration

Before connecting with customers, create a Business Facebook Login product and configure permissions to allow customers to log on with Facebook accounts.

1. Click Business Facebook Login > Configure, select Create Configuration;

2. Enter a Configuration Name in the Name field, click Next;

3. In Login Method, select WhatsApp Embedded Signup, click Next;

4. In Access Token, select 60 days, click Next;

5. In Select Assets, select WhatsApp Account, click Next;

6. In Permissions, select whatsapp_business_management, whatsapp_business_messaging;

7. Click the Create button, copy the Configuration Number.

4.2. Manage logon authorization

Open Business Facebook Login > Settings > Client OAuth Settings, set the following switches to Yes:

• OAuth Client Authorization Login

• OAuth Web Authorization Login

• Force HTTPS

• OAuth Embedded Browser Authorization Login

• Use Strict Mode for Redirect URIs

• Login with JavaScript SDK

Add your domain to Valid OAuth Redirect URIs and Domains Allowed to Use JavaScript SDK, then click Save Changes.

4.3. Add embedded signup to your website

1. Load Facebook JavaScript SDK

   The JavaScript version of Facebook SDK does not have other files to be downloaded or installed. Add a JavaScript to your HTML, it will load the SDK into your page.

   <script>
     window.fbAsyncInit = function() {
       FB.init({
         appId            : '<APP_ID>',
         autoLogAppEvents : true,
         xfbml            : true,
         version          : 'v23.0'
       });
     };
   </script>
   <script async defer crossorigin="anonymous"
     src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js">
   </script>

2. Configure embedded signup

   In the launch method and callback registration section of the embedded signup code, assign the solution ID to the solutionID property in the extras.setup object.

   // Launch method and callback registration
   const launchWhatsAppSignup = () => {
     FB.login(fbLoginCallback, {
       config_id: '<CONFIGURATION_ID>', // your configuration ID goes here, ensure it is in quotes
       response_type: 'code',
       override_default_response_type: true,
       extras: {
         setup: {
           solutionID: '<SOLUTION_ID>' // add solution ID here, ensure it is in quotes
         },
         featureType: '',
         sessionInfoVersion: '3',
       }
     };

After configuration, display a embedded signup flow to customers on your platform.

When your customers complete registration through your page, they can call relevant interfaces through the Chat App API.

5. Use CPaaS to quickly register as a tech provider

To quickly register as a tech provider using the CPaaS platform, activate the CPaaS platform first. You only need to complete 3.1. Create a business portfolio, 3.2. Register as a Meta developer, and 3.7. Enterprise verification. Then authorize Meta application permissions to us, we will handle the subsequent tech provider registration process for you. This including creating Meta applications, configuring application details, adding WhatsApp products, preparing application reviews, submitting application reviews, and completing access verification. You only need to provide necessary application materials.

Before authorizing us to register, contact your account manager or technical support to obtain the email address of the assisting personnel, and authorize the application in WhatsApp BM. The steps are:

• In WhatsApp BM, click Invite People in the upper right corner.

• In Add People, enter the Email address of the assisting personnel.

  

• In Assign access, open Apps and integrations under Partial access.

  

• In Assign business assets, click Select asset yype column and select Apps, then select the application you want to authorize in the Select asset column.

  

• Confirm the information in Check Invitation Information.

Next, our assisting personnel will handle the registration process for you. After the entire process is completed, you can develop customers through your embedded page in CPaaS. When your customers use embedded signup, your application icon will be displayed in the embedded page:

At the same time, your customers will see the permissions for you as a tech provider and for Alibaba Cloud in the embedded signup page:

6. Common questions and considerations

6.1. Why can't I find the WhatsApp application card?

Because Meta only allows access and addition of WhatsApp applications in some countries or regions. You need to operate in a network environment in somewhere WhatsApp can be used, or contact technical support to authorize our assisting colleagues to help.

6.2. How can I deal with customer WABAs created before?

After you obtain tech provider status, contact technical support to request migration of your customer WABAs. The migration is initiated by Chat App. After migration, your customers' contact email will receive a confirmation from Meta. They can confirm through the button or wait 90 days for automatic confirmation.

6.3. Why can't I pass Meta's Business Verification?

Meta requires enterprise entities to have real and verifiable business qualification. Ensure that the information is consistent with your business license and corporate email.

6.4. Why is my solution request still pending?

After submitting a solution application, you need to wait for ChatApp to confirm it. It generally takes 2-3 business days. If it has been held for a long time, contact technical support for feedback.

6.5. Why was my solution request rejected?

Chat App Message Service only accepts solution requests with permission configuration set to "Partner Only". If your solution is rejected, create a new solution and select "Partner Only". See 3.8. Create a partner solution.

7. References

• Become a tech provider

• Embedded signup

• How tech providers guide customers

• Application review tutorial

• Embedded related

• Template management

• Message sending