Chat App Message Service:Best practices for product catalog templates

Prerequisites

Before you can send messages using a product catalog template, you must upload your product inventory to a catalog in Meta Commerce Manager and bind that catalog to your WhatsApp Business account (WABA).

Step 1: Upload product inventory to Meta

• If you have an existing product catalog, bind it to your WhatsApp Business account (WABA) to start sharing products.

• If you do not have a product catalog, create one first.

1. Create a product catalog

   1. Open Meta Commerce Manager.

   2. On the Assets page, click Add catalog.

      Select a catalog type and configure the catalog settings.

   3. Complete the setup.

2. Upload products

   1. Open Meta Commerce Manager.

   2. Select the catalog where you want to upload products.

   3. On the Catalog > Data sources page, click Add items in the upper-right corner.

   4. Choose a method to add your products.

Step 2: Bind a catalog to WABA

1. Log in to Meta Business Manager and select your business.

2. In the upper-left corner of the page, select WhatsApp Manager and click the account you want to bind.

3. In the navigation pane, select catalog.

4. On the catalog page, click Choose catalog.

5. From the drop-down menu, select the catalog you want to bind, and then click Bind catalog.

Step 3: Authorize Chat App Message Service

1. Log in to Meta Business Manager and select Business settings.

2. In the navigation pane, select Users > Partners.

3. From the partner list, select Alibaba Cloud Singapore. On the right, click Share assets.

4. In the dialog box, configure the asset information.

   • Select asset type: Select catalog.

   • Select assets: Select the product catalog that you want to authorize for Chat App Message Service.

   • catalog: Under full control, turn on the manage catalog toggle.

5. Click Save changes.

Step 4: Use a product catalog template

To use a product catalog template in the Chat App Message Service console, first synchronize and bind your catalog.

1. Synchronize and bind the product catalog:

   1. Log on to the Chat App Message Service console.

   2. In the left navigation pane, click Channel Management.

   3. On the Channel Management page, locate the WhatsApp channel you want to manage and click its Channel ID or Manage.

   4. In the navigation pane, select Catalog Management.

   5. On the Catalog Management page, click Synchronize Catalog. After synchronization, find the catalog in the list and click Bind.

   6. Once the catalog is bound, click Synchronize Products.

2. Create a product catalog template:

   1. In the navigation pane, select Template Design.

   2. On the Template Design page, click Create Template.

   3. Configure the template information: enter a template name, set Category to Marketing, turn on the Allow modify category switch, and select a template language.

   4. On the template settings page, select a format from the Template format drop-down list.

      Note

      The following template formats are supported: custom format, catalog message, and multi-product message.

      • Custom format: Use this format for general marketing templates. It does not support product catalog features.

      • Catalog message: Use this format for single-product catalog messages. You can edit the body and add a footer.

      • Multi-product message: Use this format to showcase multiple products. You can edit the header and body, and add a footer. To edit a section, click it in the preview area.

   5. Save the template and submit it for review. You can use the template after approval.

3. Send a product catalog template message:

   1. In the navigation pane, select Message Sending.

   2. Complete the following fields.

      • Language: Select the template language.

      • Send Message: Select the approved product catalog template.

      • Send Account: Select the sending account.

      • Send Type: Specify the sending method.

      • Product data is sourced from the items that you synchronized on the Catalog Management page.

        If the template format is a catalog message, you must set a cover product. In the form, configure the Sending language, Sending region code, Sending type, and Input method (you can select Template input or EXCEL upload). Click the Select product button next to cover product. In the Select product dialog box, choose a product from your catalog, upload your file, and click Submit.

        If the template format is a multi-product message, you must set the catalog and products. In the set catalog and products pop-up window, use the + Add cover product, + Add catalog, and + Add product links. When finished, click OK.

      • Import Method: Select an import method.

   3. Click Send.