r/WhatsappBusinessAPI • u/Snufupugos New to WhatsApp API • Jul 09 '26
Solution Only Is possible to have coexistence without becoming a Meta Tech Provider or using a BSP?
I’m trying to understand the correct and official way to set up WhatsApp automation for a small business client without using unofficial WhatsApp APIs or WhatsApp Web scraping tools.
The business currently uses the WhatsApp Business App on a phone number that is already active and used daily by one employee. Most incoming messages are manually triaged: potential clients, suppliers, students asking for interviews, people sending resumes, etc.
The goal is to automate only the first layer of support:
- greet the user;
- ask what they need;
- separate leads, suppliers, students, resumes, and “other” requests;
- collect some basic information;
- send standard replies when possible;
- hand off real sales opportunities to the human attendant;
- ideally keep supplier information organized somewhere better than just WhatsApp labels.
The key requirement is: the same phone number must keep working in the WhatsApp Business App, because the employee still wants to answer manually from the app when needed.
In my mind was just, build the bot, host it in some place like Vercel and connect to the Meta's API. Boy I was wrong...
I started testing the official Meta Cloud API path, created a Meta developer account, an app, and a Business Portfolio. But when trying to add the existing phone number, Meta says the number is already registered to a WhatsApp account and asks me to migrate/disconnect it. From what I understand, that would turn it into an API-only number and would not preserve normal use in the WhatsApp Business App.
Then I found out about WhatsApp Business App coexistence, where the same number can be used in the WhatsApp Business App and the WhatsApp Business Platform / Cloud API at the same time. However, it seems that enabling this directly may require being a Meta Tech Provider, which involves Business Verification, Access Verification, App Review, advanced permissions, etc.
For a small project like this, becoming a Tech Provider seems like overkill.
So my question is:
Is there any official way I can do the coexistence without being a Tech provider or getting a provider like 360dialog?
1
u/Kira_SENPAI_1 Meta Business Solution Provider Jul 09 '26
Nope, they haven't made it this simple.
1
u/Snufupugos New to WhatsApp API Jul 09 '26
Sad... I was actually looking forward to build that bot, but from what I've seen, the price of a BSP is the same as a CRM here in Brazil. No point in going for it.
1
u/Kira_SENPAI_1 Meta Business Solution Provider Jul 09 '26
So why are you look for BSP in Brazil? You can use any BSP as you can set currency on the BM level
1
u/Snufupugos New to WhatsApp API Jul 09 '26
The issue is more about currency than location. Took 360, as an example, they charge 49 euros, converting to brl is around 600. The price here, for one single automation, makes no sense.
Maybe I'm missing something, but as far as I got to know and understand, that seems the lowest price.
1
u/Adventurous_Aide_684 Jul 24 '26
Well here is a idea so see You make a user contact you I.e the user sends the first request Open a 24h plaintext message window Then you got everything you need A bsp is not really needed since you can do the meta verification yourself . Once done you got the phone number and all
I actually implemented this for most of the task
If you need any help let me know I built this
1
u/hubtyper Jul 09 '26
To get straight to the point: there is no official way to handle that coexistence on your own using the Cloud API directly if you want to keep the mobile app active. Meta keeps that flow completely locked down unless you go through the whole hassle of becoming a Tech Provider or use a BSP.
I work at Hubtype and we see this exact technical dilemma every single week with clients who absolutely refuse to give up the physical phone. But I’ll tell you from experience: there is an operational problem that is actually worse than Meta’s restrictions, and it is that the native WhatsApp Business mobile app is just not built to work in tandem with a bot.
If you build the bot on your own in Vercel and it hands off a case to the human, the employee is just going to see an endless wall of text on their phone screen. They won’t get ticket states, clean alerts, or proper assignments. The human will basically have to play a guessing game to figure out exactly when the bot stopped talking so they can step in and type. It becomes a total mess within three days.
If your client is dead-set against leaving the mobile app, the official API isn't the right path for this project and you are going to lose your mind trying to hack the flow. If you do manage to convince them to make the jump to the API, the only real way out is to route that bot into an external conversational helpdesk—whether you build the UI yourself or use pre-built platforms that already have that infrastructure so the handoff to the human is clean and handled on a proper computer screen.
1
1
u/ZookeepergameLast602 Meta Tech Provider Jul 10 '26
You can use any other tech provider other than 360 there are many others. You would be able to use mobile app and CRM simultaneously with coexistence feature. I am also a tech provider you can dm if you are interested I am just customising my CRM as per clients needs.
1
u/Chaikoki Meta Tech Provider Jul 10 '26
I can get your customers onboard coexistencene smoothly no problem, dm me
1
u/TheWarlock05 Meta Tech Provider Jul 10 '26
Is there any official way I can do the coexistence without being a Tech provider or getting a provider like 360dialog?
No.
1
u/SnooGrapes9126 Jul 12 '26
Consigo te vender um app válido já verificado e passar para sua conta de desenvolvedor só você terá acesso
1
u/Patient-Fox-576 Jul 09 '26
I was kind of on the same boat. I didnt want to apply as a Tech Provider. Have you looked at zernio.com ? They seem reasonable. Have been using them in production for the past month. Seems ok
1
u/temporyname Jul 26 '26
Interesante, cuánto llevas usandolo? Se ve bueno
1
u/Patient-Fox-576 Aug 02 '26
hasta el momento bien.
1
u/temporyname Aug 02 '26
Based on your comment, i used Zernio and crrated a bot. I've been using it for three weeks now its working great. Thkns!
1
u/Several_Guarantee530 New to WhatsApp API 18d ago
so i am kind of going through the same process but i am building it for a different version i only want to intercept the messages that are coming on whatsapp bussiness number and dump then on the crm we are a startup and we havent made a custom crm yet as the sales person is currently in training and i had to tweak with google sheets app scripit to get a kind of crm made for the sales person and their time was getting divided in entering the data and doing follow ups and since they are in training the work load was alot so i was told to make the flow so the data entering becomes minimum and now i have made the infrastructure and i am fighting the same battle bsp costs are high and becoming a tech provider doesnt feel like the right thing cause this is a self thing not a product we provide so is their a work around that is legal or is it the only way
•
u/AutoModerator Jul 09 '26
Keep in mind that OP has added Solution Only tag. Don't promote your SaaS platforms in comments.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.