WhatsApp Commerce Hub
Back to Hub Docs
Documentation / Integrations / Meta & WhatsApp Setup Guide

WhatsApp Commerce Hub: Meta & WhatsApp Cloud API Setup Guide

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to connect your Meta Business Portfolio, WhatsApp Business Account (WABA), Product Catalog, and System User Access Token with WhatsApp Commerce Hub.

Prerequisites & Direct Links Quick-Reference

Step Action Direct Link
1 Create Meta Business Portfolio Meta Business Suite
2 Create Meta Developer App Meta for Developers
3 Setup WABA & Verify Phone Meta App Dashboard
4 Create Product Catalog Meta Commerce Manager Catalogs
5 System User & Access Token Meta System Users Settings
6 Obtain Meta Catalog ID Meta Commerce Manager
7 Connect to Hub Dashboard Hub Dashboard Integrations

Account Prerequisites Checklist

  • Personal Facebook account
  • Official business email address
  • Active business website URL
  • Clean phone number (not currently registered on WhatsApp)
  • Business details & catalog inventory list
1

1. Create Meta Business Portfolio

NOTE:

A Meta Business Portfolio (formerly Meta Business Manager) is the central container for all your business assets, phone numbers, developer apps, and product catalogs.

  1. Open Meta Business Suite.
  2. Click the top-left business dropdown menu → Create a Business Portfolio.
  3. Enter your Business Name, Your Name, and Business Email Address, then click Create.
  4. Check your email inbox and click Confirm Now to verify your business email address.
2

2. Create Meta Developer App

  1. Go to Meta for Developers Dashboard → My Apps → Create App.
  2. Select Business as the app type and select your Meta Business Portfolio.
  3. On the App Products dashboard, locate WhatsApp and click Set Up.
  4. Go to WhatsApp → Configuration to set up Webhooks:
    • Callback URL: https://api.whatsappcommercehub.com/webhooks/whatsapp (or your local ngrok/tunnel domain)
    • Verify Token: whatsapp-verify-token
  5. Under Webhook Fields, click Manage and subscribe to messages.
Webhook Configuration Parameters:
Callback URL: https://api.whatsappcommercehub.com/webhooks/whatsapp
Verify Token: whatsapp-verify-token
3

3. Setup WABA & Verify Phone Number

  1. Go to Meta App Dashboard. Inside your Developer App dashboard, navigate to WhatsApp → API Setup.
  2. Scroll to Step 5: Add a Phone Number and click Add Phone Number.
  3. Enter your WhatsApp Business Display Name and Business Phone Number.
  4. Select verification method: Text Message (SMS) or Voice Call.
  5. Enter the 6-digit OTP code sent to your phone to complete verification.
  6. Copy down your numeric Phone Number ID and WhatsApp Business Account ID displayed on the page.
4

4. Create Product Catalog & Connect to WhatsApp

REQUIREMENTS FOR NATIVE WHATSAPP CATALOG & PRODUCT DISPLAY:
  • Linked Catalog Ownership: Inside Meta Commerce Manager, connect your Catalog to your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA).
  • Valid Inventory Items: Products must have a title, image URL, price, availability status, and non-empty description.
  • Access Token Scopes: Your System User Access Token must include catalog_management and whatsapp_business_messaging.
  • No Facebook Page Required: You do NOT need a Facebook Page to show catalog menus or send Multi-Product Messages (MPM) in WhatsApp chat!
  1. Open Meta Business Settings — Catalogs.
  2. Go to Business Assets → Catalogs → Click Add Catalog.
  3. Select catalog type E-commerce and method Upload Product Info.
  4. Assign catalog ownership to your Business Portfolio and enter a name for your catalog (e.g., WhatsApp Commerce Catalog).
  5. In Commerce Manager settings, navigate to WhatsApp Integration and connect your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA).
5

5. System User & Access Token

WARNING:

Do not use temporary developer access tokens in production, as they expire after 24 hours. Always generate a permanent System User token.

  1. Open Meta Business Settings — System Users.
  2. Click Add → Set user role to Admin System User → Click Create System User.
  3. Click Assign Assets:
    • Under Apps: Assign your Developer App with Full Control.
    • Under WhatsApp Business Accounts: Assign your WABA with Full Control.
    • Under Catalogs: Assign your Product Catalog with Full Control.
  4. Click Generate New Token:
    • Select your Developer App.
    • Set token expiration to Never.
    • Select required permission scopes listed below:
  5. Click Generate Token and immediately copy and securely save the token.
Required Permission Scopes:
catalog_management, whatsapp_business_management, whatsapp_business_messaging
6

6. Obtain Meta Catalog ID

  1. Open Meta Commerce Manager.
  2. Select your catalog from the catalog selector dropdown.
  3. In the left sidebar, navigate to Settings → Catalog Info.
  4. Copy your 15 or 16-digit Catalog ID.
7

7. Connect to Hub Dashboard & Test Connection

  1. Open your WhatsApp Commerce Hub Administrative Panel at http://localhost:3000/dashboard/integrations (or your live app URL).
  2. Navigate to Integrations → Meta / WhatsApp Cloud API.
  3. Fill in the integration fields:
    • WhatsApp Business Account ID (WABA ID)
    • Phone Number ID
    • Meta Catalog ID
    • System User Permanent Access Token
  4. Click Test Catalog Connection & Test WhatsApp Connection.
  5. Once verified, click Save Configuration.
Return to Integrations Hub