WhatsApp Business Tech Provider Programme

Become a WhatsApp Tech Provider and partner with Modica Group to offer WhatsApp messaging to your customers.

Tech Providers are businesses that provide WhatsApp messaging services to other businesses. As a Tech Provider, you can partner with a Meta Business Solution Provider (like Modica) who already offers these services, and who can extend their credit line to your customers.

As a WhatsApp Tech Provider, you will need to host:

The Embedded Signup flow for your clients to onboard onto WhatsApp Business
WhatsApp Message Templates if this is required
WhatsApp Inboxes if this is required

If you’re interested in partnering with Modica as a WhatsApp Tech Provider, contact your Modica Account Manager.

Tech Provider Onboarding Process

For WhatsApp Business API pricing, and to sign up as a WhatsApp Business Tech Provider contact your Account Manager. Our provisioning team will provision your Mobile Gateway WhatsApp Business API in our system

You will need to onboard as a Meta Tech Provider

You will need to connect to Modica as your Business Solution Provider

Our provisioning team will supply your WhatsApp gateway credentials and WhatsApp open api documentation.

You will now need to build your clients WhatsApp Embedded Signup Flow and complete Technical Integration with Metas’ API’s. This step can take between 1-3 months depending on your development capacity.

Own-Client Onboarding Process

To onboard your business customers, follow the steps below.

Your customers will follow your Embedded Signup flow and complete the following steps:

Create or select a Meta Business Portfolio
Create a WhatsApp Business Account (“WABA”) or select the existing one if onboarding an additional number
Add a business phone number and complete verification (2FA)

Our provisioning team will complete WhatsApp provisioning for your customer in Omni.

FAQ

1. What is the difference between a Business Solution Partner, a Tech Provider and a Tech Partner?

Answer: Companies must apply directly with Meta to become a Business Solutions Provider (BSP). This is a complex and lengthy process. BSP’s have credit lines which can be extended to Tech Provider customers, removing the need for them to make direct payment to Meta. The quickest and easiest way for a business to offer WhatsApp messaging services to their customers is by becoming a Tech Provider, which will require signing up with a Business Solutions Provider like Modica.

A Tech Partner is a Tech Provider who is, or is eligible to become a Meta Business Partner. Tech Providers who apply to become a Meta Business Partner and are approved are eligible to participate in the Meta Business Partner SMB Accelerator Program and can get listed in our partner directory.

For more information, visit Meta Docs here

2. Who is eligible to become a Tech Provider?

Answer: Tech Providers are businesses, typically Independent Solution Vendors (ISV’s) or SaaS companies that provide WhatsApp messaging services to other businesses. As a Tech Provider, you can do this by using Cloud API directly, or by partnering with a Solution Partner who already offers these services, and who can extend their credit line to your customers. Tech Providers signing up to Modica as their BSP will need to use their own WhatsApp Inbox and Message Template management solutions until the Omni WhatsApp Inboxes have Message Template API integrated and are ready for Public Review.

3. Can I see a Tech Provider Onboarding flow diagram?

Answer: Yes, Meta have published a legacy onboarding flow diagram here

4. How does pricing work?

Answer: Meta bill Modica, and our customers will be billed for any Meta and Modica fees associated with the use of WhatsApp, as per Modicas pricing table, or the customers WhatsApp Statement of Work. Meta does not allow direct billing of Meta fees to a Tech Provider.

5. How does a Tech Provider get support?

Answer: Once the Tech Provider has verified their Meta Business Manager and completed Access Verification, they will gain access to Meta's Direct Support forum. In addition, Modica will continue to support Tech Providers with any escalations to Meta.

6. What are the terms for a WhatsApp Tech Provider?

Answer: In addition to the Tech Provider terms in the WhatsApp Statement of Work, as part of the flow Meta will require the Tech Provider to agree to the Facebook Terms for WhatsApp Business and Meta Hosting Terms for Cloud API, as well as Meta's government and political use restrictions. Tech Providers will need to ensure their own, and their clients due diligence on the Meta's terms and policies.

7. Can a Tech Provider have customers using different Business Solutions Partners?

Answer: Yes, Tech Providers can have customers using different Business Solutions Partners however this will mean that they will be billed for Meta charges from each BSP.

8. Can a customer have the same WhatsApp business phone number registered against more than one BSP?

Answer: No, a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) can only be registered against one BSP. A customer would need to migrate their WABA and business phone number from one BSP to another by following the below processes: a) migrate business phone numbers from one BSP to another via embedded sign up, b) migrate WABA’s between BSP’s via embedded sign up, or c) migrate WABA’s between BSP’s via Meta Business Suite (Facebook)

9. What is the easiest way for a Tech Provider to troubleshoot WhatsApp Business messaging errors?

Answer: Tech Providers, once verified, can access Meta's Direct Support This provides access to Platform Bugs. If you enter the error code into the search field, it will populate all logged and resolved Meta Direct Support tickets against that error. Modica will also help support Tech Providers with Meta escalations.

10. How long does it take to be onboarded as a Tech Provider?

Answer: The timeframe will vary from a few weeks to several months depending on the preparedness of the Tech Provider, their resource capacity and their Messaging Platform. The process includes business verification, creating a Meta app, business verification, API integration and testing, and Technical Integration of Meta’s API’s whilst ensuring the WhatsApp messaging solution adheres to Meta's policies.

11. How many businesses can a Tech Provider sign up through the Tech Provider program?

Answer: Meta allows Tech Providers to onboard up to 200 new customers in a rolling 7-day window once Business Verification, App Review and Access Verification are complete. Only customers who are new to the WhatsApp Business Platform count against this limit. You can check your current limit in the WhatsApp Manager > Partner overview panel. Meta will notify you via email if you approach this limit.

12. Is the Embedded Sign Up feature available in languages other than English?

Answer: Meta's Embedded Signup flow is available in most languages supported by other Meta products. The localised flow is automatically set based on the language that the end client uses Facebook in. The user flow within the popup window is standardised by Meta and has been designed to work on both desktop and mobile web browsers. However, you may customize the user experience before and after the flow.

13. What is the difference between Facebook login and Facebook Login for Business?

Answer: Meta has two embedded login features, "Facebook Login" and "Facebook Login for Business". Facebook Login for Business is required for the Embedded Signup integration as it allows specifying the access token type, types of assets, and permissions your app needs. This removes the ability for Tech Providers to access information that's not necessary for WhatsApp. For more info, see Facebook Login for Business. If you only see the "Facebook Login" option on your left nav in your Meta app's homepage, then you will need to switch back to Facebook Login for Business.

14. Can a Tech Provider onboard via the Embedded Sign Up process using a test business?

Answer: No, Meta’s policies and onboarding requirement of Business Verification means that the business registering the WABA’s and business phone numbers must be an official and verifiable business. Although the embedded sign up flow may work initially, if the business is not verified, Meta will likely disable the account shortly following sign up. We strongly recommend all Tech Providers only onboard verified businesses to avoid this.

15. Is there a test environment available to Tech Providers once they are officially onboarded?

Answer: Yes, there is a WhatsApp Business API sandbox environment specifically for Tech Providers to test and develop their integrations with the WhatsApp Business Platform. See ‘Sandbox accounts’ under Meta Developer Docs here

16. What are some things I can do to speed up the Meta app approval process?

Answer: 1) Do not use any Meta logos or trademarks on your Meta app icon (e.g. "WA", "WhatsApp"). Learn more in the Meta's App Review - Best Practices Guide 2) Ensure you Privacy Policy link is valid or accessible to users across a regions (i.e. "geofence"). 3) Ensure the "Facebook Login" button adheres to Meta's brand guidelines. See Meta's docs for additional tips.

Tech Provider Trial

If you’re looking to trial Modica’s WhatsApp solution before becoming a Tech Provider, you can sign up directly with us first. Direct WhatsApp onboarding will enable WhatsApp messaging for your business.

If you want to progress from the WhatsApp trial, you can sign up to Modica WhatsApp Tech Provider Program by contacting your Modica Account Manager.

Once you’ve signed up, you will need to follow the Tech Provider Onboarding process.