Migrate your numbers to WhatsApp Business

August 29, 2024

Requirements:

  • A paid Kommo account (Base, Advanced, or Enterprise plan) or be within 14 days of an active trial.
  • A personal Facebook account.
  • A dedicated phone number with country and area code (short codes are not supported) that is able to receive voice calls or SMS.
  • To migrate a number previously used in WhatsApp Business API:

- The Meta Business must be verified.

- The WhatsApp Business Account must have an approved status.

- The existing WhatsApp Business Account must have a valid payment method attached.

- Two-step verification must be disabled (you can disable it in WhatsApp Manager or ask their provider for assistance).

Limitations:

  • Once the number is connected to WhatsApp Business, it can’t be used with other WhatsApp applications or in other Kommo accounts. If you want to remove it later, you’ll need to first delete the number from your Meta WhatsApp Manager account.
  • This migration guide does not apply to numbers that are already active in the WhatsApp Business app. To use the same number in both the WhatsApp Business app and the WhatsApp Business, please refer to this article.
  • Unverified Facebook Business profiles can have up to 2 phone numbers. It can be increased if you verify your profile or open 1,000 or more business-initiated conversations in a 30-day moving period using templates with a high-quality rating.
  • Verified Facebook Business profiles can only manage up to 20 numbers by default (with the option to request more), while a single integration in Kommo supports up to 50 numbers.

What is number migration in WhatsApp?

Number migration is the process of transferring your existing WhatsApp number from one provider to another, or from a different Kommo integration. For example, you might want to move your number from WhatsApp for Business (WABA) to the WhatsApp Cloud API.

During the migration process, your number is transferred from the WhatsApp Business Account associated with your current provider to the WhatsApp Business Account associated with Kommo.

To use a number that was linked to another integration or provider, you must migrate it. There are two types of number migration:

Automatic migration

Automatic migration allows Meta to transfer your number to the WhatsApp account linked to Kommo without any action needed on your part. Your number will be automatically disconnected from the previous provider's account, and you'll receive a notification about the migration during the connection process.

After setting up in Meta, you only need to set up a payment method for the new WhatsApp account in Meta Business Suite. If the account doesn't have a payment method set, you will encounter an error.

Criteria for automatic migration

To qualify for automatic migration from Meta, you must meet the following criteria:

  1. The Meta Business Account must have a verified status.
  2. The existing WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) must have an ‘Approved’ status.
  3. The existing WABA must have a valid payment method attached in the Payment Settings.
  4. Two-step verification must be disabled for the phone number. You can disable it using WhatsApp Manager or ask your solution provider for assistance.

What data will be migrated?

When you migrate, the following data will be transferred:

  1. Display name
  2. Quality ratings
  3. Template messaging limits
  4. Official Business Account status
  5. Approved, high-quality templates

Note: After completing the auto migration process in the Facebook modals, you need to set up a payment method for your new WhatsApp account in Meta Business Suite. If a payment method isn’t set, you’ll encounter an error when trying to connect your WhatsApp number to Kommo. For detailed instructions on how to set up a payment method, refer to Meta’s guide on payment setup.

Manual migration

If you don't meet the criteria for automatic migration, you will need to manually migrate your phone number. Here’s how:

  1. Delete it from your previous provider: Before starting the connection process to WACA, the phone number must be deleted from the WhatsApp account associated with the previous provider in Meta WhatsApp Manager. Contact your current provider’s support team for assistance.
  2. Self-deletion: If you want to speed up the process, you can delete your number yourself in Meta WhatsApp Manager. However, we recommend informing your current provider's support team so they can remove the number from their system as well.

Note: You cannot delete a number if it has sent paid messages in the last 30 days due to Meta regulations.

If you’re using WhatsApp Business API integration, our support team can help you disconnect your number from Gupshup and delete it from Meta. Simply go to your Kommo account > Chats > Mentions & Team Chats > and click on Chat with Support.

Template migration

This process allows you to continue using the templates you previously created within other WA solutions / Kommo.

1. Template migration in case of automatic number migration by Meta

Meta will automatically duplicate your existing templates in the Meta WhatsApp Manager for the connected WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) when a number is reconnected. These duplicated templates will retain the same quality ratings and statuses as the original versions. For more information, read the Meta article on auto migration.

Limitations:

  • Only templates with both an Approved status and a Green (high-quality) quality score are eligible for migration.
  • The quality ratings of the templates will not be migrated. All migrated templates will start with an unknown rating, which will persist for the first 24 hours. After that period, a new rating will be generated if there is sufficient data.

2. Template migration in case of manual number migration

If you are performing a manual migration, Meta will not automatically transfer the templates. Instead, Kommo will handle the migration for you. When Kommo sends your stored templates to Meta, they will appear in Meta's WhatsApp Manager for the connected WABA.

Since these templates are new to Meta, they need to be reviewed by Meta. This review process can take some time, so there might be a delay before you can use these templates again. During the review, the template's status in the Chat templates table will change from Approved to In-review. If you try to send a template while it is still under review, you will receive an error message, and the message won’t be sent.

After the review is complete, the template should return to Approved status. However, there is a small chance that it could be Rejected. If a template gets rejected, you will need to edit it and submit it for review again. Attempting to send a rejected template will also generate an error message, and the message will not be sent.

Migrating to WhatsApp Business

You can migrate your phone number to WhatsApp Business in different ways:

  • Migrating a number previously used in WhatsApp Lite with the regular WhatsApp app
  • Migrating a number previously used in WhatsApp Lite with the WhatsApp Business app
  • Migrating a number previously used in WhatsApp Business API

A. Migrating a number previously used in WhatsApp Lite with the regular WhatsApp app

  1. Go to WhatsApp on your left menu bar > Connect.

  1. You will see the phone number previously used in your WhatsApp Lite, click Migrate.

  1. You must delete your personal WhatsApp account and back up your data. Check out this Meta article for instructions. After the account is deleted, сlick Continue with Facebook.

  1. Choose a WhatsApp Business account, then select Create a new WhatsApp Business Portfolio and click Next.

  1. Fill in the required information for your new WhatsApp Business profile and click Next.

  1. Select Add a new number, enter your phone number, and choose a verification method (text message or phone call). Click Next.

  1. Enter the verification code you received and click Next. Review Kommo’s access request and click Continue.

  1. Click Finish.

  1. You’ll be redirected back to Kommo.
  • If you already have Kommo templates (previously used in WA Lite), you’ll see a window where you can finalize the integration setup by selecting which templates you want to submit to Meta for approval. Click on the blue area showing the number of templates — this will open a modal window where you can select the templates to transfer.

Once you are done selecting the templates, click Confirm.

Then click Continue.

  • If you don’t have a template, you’ll be shown a different model. You can create a new template later in Kommo. Click Finish.

  1. A pop-up will confirm that your number has been successfully connected.

  1. A message about merging will then appear on your WhatsApp Business widget. Once the merging is done, it will disappear. The process will take around 10-15 minutes, and you'll see the status next to your phone number. You will be notified when the process is finished.

  1. The status will then be changed to Connected.

B. Migrating a number previously used in WhatsApp Lite with the WhatsApp Business app

  1. Go to WhatsApp on your left menu bar > Connect.

  1. You will see the phone number previously used in your WhatsApp Lite, click Migrate.

  1. Click Continue withFacebook.

Note: During the Facebook connection, there may be a short delay in incoming messages. We recommend doing this during low activity.

  1. Log in with your Facebook account and click Get Started.

  1. Choose your existing Business portfolio. Click Next.

  1. Select Connect your existing WhatsApp Business App, and then click Next.

  1. Insert your phone number, and click Next.

  1. Confirm your WhatsApp Business Account. Click Next.

  1. A QR Code message will appear. Open the WhatsApp Business App on your phone and then tap the Scan QR Code in the app.

  1. Choose whether to share chat history with WhatsApp Business. If you choose Share chats your chat history and contacts will be imported into Kommo and can be viewed there.

  1. Review Kommo’s access request and click Continue.

  1. In your WhatsApp Business App, you can now see that the number has been connected to WhatsApp Business.

  1. Click Finish.

  1. You’ll be redirected back to Kommo.
  • If you already have Kommo templates (previously used in WA Lite), you’ll see a window where you can finalize the integration setup by selecting which templates you want to submit to Meta for approval. Click on the blue area showing the number of templates — this will open a modal window where you can select the templates to transfer.

Once you are done, click Confirm.

Once you’ve made your selection, click Continue

  • If you don’t have a template, you’ll be shown a different model. You can create a new template later in Kommo. Click Finish.

  1. A pop-up will confirm that your number has been successfully connected.

  1. A message about merging will then appear on your WhatsApp Business widget. Once the merging is done, it will disappear. The process will take around 10-15 minutes, and you'll see the status next to your phone number. You will be notified when the process is finished.

  1. The status will then be changed to Connected.

C. Migrating a number previously used in WhatsApp Business API

This applies to numbers previously connected via the WhatsApp Business API integration.

Note: If you still have a remaining balance on your WABA, you can request a refund by contacting our support team.

  1. Go to WhatsApp on your left menu bar > Connect.
  2. Select Use another phone number.

  1. Click Continue with Facebook.

Note: During the Facebook connection, there may be a short delay in incoming messages. We recommend doing this during low activity.

  1. Log in with your Facebook account and click Get Started.

  1. Choose your existing Business portfolio. Click Next.

  1. Select Start a new WhatsApp phone number, and then click Next.

  1. Insert your phone number, and click Next.

  1. Enter the verification code you received and click Next. Review Kommo’s access request and click Continue.

  1. Click Finish.

  1. You’ll be redirected back to Kommo and if you have any templates from the WhatsApp Business API, they will be automatically migrated. Click Finish.

  1. A pop-up will confirm that your number has been successfully connected.

If you need more help with setup or troubleshooting, feel free to reach out to our support chat or contact us via WhatsApp. You can also hire a Kommo partner to do all the hard work for you.

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