Prerequisites
Before starting, make sure you have:
A Meta Business Manager account
A Twilio account
A phone number for WhatsApp messaging
Step 1: Create or Verify a Meta Business Account
If you don’t already have a Meta Business account:
Create a Meta Business Manager account
Complete the business verification process
Note: This step is required to use WhatsApp Business.
Step 2: Create a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA)
Inside Meta Business Manager:
Go to Business Settings
Navigate to Accounts → WhatsApp Accounts
Click Create WhatsApp Business Account
This account will manage your WhatsApp messaging.
Step 3: Buy or Prepare a Phone Number in Twilio
You’ll need a phone number to send WhatsApp messages.
Options:
Buy a new number in Twilio
Use an existing number
Requirements:
The number must not already be registered with WhatsApp
The number must be able to receive SMS or voice verification
To purchase a number:
Log into the Twilio Console
Go to Phone Numbers
Purchase a new number
Step 4: Connect the Number to WhatsApp via Twilio
Inside Twilio:
Go to Messaging → WhatsApp
Start the WhatsApp sender onboarding
Connect your Meta Business account
Select your phone number
Complete the required setup steps
Twilio will guide you through connecting to Meta.
Step 5: Submit the Number for WhatsApp Approval
Once setup is complete:
Twilio will submit your number for approval
Approval time: a few minutes to a few hours
After approval, your number is ready to send WhatsApp messages via Twilio.
What to Prepare in Advance
To speed up the process, make sure you have:
A verified Meta Business Manager account
Completed business verification
A Twilio account
A phone number ready for WhatsApp use
Summary
Setting up WhatsApp in Alta involves three main components:
Meta Business Manager (for WABA)
Twilio (for messaging infrastructure)
A valid phone number (for sending messages)
Once connected and approved, you can start running WhatsApp messaging directly through Alta.