WhatsApp Integration with Odoo: Complete Configuration Guide

Want to leverage whatsapp integration odoo for your business communications through Odoo? This comprehensive guide walks you through configuring WhatsApp in Odoo to improve customer engagement and streamline your business processes. With over 2.5 billion monthly active WhatsApp users worldwide, integrating this powerful messaging platform with your Odoo system offers tremendous benefits for centralizing communications, enhancing responsiveness, and automating key customer interactions.

Why Integrate WhatsApp with Odoo?

Integrating WhatsApp with Odoo provides several significant advantages for your business:

• Centralized Communication: All customer exchanges are grouped within Odoo, eliminating the need to switch between applications.
• Enhanced Responsiveness: WhatsApp enables real-time exchanges that improve customer experience and satisfaction.
• Automation Capabilities: Through templates and workflows, you can automate tasks like order confirmations, payment reminders, and event tickets.

Let’s dive into the technical configuration to get your WhatsApp integration up and running.

Technical Configuration Steps

The whatsapp integration odoo process consists of three main parts:

1. Creating Meta accounts (Business and Developer accounts)
2. Connecting these accounts in Odoo
3. Setting up templates and automations

Step 1: Creating Meta Accounts

First, you need to create two types of accounts on Meta:

Creating a Developer Account

1. Go to Meta for Developers
2. Click on “Get Started” or “Sign Up”
3. Enter your country and phone number
4. Choose “Developer” as your role
5. Complete the registration process

Creating a Business Account

1. Go to Facebook Business Suite
2. Click “Create Account”
3. Fill in your business details
4. Complete the registration process

Step 2: Creating a WhatsApp Application

Now that you have your accounts set up, you need to create a WhatsApp application:

1. In your Developer account, navigate to “My Apps”
2. Click “Create App”
3. Select “Business” as the app type
4. Enter your app name
5. Choose “WhatsApp” as the product to add to your app
6. Complete the setup

Step 3: Generate Access Token

You’ll need an access token to connect your WhatsApp application with Odoo:

1. In your WhatsApp application settings, navigate to the “WhatsApp” section
2. Look for “Access Tokens”
3. Click “Generate Token”
4. Choose the token expiration period (60 days or never expire)
5. Select the necessary permissions: “WhatsApp Business Management” and “WhatsApp Business Messages”
6. Generate and save the token somewhere secure

Important note: By default, access tokens expire after 24 hours. For production use, create a permanent token with a 60-day expiration or no expiration at all.

Step 4: Configuring WhatsApp in Odoo

Now it’s time to connect your WhatsApp application to Odoo:

1. Log in to your Odoo database
2. Go to Settings > General Settings
3. Find the “WhatsApp Business Account” section
4. Fill in the following details from your Meta accounts:
   • Application ID
   • Phone Number ID
   • Access Token
   • WhatsApp Business Account ID
   • API Version (usually “v16.0”)
5. Click “Save” and “Test Credentials”

If everything is configured correctly, you should see a success message.

Step 5: Setting Up Webhook for Two-Way Communication

To receive messages from customers, you need to set up a webhook:

1. In your Odoo configuration, find the “Webhook URL” and “Verify Token”
2. Copy these values
3. Go to your WhatsApp application in Meta
4. Navigate to “WhatsApp > Configuration”
5. Find the “Webhooks” section
6. Paste the Webhook URL and Verify Token from Odoo
7. Select the following fields for subscription:
   • messages
   • message_status_updates
   • account_update
   • template_update

Step 6: Creating WhatsApp Templates

WhatsApp templates allow you to send structured messages to your customers:

1. In Odoo, go to the WhatsApp application
2. Click on “Templates”
3. Click “Create” to make a new template
4. Configure the template:
   • Name: Give your template a unique name
   • Category: Choose from Utility, Marketing, etc.
   • Language: Select the language for your template
   • Header Type: Text, Image, Document, or Video
   • Body: Enter the message text with variables using {{1}}, {{2}}, etc.
5. Submit the template for approval

Note: Meta reviews all templates before they can be used. Approval typically takes up to 24 hours.

Using WhatsApp in Various Odoo Applications

Once your whatsapp integration odoo is set up, you can use WhatsApp across different Odoo modules:

WhatsApp in Point of Sale (POS)

To send receipts via WhatsApp after a purchase:

1. Go to POS Settings
2. Under “Invoicing & Receipt”, enable WhatsApp option
3. Select the template to use (e.g., “POS Receipt”)
4. Save settings

Now, after completing a sale, you’ll have the option to send the receipt via WhatsApp.

WhatsApp in CRM

For lead nurturing and communication:

1. Open a contact in CRM
2. Click on the “Discussions” tab
3. Use the WhatsApp button to send a message
4. Select a template or type a custom message

WhatsApp in Sales

For order confirmations and updates:

1. Open a sales order
2. Click on the “Send by WhatsApp” option
3. Select the appropriate template
4. The customer will receive the order details via WhatsApp

WhatsApp in Accounting

For invoice reminders and payment confirmations:

1. Open an invoice
2. Click on “Action” > “Send by WhatsApp”
3. Select the invoice template
4. The invoice will be sent as a document via WhatsApp

Automating WhatsApp Messages with Workflows

One of the most powerful features of WhatsApp integration is the ability to automate messages based on triggers:

1. Go to the “Marketing Automation” application
2. Click “Create” to make a new campaign
3. Select the target model (e.g., “Sale Order”)
4. Add a filter (e.g., “Status = Purchase Order”)
5. Click “Add Activity” and select “WhatsApp Message”
6. Choose the template to send
7. Configure timing (e.g., immediately, after 1 day)
8. Save and activate the campaign

This will automatically send WhatsApp messages when orders reach the purchase order status.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Message Not Sending

If your messages aren’t being delivered, check:

1. Token Expiration: Access tokens expire after 24 hours by default. Generate a permanent token.
2. API Limits: Check if you’ve reached your daily limit of messages.
3. Template Status: Ensure your template is approved by Meta.

Not Receiving Customer Replies

If you’re not seeing customer responses in Odoo:

1. Webhook Configuration: Verify your webhook URL and token are correctly set up.
2. Field Subscriptions: Make sure you’ve subscribed to the “messages” field.
3. Permissions: Check that your app has the necessary permissions enabled.

To diagnose message errors, go to the WhatsApp application in Odoo and look for the “Messages” menu, where you can find failed messages with error codes and explanations.

Authentication Issues

If you encounter authentication problems:

1. Generate a new access token
2. Update the token in your Odoo configuration
3. Test the credentials again

Best Practices for WhatsApp Business Integration

To maximize the effectiveness of your WhatsApp integration:

• Personalize Messages: Use variables in templates to include customer names and order information.
• Respect Timing: Send messages during business hours in the customer’s time zone.
• Keep It Concise: WhatsApp messages should be brief and to the point.
• Use Rich Media: Include images, PDFs, or videos when relevant.
• Follow Up Promptly: Respond to customer queries within 24 hours to maintain the conversation context.

Limits and Considerations

Keep in mind these important limitations:

• Message Windows: Customer conversations expire after 24 hours if there’s no response.
• Template Approvals: All templates must be reviewed and approved by Meta before use.
• Business Verification: For full functionality, your business account may need verification.
• Phone Number Requirements: You must use a dedicated business phone number that hasn’t been used with WhatsApp before.

Measuring WhatsApp Effectiveness

Track the performance of your WhatsApp communications:

1. Go to the WhatsApp app in Odoo
2. Check the “Statistics” section
3. Monitor metrics like:
   • Message delivery rates
   • Response rates
   • Conversion from messages to sales
   • Customer satisfaction via surveys

Conclusion

whatsapp integration odoo creates a powerful communication channel that centralizes customer interactions, enhances responsiveness, and enables automation of key business processes. By following this configuration guide, you can set up a robust WhatsApp Business integration that helps improve customer engagement and streamline operations.

Remember that while the initial setup may seem technical, the benefits of having WhatsApp integrated directly into your business system far outweigh the configuration effort. With over 2.5 billion WhatsApp users worldwide, tapping into this communication channel offers tremendous potential for business growth.

For more information about WhatsApp Business integration, check out the official WhatsApp Business API documentation.

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FAQs About WhatsApp Integration with Odoo

Is WhatsApp Business integration free?

The basic integration is free, but message limits vary by country. Unverified accounts can send 250 template messages per day, while verified business accounts can send up to 1,000 messages daily.

Can I use my existing WhatsApp number for business integration?

No, you need a dedicated phone number that hasn’t been used with WhatsApp before. If you want to use your current number, you’ll need to delete your personal WhatsApp account first.

How many WhatsApp numbers can I connect to one Odoo database?

You can connect multiple WhatsApp numbers to a single Odoo database. However, each number requires its own Meta application with a unique Application ID.

How long does template approval take?

Template approval typically takes up to 24 hours, depending on the content and compliance with WhatsApp’s guidelines.

Can I send mass messages to multiple customers?

Yes, with marketing automation campaigns, you can send messages to multiple customers based on defined criteria. Make sure to enable the “multi” option when creating your WhatsApp template.