Creating a WhatsApp bot involves three key stages:
Setting up the WhatsApp integration: To set up a WhatsApp bot, you must first complete the WhatsApp app set up on Facebook. This includes creating your Meta (Facebook) account and app.
Setting up the chatbot agent (excluding widget): This involves preparing a Knowledge Base for your chatbot and creating an Assistant aka the brain of your chatbot.
Setting up the WhatsApp widget: Finally, you'll integrate the WhatsApp widget into your website or application to enable seamless interaction with users.
1. Setting up the WhatsApp integration
To begin with, you need to integrate your WhatsApp account with your AppointAI chatbot.
Go to the AppointAI dashboard. Navigate to Settings > Channels.
Under WhatsApp, click on Set up.
You will be asked to enter a couple of details such as the Phone Number ID, WhatsApp Access Token, Facebook Secret Code, etc. To generate these details, you need to create and configure your Meta (Facebook) Business Account and App.
Refer to this tutorial for detailed guidance on this step.
2. Setting up the chatbot agent (excluding the widget)
Every chatbot agent has three building blocks:
- The Knowledge Base
- The Assistant aka the brain of the chatbot
- The Widget, i.e. the interface the user interacts with
Please refer to this tutorial for a detailed guide on preparing a Knowledge Base and setting up the Assistant.
3. Setting up the WhatsApp widget
Finally, it's time to integrate the WhatsApp widget into your website or application to enable seamless interaction with users.
a. Navigate to AI Agents. Click on Add a Widget under the Widgets tab.
b. Choose the assistant you want to connect the widget to and give a name and description to your widget. Select the widget type as WhatsApp.
c. Enter your WhatsApp phone number and other account details gathered from Step 1 and hit “Submit.”
d. Once you have added a widget, you will see the AI agent details as shown below.
