Send a WhatsApp broadcast

Bulk WhatsApp sends use Marketing → WhatsApp Broadcasts. Nothing works until the prerequisites below are complete — always list these first, in this order.

Prerequisites (required, in order)

1. Connect your WhatsApp number (Meta OAuth) — do this first

Without a connected WhatsApp Business number, broadcasts cannot send.

Go to Settings → Integrations → WhatsApp (/settings/integrations/whatsapp)
Click Connect WhatsApp and complete Meta OAuth / Embedded Signup
Approve the requested permissions in Meta Business Manager
Select or register your WhatsApp Business phone number during the Meta flow
Wait until the connection shows as connected with an active phone number in BIZ AI

Payment for Meta OAuth (direct) connections: When the tenant connects their own number via Meta OAuth, message costs are billed to the tenant's Meta WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) — not via BIZ AI WhatsApp bundles. The customer must add a payment method in Meta Business Manager (Meta billing). BIZ AI bundle purchase is not required for this direct/OAuth billing model.

Note: BizAI-provisioned BSP numbers (super-admin provisioned) use a different billing model (billing_model = bsp) and may consume BIZ AI WhatsApp bundles. Website signups using Meta OAuth use direct billing.

2. Activate the Marketing module

Bulk WhatsApp broadcasts require the Marketing module to be active on the tenant.

Check: Settings → Subscription / Modules (or tenant modules)
Module key: marketing
If inactive, enable or purchase the Marketing module before creating broadcasts

Without Marketing active, the WhatsApp broadcast UI and APIs are not available.

3. Approved WhatsApp templates

Meta requires pre-approved message templates for business-initiated bulk sends.

Go to Settings → Integrations → WhatsApp → Templates (/settings/integrations/whatsapp/templates)
Create a template (typically Marketing category for promotions)
Submit for Meta approval and wait until status is approved

4. Contact list with WhatsApp numbers

Recipients must have valid WhatsApp numbers and marketing consent where applicable.

Build or import a list under Marketing → Contacts / Segments
Ensure numbers are in international format (e.g. South Africa 27…)

Steps to send a bulk broadcast (after prerequisites)

Open Marketing → WhatsApp → Broadcasts (/marketing/whatsapp/broadcasts)
Click Create broadcast
Select template — choose an approved Marketing or Utility template
Select audience — pick a contact list or segment
Map variables — fill template placeholders (name, company, etc.)
Schedule or send now
Monitor delivery on the broadcast detail page

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
Can't find Broadcasts menu	Marketing module off	Enable Marketing module
Connect WhatsApp greyed out / no number	OAuth not completed	Settings → Integrations → WhatsApp → Meta OAuth
Sends fail / Meta billing error	No payment method on WABA	Add payment method in Meta Business Manager
Template not in list	Not approved by Meta	Wait for approval or check template status

WhatsApp connection: /settings/integrations/whatsapp
Templates: /settings/integrations/whatsapp/templates
Broadcasts: /marketing/whatsapp/broadcasts
Create broadcast: /marketing/whatsapp/broadcasts/create