How are things going with whatsapp bot creation in 2021?

Question

whatsapp

You need to create a WhatsApp bot and integrate with Bitrix24. I read a lot of articles about it, and it's not completely clear. WhatsApp has opened the API for third party developers or not. If not, what are some tips on how to create a bot?

Answer 1

Yes, WhatsApp now has an official API for integrations. But only for businesses (IP is also possible), plus direct access to the API is given only to aggregator partners, the rest should use the API of these companies. There are only two WA direct partners in Russia, but nothing prevents you from choosing any foreign aggregators to your liking or second-order partners. By prices, by the availability of ready-made integrations and all that. For example, jivosite supports integration with WhatsApp, but is not a WhatsApp partner itself and offers to register a business account through two other providers.
It usually costs as a subscription fee (including a certain number of MAU - Montly Active Users) plus a fee for each notification-notification, although some providers offer other payment models. Let me explain: in WhatsApp you can send two types of messages. Firstly, you can send notification messages that match the registered templates (advertising is prohibited, only service traffic), they are paid. Secondly, if the user himself wrote a message (on his own initiative or in response), then a 24-hour window opens, within which you can send any messages, even those that do not satisfy the template, and they will be free (but each communication with the user consumes the limit MAU). 24 hours are counted from the last message from the user - it is assumed that the user needs to be supported on his request within a day.
To register in this, you need to create and verify a business account in WhatsApp, delegating the rights to manage it to the right partner. Given the moderation process, the connection can easily take 2-3 weeks.
If a provider offers a penny payment with no monthly fees and no limits on the number and content of messages, plus a "one day" connection (without Facebook moderation), then these are all illegal APIs based on the imitation of WhatsApp Web. Using them is risky, as you can get a ban with the need to change the number.

Answer 2

in my opinion everything is very intelligible
https://www.facebook.com/business/m/whatsapp/busin...

Answer 3

I’ll put in my 5 kopecks, there was an acquaintance who was banned with the official API, well, he’s to blame, because he violated the conditions for sending messages, the only difference is that he was quickly unbanned while keeping the number and said “At-ta-ta”.
My opinion is that you just need to figure out why you need the WhatsApp API. If you already have a serious business and some “status” is important to you, but you should get confused about the official API, if you are just trying and want to develop in this in the future, then you can start with gray APIs, and then switch to the official one. It will come out cheaper, but there are risks, yes.
By the way, now many gray APIs become official of the second order, as mentioned above, and you can start by solving them, and then get the official API through them. It's cool, because even though both the official API and the business API may have different documentation, but, as a rule, dudes try to make the transition from one to another smoother.
Here are the bot guides on which I wrote mine: https://chat-api.com/ru/whatsapp-bot-java.html , https://chat-api.com/ru/whatsapp-bot-python.html , https ://chat-api.com/ru/whatsapp-bot-php.html
well, the most important point, sometimes they refuse to work with the official API not because of the price or complicated registration / bureaucracy, but simply because of restrictions, such as a 24-hour window that is not suitable for business, for the same integration.