ACTION_ID: whatsapp_send_message
NAME: WhatsApp: Send Notifications
CATEGORY: Outreach
CREDITS: 0.8

Send a WhatsApp notification to a phone number using an approved
WhatsApp Cloud API message template.

PREREQUISITE: WhatsApp account connection — the user must create it in the Floqer
UI (Connections page, WhatsApp Cloud API setup); an agent cannot. Walkthrough:
https://scribehow.com/viewer/Add_a_New_WhatsApp_Connection_to_Floqer__IK4cyxN3SeWfPG0XRRFb3w
Without it the action fails the row with a connection / authentication error.

1. INPUTS

whatsapp_phone_number (dynamicDropdown, required)
  WhatsApp Phone Number. Phone number to send WhatsApp message to
  (with country code), e.g. +15556723456

message_template (dynamicDropdownWithPreview, optional)
  Message Template.

2. OUTPUTS

message_status (string) — Status of message sent

3. HOW TO CONFIGURE

Configure Action body:

{
  "inputs": {
    "whatsapp_phone_number": "{{person_enrich_by_floqer_01ab.phone_number}}",
    "message_template": "<approved template name>"
  }
}

Field-by-field:
  - whatsapp_phone_number  Destination number including country code
                           (`+15556723456`). Despite being a dropdown in
                           the builder, it accepts a `{{ref}}` so each
                           row can message a different number.
  - message_template       An approved WhatsApp Cloud API template. Free-
                           form text is not sendable outside an open
                           24-hour customer-service window.

4. KEY NOTES

- Neither `whatsapp_phone_number` nor `message_template` has a
  dynamic-options resolver yet — Get Action Field Options returns a 400.
  Take the template name from the WhatsApp Business Manager.
- WhatsApp only permits template messages to a number outside an open
  24-hour session. An unapproved or misspelled template name fails the
  row.
- Numbers must carry a country code. Normalise upstream with a
  `formula`; the action does not clean the input.
- This action bills 0.8 credits per message on top of whatever Meta
  charges the connected WhatsApp Business account.

5. WHERE IT FITS IN A WORKFLOW

Pattern: person_enrich_by_floqer -> filter (phone_number is not empty)
-> whatsapp_send_message. Terminal notification step.

6. WHEN TO USE

Use whatsapp_send_message for template-based WhatsApp notifications
driven by workflow rows — booking confirmations, alerts, opt-in
follow-ups.

7. WHEN NOT TO USE

Need an internal team notification
  -> action-detail/slack_send_message.txt

Need email outreach
  -> action-detail/instantly_add_to_campaign.txt

Last updated: 2026-08-03.