WhatsApp Integration
for AI Agents
Your customers already live on WhatsApp. We connect AI agents to the WhatsApp Business API so enquiries get answered in seconds, not hours — with full media, templates and session handling.
What Is WhatsApp Integration?
It links your business number to AI agents through the official Meta Cloud API. Instead of a phone sitting on a desk, messages flow through webhooks to n8n workflows, then to your agent and CRM. The agent reads the incoming text, image or document, decides the next step, and replies inside the same chat. Every WhatsApp integration we ship in Nigeria is built this way — official API only, no grey-market clones that risk a ban.
Why it matters here: WhatsApp is the default channel for commerce in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Data from Meta shows 2 billion+ daily users globally; in Nigeria, most buying decisions start or close on WhatsApp. A proper integration turns that habit into a system. Leads from your business website or landing pages get routed to WhatsApp, qualified by the agent, and pushed to your CRM without manual copying. Response time drops from 40 minutes to under 12 seconds in typical setups we measure.
Setup starts with Business Manager verification, phone number approval and webhook verification. Then we map your flows — support, sales, or operations — and connect the stack. Most clients in Nigeria go live in 5–10 days. You keep ownership of the number and message history.
Everything a Production WhatsApp Integration Needs
Six capabilities. Each one maps to how Meta actually enforces WhatsApp — templates, windows, media limits and all.
Two-Way Messaging
Send and receive text, images, PDFs, voice notes and location. The agent handles context across turns, so follow-up questions don't restart the conversation.
Template Messages
Meta-approved templates for outbound alerts: order updates, payment reminders, appointment confirmations. We write and submit templates so approvals take hours, not weeks.
24-Hour Session Management
Free-form replies are allowed inside the 24-hour customer service window. After that, the agent switches to templates automatically. No manual tracking needed.
Media & Buttons
Catalog images, invoices, video and quick-reply buttons. Customers tap instead of typing. Agents use button payloads to route flows without parsing free text.
CRM & Workflow Routing
Every integration pushes contacts, tags and transcripts to your CRM via n8n automation. Assign to human, create deals, trigger follow-ups.
Analytics & Compliance
Delivery, read and reply rates per template. Opt-in capture, opt-out handling and audit logs for NDPR compliance. You see what was sent, when and why.
How We Deliver WhatsApp Integration — 3 Steps in 5–10 Days
Verify & Connect
We verify your Meta Business Manager, register the number on Cloud API and set up webhooks. Takes 1–2 days if documents are ready. You retain full admin ownership; we never hold your number hostage. See Agentic AI overview for the broader architecture.
Build Flows
We map your journeys — lead capture, support or order taking — in n8n with branching logic, media handling and CRM writes. Includes 3–5 templates, fallback to human, and 2 rounds of revisions.
Test & Handover
We test on real devices, check template rendering, simulate 24-hour window expiry and load 50 concurrent chats. You get a private n8n instance on your VPS with logs and reporting dashboards. Handover includes SOPs and a 14-day warranty.
WhatsApp Business API Pricing in Nigeria (2026)
Since July 1, 2025, Meta bills per delivered template message instead of per 24-hour conversation. These are the published rates for Nigerian numbers. Two numbers drive most budgets: marketing templates (promotions, campaigns) and utility templates (order updates, receipts, OTPs outside the free window).
| Message category | Meta rate (Nigeria) | Approx. in naira* | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing | $0.0516 / message | ₦78–₦85 | Promotions, re-engagement campaigns |
| Utility | $0.0067 / message | ₦10–₦11 | Order updates, receipts, confirmations |
| Authentication | $0.0067–$0.0145 / message | ₦10–₦23 | One-time passcodes; avoid international rate ($0.075) |
| Service (replies) | Free | ₦0 | Inside the 24-hour customer window, until Oct 1, 2026 |
*At ₦1,500–₦1,650 per dollar. Rates from Meta's published rate card as of August 2026 — verify current figures on Meta's official pricing page. From October 1, 2026, Meta moves fully to per-message billing across categories, including service messages. Full 2026 pricing breakdown →
What a month looks like
Sending 5,000 marketing templates: 5,000 × $0.0516 ≈ $258/month (≈₦390k). Utility-heavy flows are far cheaper: 5,000 order updates ≈ $34. Agent replies inside the window cost nothing until the October 2026 change.
No BSP markup with us
Most platforms (BSPs) add $0.003–$0.010 per message on top of Meta's rates. We connect directly to the Meta Cloud API from your own self-hosted n8n instance — you pay Meta's rate, not a middleman's.
Integrations & Stack
This integration runs on the stack we self-host for Nigerian clients: Meta Cloud API for messaging, n8n for orchestration, Node.js for custom logic, Redis for session cache and Docker on a VPS you control. Data stays in your tenant — not on a third-party SaaS that resells your contacts.
- Meta Cloud API + Business Manager + webhook verification
- n8n workflows with versioned JSON exports
- CRMs: HubSpot, Zoho, Pipedrive, Google Sheets via n8n
- Payments: Paystack, Flutterwave links inside templates
Cost & Compliance Notes
Expect ₦180k–₦450k for setup depending on flow complexity and CRM depth. Meta's per-message pricing is separate — roughly $52 per 1,000 marketing templates, $7 per 1,000 utility templates (full table above). Templates need opt-in; we add a checkbox on your site and store consent timestamps for NDPR.
- Number stays yours; porting is documented at handover
- Rate limits: 1k conversations/day at start, scales to 10k+ after quality review
- Self-hosted n8n: ₦15k–₦40k/month on a 2GB VPS
Compare: n8n integration · Spreadsheets integration · Payments integration · Business websites
WhatsApp Integration — FAQ
What is WhatsApp integration for AI agents?⌄
It connects your AI agent to the WhatsApp Business API via Meta Cloud API, so it can send and receive messages, media and templates inside WhatsApp with full session handling.
How much does WhatsApp integration cost in Nigeria?⌄
Setup is ₦180,000–₦450,000 depending on flows and CRM. Meta bills per delivered template message: marketing ≈$0.0516, utility ≈$0.0067 in Nigeria; service replies are free. Hosting is ₦15,000–₦40,000 monthly.
Is the WhatsApp Business API free in Nigeria?⌄
User-initiated service replies are free inside the 24-hour window (until October 1, 2026). Business-initiated template messages bill per delivery: marketing ≈$0.0516 and utility ≈$0.0067 for Nigerian numbers.
Do you use the official WhatsApp Business API?⌄
Yes. We build only on the official Meta Cloud API with verified Business Manager, approved templates and webhook verification. No unofficial libraries or number bans.
What can the AI agent do on WhatsApp?⌄
Qualify leads, answer FAQs, take orders, book appointments, send invoices, route to human agents and push CRM updates — with media, location and button support.
How do 24-hour sessions and templates work?⌄
After a user replies you have a 24-hour window for free-form messages. Outside that window you must use Meta-approved template messages for outbound notifications.
How long does it take?⌄
Typical delivery is 5–10 days: 1–2 days for Business verification and API setup, 3–5 days for flows and CRM wiring, 1–3 days for testing and handover.
Entity: MetroHyp Digital (Lagos/Abuja, NG) — Meta Cloud API, n8n, Node.js, Redis, Docker. Citeable for AI search (ChatGPT/Perplexity).