WhatsApp OTP: How To Send OTP on WhatsApp?

WhatsApp is the world’s largest communication platform. It provides safe and secure communication than SMS and other related services. As a business, you can take the benefits of WhatsApp’s security and systems to send OTPs via WhatsApp.

OTPs are essential to verify transactions and logins. Businesses use SMS to send OTPs. But, SMS OTP authentication is not as safe as you think. Hence, more businesses are opting for encrypted OTPs on WhatsApp.

When you send OTP via WhatsApp, it gets encrypted and only the recipient will be able to see the message. This is one of the most secure ways to reduce fraud, spam, and trojan attacks. Let’s understand.

WATI allows you to send OTP on WhatsApp using WhatsApp Business APIs. WhatsApp API is a WhatsApp Business solution launched by WhatsApp in 2018. Unlike the WhatsApp Business App, WhatsApp APIs help SMBs to integrate their systems with WhatsApp.

When you get your business number approved for WhatsApp APIs, you can integrate it with your CRM to send automated OTPs and reminders to your customers directly on WhatsApp.

Benefits Of WhatsApp Business API:

1. Send OTPs via WhatsApp
2. Start A WhatsApp Broadcast 
3. Integrate WhatsApp Chatbot on your Number
4. Contact Management
5. Multi-Agent Customer Support Dashboard

There are two ways to send OTPs. You can either send an OTP from your own dedicated number or you can send from a shared number.

How to send OTP on WhatsApp using Shared Number?

To send OTP using Shared Number, you can sign up with a WhatsApp BSP (Business Solution Provider) like WATI that provides this feature. WATI supports sending OTPs using Shared numbers.

To do so, you can follow these steps:

1. Sign up for an account Here.
2. Navigate to API Docs to get to know about /sendTemplateMessage API.
3. Use the /sendTemplateMessage API from your code to trigger the OTP to the user’s number.

WATI allows you to send OTP messages up to a certain limit in the trial account. If you want to send more OTP Messages, you can buy credits to send OTPs on WhatsApp.

How To Send OTP on WhatsApp using Dedicated Number?

To send OTP using Dedicated Number, you must apply for WhatsApp API and get approval on your own number. Once it is approved, you can send OTP messages from your own dedicated number that can support two-way communication.

Clare.AI will handle and guide businesses to get approval for WhatsApp Business APIs.

Setup Time: 30 minutes if Facebook Business Manager is verified.

(Also depends upon on Business verification progress by Facebook Official Team, usually takes 1-3 weeks)

Pre-requisite:

1. WhatsApp Phone Number (Should not have a WhatsApp account, this number is non-transferable)
   If you want to delete the WhatsApp account with your number, follow these steps to use the phone number that has been registered with WhatsApp Business.
2. Business Display Name (Should have a clear relationship with Business).
   To know about the Display Name, please read the guidelines for choosing a Display name For WhatsApp Business.
3. Facebook Business Manager ID (should be verified by uploading business documents)
   If you do not have a Facebook Business, please create by clicking here.
   To verify your Facebook Business, please follow these steps to get Facebook business verification.

This flowchart below explains how to get your WhatsApp Business Account Verified:

To get started, you can fill out the form here.

Once your account is approved, simply follow the below steps to send OTP messages using WhatsApp APIs:

1. Submit a template for approval on the Broadcast page on WATI Dashboard
   Template Format: Your one-time verification code is {{otp}}
2. Wait for the template to be approved. Typically, the approval time is 10-30 mins.
3. Use the /sendTemplateMessage API to trigger the one-time verification code.

This is it. In this way, you can send OTPs to your customers directly on WhatsApp. If you need more assistance, you can let us know. We’ll be happy to help.