Solution Providers
This documentation contains information, instructions, and resources for solution providers — businesses that provide, or want to provide, WhatsApp messaging services to other businesses. If you are building an app that will not be used by other businesses, refer to our Cloud API Get Started guide instead.
Solution providers are business entities that deploy value-added solutions as WhatsApp authorized service providers on behalf of their business customers. Solution providers include Solution Partners, Tech Providers, and Tech Partners.
Solution Partners
Solution Partners are Meta Business Partners that provide a full range of WhatsApp Business Platform services to other businesses, such as messaging services, billing, integration support, and customer support.
Solution Partners have credit lines which can be extended to business customers who they bring on board, thus removing the need for those customers to enter their own payment method during the onboarding process. Furthermore, Solution Providers are able to directly invoice their customers for the WhatsApp Business Platform services provided through their apps.
In addition, Solution Partners have access to Direct Support and are eligible to participate in the Meta Business Partner SMB Accelerator Program, which offers incentive, accreditation, and enablement services, and the ability to get listed in our partner directory.
Note that becoming a Solution Provider is a lengthy process, so if you don't need a credit line and don't need to invoice your business customers for API usage directly, consider becoming a Tech Provider instead.
To learn how to become a Solution Partner, see Get Started for Solution Providers.
Tech Providers
Tech Providers are similar to Solution Partners in that they also can offer a full range of WhatsApp Business Platform services to other businesses, either by providing these services on their own, or by partnering with a Solution Partner who already offers these services.
Unlike Solution Providers, however, Tech Providers do not have credit lines. Instead, business customers onboarded by Tech Providers must provide their own payment method after onboarding is complete. Meta will then bill these customers for API usage, and the Tech Provider will bill for other services.
In addition, Tech Providers do not have access to Direct Support, and cannot participate in the Meta Business Partner SMB Accelerator Program unless they upgrade to a Tech Partner.
Tech Providers also cannot participate in the Meta Business Partner SMB Accelerator Program, unless they upgrade to a Tech Partner.
To learn how to become a Tech Provider, see Get Started for Tech Providers.
Tech Partners
Tech Partners are Tech Providers who are, or are eligible to become, Meta Business Partners. Tech Providers who apply to become a Meta Business Partner and are approved are eligible to participate in the Meta Business Partner SMB Accelerator Program and can get listed in our partner directory.
To learn how to upgrade to a Tech Partner, see Upgrading to a Tech Partner.
Comparison
| Solution Partners | Tech Providers | Tech Partners | |
|---|---|---|---|
Can offer full WhatsApp Business Platform services to onboarded customers | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Has a credit line | Yes | No | No |
Customers bypass payment method collection | Yes | No | No |
Bills customers directly for API usage (vs. Meta billing customers for usage) | Yes | No | No |
Is a Meta Business Partner | Yes | No | Yes |
Eligible for accelerator program | Yes | No | Yes |
Access to Direct Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Embedded Signup
You must use Embedded Signup to onboard business customers onto the WhatsApp Business Platform, unless you are partnered with a Solution Partner who will be onboarding customers for you.
Embedded Signup is an authentication and authorization interface that automatically generates all required WhatsApp assets for your business customers and authorizes your app to access those assets.
Multi-Partner Solutions
Multi-Partner Solutions allow solution partners to jointly manage onboarded business customer assets in order to provide comprehensive WhatsApp messaging services. For example, if you are a Tech Provider, you may wish to create a multi-partner solution with a Solution Partner who can share their credit line with business customers onboarded via your joint solution.
Access Tokens
If you are a Tech Provider or Tech Partner, you should use Business Integration System User access tokens (i.e., business tokens) exclusively. If you are a Solution Partner, you should use a System User access token (i.e., system tokens) only when sharing your credit line with onboarded business customers; in all other cases, use business tokens.
System User Access Tokens
System tokens should only be used by Solution Partners, and only when sharing credit lines with onboarded business customers; at all other times, use a business token instead.
System tokens are described in our API documentation, as they are used by non-solution partners as well. See System User Access tokens to learn how to create a system user and token.
When creating your system user, aside from granting it any permissions and roles your app needs, also grant it the Finance editor role:
- Sign into the Meta Business Suite.
- Locate your business portfolio in the top-left dropdown menu and click its Settings (gear) icon.
- Click Business settings.
- Navigate to Users > System Users.
- Edit the user and grant it the Finance editor role.
This will allow your app to use the API to share your credit line with onboarded customers.
Business Integration System User Access Tokens
Business tokens are access tokens scoped to individual onboarded business customers. Use these tokens when accessing onboarded customer data, such as Whatsapp Business Accounts, message templates, business phone numbers, and when sending and receiving messages for your customers.
To get a business token that is scoped to a customer, you must exchange a code returned to you when that customer completes the Embedded Signup flow. This process is described in the Onboarding Business Customers section of the Embedded Signup documentation.
Permissions
The permissions your app requires from onboarded customers depends on the services you provide. These are described in broad terms below but are largely determined by the endpoints your app will be querying.
The most commonly needed permissions are:
- whatsapp_business_management — necessary if your app needs access to onboarded customer WhatsApp Business Account settings and message templates.
- whatsapp_business_messaging — necessary if your app needs access to onboarded customer business phone number settings, or if your app will be used by customers to send and receive messages.
Note that before your app can be granted these permissions by your business customers, the permissions must be approved through the App Review process.
App Review
Before you can officially begin onboarding business customers, you must submit your app for App Review and request advanced access approval for any permissions your app requires.
If advanced access is not approved for a given permission, the permission will not appear in the Embedded Signup flow and your business customers will be unable to grant it to your app.