Skip to main content


         This documentation site is for previous versions. Visit our new documentation site for current releases.      
 

Setting up the IVA for WhatsApp

Updated on March 23, 2022

Provide users with an additional messaging platform to access your Pega Intelligent Virtual Assistant™ (IVA) that is convenient and widely available. By interacting with your chatbot in WhatsApp Messenger, users can efficiently resolve their issues, request help, or report problems within your business application.

For example, when a customer requests a car insurance quote by interacting in WhatsApp Messenger with your chatbot, the system can respond by asking for more information, and then automatically start an Insurance Quote business case in your application.
Before you begin:
  • Configure Unified Messaging channel security settings. For more information, see Configuring Unified Messaging channel security.
  • If you do not have an IVA for Unified Messaging, create a Unified Messaging channel. For more information, see Creating a Unified Messaging channel.
  • If you do not have a Facebook Manager business account, create one on the Facebook portal to generate a Facebook Manager business account ID. For more information, see Get Started with Facebook Business Manager Guide on the Facebook website.
  • If you do not have a Twilio account, create one on the Twilio portal. For more information, see Get started with a free Twilio account on the Twilio website.
  • Upgrade the Twilio account to a paid account. For more information, see Upgrading to a paid Twilio account on the Twilio support website.
  • If you do not have a WhatsApp number for your Twilio account, set one up. For more information, see Adding a WhatsApp number to your Twilio account.
You access Digital Messaging Manager in the Unified Messaging channel to configure individual messaging accounts in one place for your application.
Note: After you update Pega Platform or Pega Customer Service, to use the latest Digital Messaging Manager features, save your existing Unified Messaging channel.
  1. In the navigation pane of App Studio, click Channels.
  2. In the Current channel interfaces section, click the icon that represents your existing Unified Messaging channel.
  3. In the Unified Messaging channel, click the Connection tab.
  4. Click Integration Manager.
  5. In the Digital Messaging Manager window, click Add Connection, and then click the WhatsApp icon.
  6. In the New Twilio WhatsApp page, in the Name field, enter a name for your WhatsApp account.
  7. In the Number field, enter a WhatsApp number, including the country code.
    For example: Enter: +12239992233
  8. In the Account SID field, enter the identifier for your Twilio account.
    Twilio generates a unique identifier when you create a Twilio account.
  9. In the Auth token field, enter the authorization token for your Twilio account.
    Twilio generates an authorization token when you create a Twilio account.
    For example:

    The following figure shows sample configuration settings for WhatsApp:

    The configuration settings for WhatsApp
    The configuration settings on the Digital Messaging Manager page for WhatsApp.
  10. In the Webhook section, select and copy the generated webhook URL for WhatsApp.
    For example: The webhook URL that the system generates looks like this: https://incoming.sample.pega.digital/twilio-whatsapp
  11. Click Save
    Result: The system displays information that the new Twilio WhatsApp account was successfully registered.
  12. Optional: To display all of your configured accounts for messaging platforms in the Digital Messaging Manager window, click Home.
  13. Close the browser window, and then in the Unified Messaging channel, click Save.
  14. Define the webhook URL for the WhatsApp number in your Twilio account by performing the following steps:
    1. Log in to your Twilio account.
    2. Click the More icon, and then click Programmable MessagingSendersWhatsApp Senders.
    3. In the displayed list, select a WhatsApp number, and then click Edit.
    4. In the Endpoint Configuration section, in the Webhook URL for incoming messages field, paste the webhook URL that you copied in step 10.
      This action ensures that when your phone number receives inbound messages from WhatsApp Messenger, Twilio forwards the messages to the IVA channel.
    5. To add additional WhatsApp numbers for your Twilio account to the webhook URL, repeat steps 14.c through 14.d.
    6. Click Close.
What to do next: There are several considerations to keep in mind when using the IVA used for WhatsApp. For more information, see Best practices when using an IVA for WhatsApp.

Have a question? Get answers now.

Visit the Support Center to ask questions, engage in discussions, share ideas, and help others.

Did you find this content helpful?

Want to help us improve this content?

We'd prefer it if you saw us at our best.

Pega.com is not optimized for Internet Explorer. For the optimal experience, please use:

Close Deprecation Notice
Contact us