WhatsApp Integration hybrid model
Complete step-by-step setup for your School Administration App — two powerful ways to send WhatsApp messages.
Option 1: Click-to-Chat
Zero setup
Unlimited
Free forever
Send credentials instantly from office computers or mobile via WhatsApp Web. No configuration needed.
Go to Users or Students → click 📲 WhatsApp
Option 3: Meta Cloud API
Moderate
1,000 free / mo
Free tier
Fully automated server-to-phone dispatch. No browser tabs, no manual clicking.
Configure once → send via API
1
Instant Click-to-Chat (zero config)
You can start sending credentials and notifications immediately — no external accounts.
- 1. Go to Settings → Users or Student Management → Students.
- 2. Click the green 📲 WhatsApp Credentials button next to any user/guardian phone number.
- 3. WhatsApp Web opens with a pre-filled template:
Hello [Name], welcome to [School Name]! Your Portal Username is: [Username] | Email: [Email] | Login URL: [Portal URL] | Password: [Your Password]
Review and swap [Your Password] with the assigned initial password, then hit Send!
3
Meta WhatsApp Business Cloud API
Follow these steps to connect to Meta's official servers and unlock 1,000 free service messages every month.
1 Register as a Meta Developer
- Visit Meta for Developers and log in.
- Click Get Started or My Apps → complete verification.
2 Create a Meta Business App
- Go to Apps Dashboard → Create App.
- Select Other → Business → name it (e.g.,
CMI School Portal). - In the app dashboard, click Set Up under WhatsApp.
3 Retrieve API Credentials
- In WhatsApp → Getting Started, copy your Phone Number ID (15-digit) and WhatsApp Business Account ID.
Temporary Token Warning: The token on the "Getting Started" screen expires in 24h. Do NOT use it for production. Follow Step 4 for a permanent token.
4 Generate a Permanent Access Token
- Go to Meta Business Settings → System Users → Add.
- Name the user (e.g.,
School WhatsApp Bot), role Admin. - Add assets: select your app, toggle Full Control (Manage App).
- Click Generate New Token: select app, set expiration to Never (Permanent), check permissions:
whatsapp_business_messaging&whatsapp_business_management. - Copy the token starting with
EAA...and store it safely.
5 Configure in Your School App
- Navigate to Settings → WhatsApp Cloud API.
- Fill: Phone Number ID (from step 3), Permanent Access Token, Default Country Code (e.g.,
91for India). - Default Template Name: enter
hello_world(Meta's universal test template). - Click Save WhatsApp Settings.
6 Verify & Test Connection
- In Settings → WhatsApp Cloud API, scroll to Test Connection.
- Enter your mobile number with country code (e.g.,
919876543210). - Click Send Test WhatsApp — you'll receive a live message confirming integration.
Send test message (button appears in your admin panel)
Templates
Custom automated templates
Meta requires all outbound notifications to be approved as Message Templates.
- Go to WhatsApp Template Manager → Create Template.
- Category: Utility, name e.g.
school_credential_notice, language English (US). - Body with variables:
{{1}},{{2}}, etc.
Hello {{1}}, welcome to {{2}}! Your login username is: {{3}} and login URL is {{4}}. Please change your initial password upon signing in.
Submit for review (approval usually takes 2 minutes – 2 hours). Once approved, update the Default Template Name in your school settings.