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WhatsApp Business coexistence
WhatsApp coexistence update: Connecting the Business app and API
When Meta drops an update to WhatsApp Business, I pay attention. And so should you, if you’re looking to scale your business with WhatsApp Business API.
The latest development around Embedded Signup for the WhatsApp Business app is a game-changer that deserves a closer look. Embedded Signup or WhatsApp coexistence is basically Meta’s way of letting you connect to the API using your existing WhatsApp Business account.
What is WhatsApp coexistence?
Meta’s update on “Embedded Signup” is also called WhatsApp coexistence because you can create a WhatsApp Business API account using your existing WhatsApp Business app, without losing access to your valuable customer conversations.
This is a big deal because earlier, the WhatsApp Business app was disconnected from the onboarding flow of WhatsApp Business API.
It was a separate process that didn’t transfer any context from the Business app to the API. WhatsApp coexistence is similar to how you are able to login to Instagram with your Facebook account, since your account access is anyway managed by Meta, their parent company.
Let’s discuss why it’s a huge relief for businesses that get entangled in the complexities of moving to a WhatsApp Business API platform from the basic WhatsApp Business app.
WhatsApp coexistence is a bridge between personal and professional messaging
One of the biggest headaches for businesses using WhatsApp has been the disconnect between the Business app and the cloud API. You either manage one-to-one conversations through the app or scale up with the API. But never both simultaneously.
It’s like having two separate phone numbers for the same business, which also comes with the onboarding hassle.
Meta has finally acknowledged this pain point. Its new Embedded Signup feature for WhatsApp coexistence allows businesses to connect their existing WhatsApp Business app account to the cloud API. This means you can now handle both personal, one-on-one conversations through the app and also scaling up your messaging operations through the WhatsApp API tool that you use.
All these while keeping your messaging history synchronized between both.
As someone who has watched countless businesses struggle with this divide, I can't overstate how significant this is.
What this means for your business
Let me paint a picture of what this looks like for a real business:
You run a spa and have been using the WhatsApp Business app for a few years now. You respond to customer inquiries, send appointment updates, and handle special requests. It works, but it's becoming overwhelming as your business grows.
Before this update, if you wanted to scale up using a solution built on the cloud API, you’d essentially have to start fresh. New system, new conversation histories, new learning curve. Plus, you’d have to juggle between two disconnected systems.
Now, moving to a WhatsApp Business API platform like Gallabox can help you onboard yourself without missing any conversation history. You can still personally respond to your VIP customers through the app and automating responses to common questions through the platform. And the best part? Everything stays in sync. Let’s break it down even further.
WhatsApp Business API: Before and after the WhatsApp coexistence update
The table summarizes what WhatsApp coexistence adds to your existing WhatsApp Business account.
| App and API integration | Completely separate systems with no connection | Bridge between WhatsApp Business app and cloud API |
| Conversation history | Lost when transitioning to API | Can be transferred and synced between both systems |
| Business operations | Either personal conversations (app) OR scaled messaging (API) | Both personal AND automated messaging with full synchronization |
| Customer experience | Fragmented: Feels like talking to two different versions of a business | Coherent experience regardless of which channel is used (Business app or API) |
| Onboarding process | Start fresh when moving to API: New system, double the learning curve | Seamless transition that maintains existing context and history |
| Business flexibility | Limited: Forced to choose between personal touch or scale. | Hybrid approach that blends 1:1 human interactions with automation |
While the above differences are at a feature level, they would be of much more value for your business at a use case level.
This means, using WhatsApp Business API platforms like Gallabox, you get:
- AI chatbot for lead generation, qualification, and routing
- Campaign sequences with buttons and auto-replies
- Outcome-driven bots for setting up meetings and requesting payments
- AI sales agents that can fetch data and have empathetic conversations
- Shared team inbox with GenAI, translate options, quick replies, and more workflows
All these and more, without even losing your existing data, where your personal, 1:1 conversations with your existing customer base really thrives!
How WhatsApp coexistence works across WhatsApp Business and Cloud API
So what does this look like in practice? Let me walk you through it without the technical jargon.
When you go through the Embedded Signup flow, you’ll now see an option to connect your existing WhatsApp Business app account. After entering the phone number, a QR code pops.
This message essentially says, “Hey, do you want to connect this account to this service?“ Naturally, you will now scan the QR code, and here's where it‘s different. You get the option to share your existing chat history too!
Think about that for a second. You can bring your entire conversation history into the API platform. No more starting from scratch or losing valuable context from previous interactions.
After scanning the code and choosing the sharing option, you can complete the signup flow. And the clincher: You can now use both – the app for personal interactions and the API for scaled messaging and automation.
The fine print: Yes, WhatsApp coexistence it’s limited for now
Of course, there are some requirements and limitations to be aware of: First, you need to be using WhatsApp Business app version 2.24.17 or higher. This is crucial
as the older versions won't support this feature.
There's also a surprising list of countries where this feature isn't supported.s
If your business operates in Australia, India, Japan, Nigeria, Philippines, Russia, South Korea, South Africa, or Turkey, you're out of luck for now. The same goes for businesses in the European Economic Area, European Union, or United Kingdom.
This geographic limitation is significant and honestly a bit disappointing. Some of these markets, particularly India, are massive WhatsApp users. I suspect regulatory complexities are behind these exclusions, but it's something to watch as the feature evolves.
How WhatsApp coexistence can ensure a better customer experience
Beyond the technical aspects, this update represents something more profound. A recognition that business messaging needs to be both personal, scalable, and accessible.
The ability to maintain conversation continuity across both the app and API means customers get a more coherent experience. They won't feel like they're talking to two different versions of your business depending on which channel they use.
For businesses, this means better relationship building. You can scale up operations with chatbots and AI without sacrificing the personal touch that made WhatsApp valuable to your business in the first place.
This hybrid approach is likely the future for all business messaging platforms. The businesses that will thrive won't be choosing between human touch and automation. They'll be expertly blending both.
How Gallabox can help you fit into this update seamlessly
With Gallabox's intuitive interface,AI agents , bots, and other automation features, businesses can seamlessly transition between one-on-one conversations and scaled messaging operations. Our platform can easily integrate with this new WhatsApp Business onboarding flow, allowing your team to maintain that personal touch while handling increased message volume.
More importantly, this update will be extra-special for businesses looking to handle their entire sales cycle and customer journey on WhatsApp. Because going from leads to deals requires historical context. And only this time, you don’t have to compromise on it for API-driven WhatsApp automations!
When a customer's history syncs between the Business app and the Cloud API, Gallabox ensures that this valuable context is accessible and actionable for your team.
For businesses looking to scale their WhatsApp operations while maintaining personal connections with customers, this combination of Meta's new onboarding flow and Gallabox's engagement platform creates the perfect solution.
Try Gallabox for free and explore how WhatsApp automation can eliminate your growth pains and set your business up for sustainable ROI.
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