WhatsApp automation

WhatsApp business automation, on the official API.

Clio automates the repetitive side of WhatsApp — instant replies, lead follow-ups, reminders, order and booking updates — using your own WhatsApp Business Account on the official Meta WhatsApp Cloud API. No WhatsApp Web scripts, no unofficial gateways, and no markup on Meta’s messaging charges.

Reply the moment a message arrives

A workflow can start on every incoming WhatsApp message, check what the customer asked, and answer straight away — or collect details first with tappable buttons and lists.

Follow up on every lead

Send the next message after a delay, wait for the customer’s reply, and branch on what they said. Leads captured from forms, Google Sheets or the inbox all get the same follow-up.

Templates, synced and submitted

Create WhatsApp message templates in Clio, submit them to Meta for review, and see their approval status update automatically. Use approved templates to reopen a closed conversation.

Rich template formats

Beyond text: media headers, location, call-to-action and quick-reply buttons, copy-code coupons, limited-time offers, catalogue and one-time-password templates.

AI inside the workflow

Ask an AI assistant to classify a message or draft an answer from your own knowledge base, then hand the conversation to a person when judgement is needed.

Consent by default

Customers who reply STOP are opted out and skipped by every automation and campaign; START brings them back. The 24-hour service window is respected on every send.

Definition

What is WhatsApp automation?

WhatsApp automation means letting software send, route and follow up on WhatsApp messages that would otherwise be typed by hand. Done properly, it runs through the WhatsApp Business Platform, uses Meta-approved templates for business-initiated messages, and hands conversations to people when a customer needs one. Step by step: how to automate WhatsApp lead follow-ups, and the WhatsApp Business app vs the API.

  1. 1

    Connect your WhatsApp Business Account

    A Meta-verified business connects its number through the Meta Cloud API. Clio validates the connection and configures the signed webhook. See the setup steps.

  2. 2

    Build the flow

    Pick a trigger and add steps in the visual workflow builder — or start from a ready-made workflow for orders, leads, tickets or bookings.

  3. 3

    Test it, then switch it on

    Simulate a run before it goes live, check each step in the run history, and roll back to an earlier version if you need to.

Examples

WhatsApp automations businesses build in Clio

Enquiry to lead

A new message creates the lead, asks two qualifying questions, labels the contact and pushes it to Zoho CRM, Salesforce or Kylas.

Order status

“Where is my order?” looks the order up in Shopify or WooCommerce and replies with its status.

Booking link

A customer asks for an appointment and receives a Calendly booking link; the booking appears on their contact.

Sheet-driven messages

A new row in Google Sheets sends an approved template, and the customer’s reply is written back to the sheet.

For one-to-many messages to opted-in customers, use WhatsApp broadcast campaigns. To see results, open Clio analytics.

WhatsApp questions

Questions about WhatsApp automation

How does Clio’s WhatsApp automation work?

Clio receives your WhatsApp messages through the official Meta Cloud API webhook. Each message can start a workflow you built in Clio, which runs its steps in order — replies, templates, conditions, delays, waiting for a reply, AI steps, labels and integrations — and records every run so you can see what happened.

How can I automate WhatsApp follow-ups?

Build a workflow with a delay or a wait-for-reply step. If the customer answers, the workflow continues down the reply branch; if not, it sends an approved template after the timeout. Outside the 24-hour window, only approved templates can be sent, and Clio enforces that.

Is WhatsApp automation allowed?

Yes, when it runs through the WhatsApp Business Platform and follows Meta’s policies — approved templates for business-initiated messages, respecting opt-outs and the 24-hour window. Clio uses only the official Cloud API; Meta’s quality rules still apply to your account.

Who pays for WhatsApp messages?

Meta bills WhatsApp messaging charges directly to your WhatsApp Business Account at its published rates. Your Clio subscription covers the platform, and Clio adds no markup. See pricing.

Your WhatsApp operation shouldn’t
depend on one person’s phone.

Give your team one place for conversations, customer data, automation, and follow-ups.

Start with Clio Book a demo

Meta-verified business required · Official Meta WhatsApp Cloud API · Meta messaging charges billed separately

Prefer to talk first? support@clio.co.in