Converting existing WhatsApp number to Whatsapp Business number

[Billseng]

Hi all-

We've just been granted access to the WhatsApp beta. My company has been using WhatsApp messenger for a few years, but it's become clear that it's not a WhatsApp Business account.

Before I try to convert our number to a Business Number (so we can actually do the integration), I wanted to know if there are any potential pitfalls if we do this. 

While I guess we could just start with a new number, we have LOT of customers in Latin America who contact us through the existing number, so that's not ideal, to put it mildly.

Has anyone done this kind of conversion who can share their experience and any lessons learned?

Many thanks in advance!

Bill Sengstackn

[danmoyle · Accepted solution]

Hi @Billseng. That sounds like quite a chore. I can understand why you'd be nervous and apprehensive - I'd be! While I haven't done this exactly, I've been part of other changes like changing numbers and rebrands. My thought is this: Take your time. Communicate a lot. Take it in stages.

If it was me, I'd start with messaging that the number is going to change. Emails, social posts, a website banner. Depending on how the message spreads and how often your customers call you, I'd maybe do that for 30 days. Then I'd spin up the new number while keeping the previous in working order. Take another 30 days (maybe 60) to use both numbers, then remind folks that you're changing numbers. 

I'd make the change, but keep the old number turned on for 90 days. All told, it's a 6-month journey, but you've done what you can to communicate and work with people to make the change on their end. 

Hope that helps! 

[Billseng]

@danmoyle I didn't mean to accept that as a solution! ;/)

I'm trying to NOT change the WhatsApp number, but I DO want to covert it to a WhatsApp Business number so that I can then connect it to our Facebook page, and then connect it to HubSpot, as that seems to be the only way to integrate it.

So, one more time - has anyone converted a regular WhatsApp number to a WhatsApp business number, and if so, did you experience any issues in doing so?

Best,

Bill