Run AI employees on WhatsApp.
Use Oya to staff a WhatsApp number with an AI employee — answer customer questions, send order updates, qualify leads, or run any conversational workflow you can describe.
What it does
Two-way messaging
Reply to incoming messages, send proactive updates, and run multi-turn conversations with full context across the thread.
Customer-facing workflows
Triage support, qualify leads, take bookings, or run any conversational flow you can describe in plain language.
Audit-ready logs
Every conversation is captured in your run history with the full input, output, and tool calls — so you can review exactly what was said.
How to connect WhatsApp
- 1
Open the AI employee’s Channels & Apps page
Pick the employee you want on WhatsApp and click the WhatsApp tile.
- 2
Connect via WhatsApp Business
Authorize Oya to manage your WhatsApp Business number. We handle the API setup so you don’t need to wire up Cloud API yourself.
- 3
Verify your number
WhatsApp requires a one-time number verification. We walk you through it and store nothing beyond what Meta requires.
- 4
Send a test message
Use the in-app tester to message your number from your personal WhatsApp and confirm the AI employee responds end-to-end.
Detailed walkthrough with screenshots: Channels & Apps in the docs.
What it doesn’t do (yet)
We’d rather be upfront about the edges than promise things we don’t deliver.
- WhatsApp Business policies still apply — outbound campaigns require approved templates.
- Voice notes are transcribed but replies go out as text.
- Group chats are not supported by WhatsApp Business APIs — DMs only.
Frequently asked
Do I need a WhatsApp Business account?
Yes. WhatsApp requires a Business or Cloud API account for any programmatic messaging. We help you set this up if you don’t already have one.
Are there per-message fees from WhatsApp?
Meta charges WhatsApp conversation fees in addition to Oya’s usage costs. These vary by country and conversation type and are passed through transparently.
Can my AI employee initiate conversations?
Only within WhatsApp’s rules — proactive messages outside the 24-hour customer window must use a pre-approved template. We surface this in the agent settings.
How do I disconnect WhatsApp?
Open the Channels & Apps page, find WhatsApp, and click Disconnect. We revoke API access and stop responding immediately.
How is conversation data handled?
WhatsApp messages your AI employee sees are processed for the active run and stored in your run history for audit. We do not use your data to train any AI model.
A note on AI accuracy
Oya’s AI employees are powered by large language models and may produce inaccurate, incomplete, or out-of-date responses. They are tools to assist your work, not authoritative sources. Always verify important information — especially numbers, dates, names, and any business or financial action — before relying on AI-generated output. If your AI employee suggests a destructive action (deleting data, sending money, posting publicly), confirm it yourself before approving.
No model training
Your data is not used to train AI models. It’s used to do the work you asked for, then logged in your run history for your audit.
Full audit trail
Every AI employee action maps to a run in Oya. Inputs, outputs, tools used, cost — all visible and auditable.
Put an AI employee on your WhatsApp number.
Free setup. $10 in free credits. Conversation fees passed through at cost.