Connect WhatsApp Business to Trade2Base
WhatsApp is the channel most customers actually respond to. Connecting WhatsApp Business API to Trade2Base lets you send job updates, share quotes as PDF links, confirm appointments, and automate follow-ups — all from inside your Trade2Base account, without picking up your phone.
What you'll need before you start
WhatsApp Business API access is managed through Meta's Business platform. You will need a few things in place before connecting to Trade2Base:
Go to business.facebook.com and create a free Business Account if you don't have one. This is separate from a personal Facebook account.
This must be a number not already registered as a personal WhatsApp account. A dedicated SIM or a landline with SMS forwarding works well.
Meta may require you to verify your business before granting API access. Prepare your company registration number or HMRC documents.
Step 1 — Connect in Trade2Base Settings
In Trade2Base, click the gear icon at the bottom of the sidebar to open Settings, then choose the "Integrations" tab.
Find the WhatsApp Business card and click "Connect". Trade2Base will redirect you to Meta's authorisation screen.
Log in with the Facebook account that owns your Meta Business Account. Grant Trade2Base the permissions it requests — these allow sending and receiving messages on your behalf.
Choose the phone number you want to connect. If you haven't registered a WhatsApp Business number yet, Meta will guide you through this step now.
After granting access, you'll be redirected back to Trade2Base. You should see a green "Connected" status next to WhatsApp.
Step 2 — Set up message templates
WhatsApp requires pre-approved message templates for any outbound message you initiate (called “business-initiated” messages). Templates are submitted to Meta for approval and usually reviewed within 24 hours.
Trade2Base includes a set of pre-built templates for common trade scenarios: job confirmation, quote sent, appointment reminder, and payment request.
Edit the default text to match your brand voice. You can include dynamic variables like {{customer_name}}, {{job_date}}, and {{quote_total}}. Trade2Base fills these in automatically when sending.
Click "Submit to Meta". Trade2Base handles the submission automatically. You'll receive an email and an in-app notification when the template is approved.
Once approved, toggle the template on. It will now appear as an option when sending WhatsApp messages from a job, quote, or customer record.
Sending job updates and quotes via WhatsApp
Once connected and your templates are approved, sending a WhatsApp message takes two clicks from anywhere inside Trade2Base.
Open any job and click "Send update". Choose WhatsApp from the channel options. Select a template or type a free-form reply if the customer messaged you first.
Open a quote and click "Send quote". Trade2Base generates a secure PDF link and sends it via the approved quote template. Customers can view and accept the quote from their phone.
Open a customer profile and click the WhatsApp icon next to their number to start a conversation thread. All replies are captured in Trade2Base's shared inbox.
Auto-notifications for appointment confirmations
Trade2Base can send WhatsApp appointment reminders automatically, without any manual action from your team.
Go to Settings → Automations → Appointment Reminder. Toggle on "Send via WhatsApp". Choose how far in advance to send the reminder — 24 hours and 2 hours before are popular choices for trade businesses.
Select the approved appointment reminder template. Trade2Base populates the engineer name, job address, and time slot automatically from the scheduled job.
Customers can reply "Yes" to confirm or "No" to reschedule. Trade2Base flags reschedule requests in your inbox so your team can act on them quickly.
Meta charges per conversation, not per message. A conversation window lasts 24 hours from the first message. Business-initiated conversations (like reminders) cost slightly more than customer-initiated ones. Typical trade businesses spend £5–£20/month on WhatsApp API fees depending on volume.
Next steps
With WhatsApp connected, set up your appointment reminder automation to reduce no-shows immediately. You can also use WhatsApp in bulk campaigns — great for seasonal boiler service reminders or maintenance contract renewals.
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