How to Build a WhatsApp Business Chatbot with Make.com

Using make.com, you can build a powerful WhatsApp Business chatbot without writing code. This guide walks you through the full process, from setting up the required accounts to creating automated scenarios that respond to your customers in real time.

The steps below are based on the official how-to instructions and show you how to connect WhatsApp, Facebook, and automation tools so messages flow smoothly between your customers and your systems.

What You Need Before You Start on Make.com

Before building your chatbot, prepare a few essential accounts and tools. This ensures make.com can connect everything in a secure, reliable way.

• A Facebook account with admin access to your Facebook Business Manager.
• A verified Facebook Business Manager, including business details and documentation.
• A WhatsApp Business number that can receive verification messages or calls.
• A make.com account with access to the scenario editor and apps.
• Optional: CRM, help desk, or Google Sheets accounts if you want to log or route messages.

Having these in place will save time when you start linking WhatsApp and your automation flows.

Step 1: Connect WhatsApp Business to Meta

The first step is to connect your WhatsApp Business profile to your Meta (Facebook) business assets, which allows make.com to access your conversations via approved APIs.

1. Sign in to your Facebook Business Manager.

2. Navigate to the business settings and locate the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Manager section.

3. Add your WhatsApp Business phone number and choose how you want to receive the verification code (SMS or call).

4. Complete verification and confirm your display name and business information.

5. Configure basic message settings, such as default greeting or away messages if offered in your region.

After your number is connected, the WhatsApp Business API or Cloud API can be used by automation platforms.

Step 2: Create a Scenario in Make.com

Now you can log in to make.com and design the automation flow that powers your WhatsApp Business chatbot. Scenarios are the core building blocks on make.com, combining triggers and actions into visual workflows.

1. Log in to your make.com dashboard.

2. Click on Create a new scenario.

3. In the app search, look for the WhatsApp-related module that corresponds to your chosen provider or the official Meta integration included in your plan.

4. Add the first module to act as a trigger (for example, “Watch Messages” or similar) so new incoming WhatsApp messages start the scenario.

5. Authorize the connection with your Meta or WhatsApp provider account when prompted and select your WhatsApp Business phone number.

Once this trigger is set, every new customer message can enter your workflow for processing.

Step 3: Design the Chatbot Logic with Make.com Modules

With the scenario created, it is time to design the logic that makes your WhatsApp chatbot useful. On make.com, you connect modules in a visual canvas to read, route, and respond to messages.

Plan Your Conversation Flow on Make.com

Start by mapping the conversation structure you want:

• Welcome messages for new users.
• Menus or quick replies to guide choices.
• Keyword-based routing for support, sales, or FAQs.
• Fallback messages when no rule matches.

Having a clear flow helps you shape your modules and data paths on make.com.

Add Message Parsing and Routing

Next, add logic modules to interpret and route messages:

• Text parsing or router modules to examine message content and branch the scenario based on keywords or phrases.
• Conditional filters that send messages with certain words (such as “support” or “order”) to different paths.
• Data store or database modules to look up customers, orders, or tickets based on phone number or message content.

By combining these modules, you can create dynamic paths that respond differently depending on what the user sends.

Send Automated Replies Through Make.com

Now add output modules to respond to users:

• Use the WhatsApp send-message module to reply with text, images, or templates.
• Insert variables such as customer name, order ID, or ticket number to personalize responses.
• Chain multiple messages with delays if you want a multi-step reply sequence.

Every path in your scenario should end with a clear response or a handoff to a human agent if necessary.

Step 4: Connect External Systems to Your Chatbot

One of the biggest benefits of using make.com is the ability to connect your WhatsApp Business chatbot to many external tools without code.

Popular Integrations with Make.com

Consider adding these integrations to make your chatbot more powerful:

• CRM systems to create or update contacts when new WhatsApp messages arrive.
• Help desk tools to open tickets automatically for support requests.
• Spreadsheets or databases to log conversations and customer details.
• Email or notification services to alert team members about high-priority messages.

With make.com, each of these systems can become a module in your scenario, passing data between WhatsApp and your internal tools.

Step 5: Test and Debug Your Scenario on Make.com

Before going live, thoroughly test your WhatsApp Business chatbot to ensure reliable behavior.

1. In make.com, switch your scenario to Run once or a similar test mode.

2. Send a test WhatsApp message to your Business number from another device.

3. Watch how the scenario executes, step by step, checking each module output.

4. Use built-in logs to identify errors, missing data, or incorrect conditions.

5. Adjust filters, text templates, and data mappings until responses look correct.

Repeat tests with different message types and keywords to confirm all paths work as expected.

Step 6: Activate and Maintain Your WhatsApp Chatbot

After testing, you can activate your scenario on make.com and let it handle real customer messages.

1. Turn the scenario on so it runs automatically whenever a new WhatsApp message arrives.

2. Monitor performance regularly through scenario statistics and error reports.

3. Refine your chatbot content over time by adding new answers, flows, and integrations.

4. Update templates and greeting messages when your business information or offers change.

Ongoing maintenance ensures your WhatsApp Business chatbot stays accurate and helpful as your business grows.

Best Practices for WhatsApp Chatbots Built with Make.com

To get the most out of your setup, keep these best practices in mind:

• Keep replies short, clear, and mobile-friendly.
• Offer quick reply options or simple menus for common queries.
• Allow users to reach a human when automation is not enough.
• Respect privacy rules and store customer data securely.
• Review performance metrics to improve response quality.

These guidelines help you create a user-friendly chatbot that adds real value.

Additional Resources

To deepen your understanding of how to configure your WhatsApp Business chatbot and see all available modules, consult the original how-to guide on the official website: WhatsApp Business chatbot guide.

If you need broader automation or integration strategy help around tools like make.com, you can also explore consulting resources at Consultevo.

By combining the flexibility of make.com with the reach of WhatsApp Business, you can create a scalable chatbot that responds quickly, captures leads, and streamlines support without complex development work.

Need Help With Make.com?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your Make scenarios, work with ConsultEvo — certified workflow and automation specialists.

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