Build Layers 1 + 2 of the 5-layer stack. After this lesson, a customer can text your real WhatsApp number — and your server replies. Real text in, real reply out. 5 steps, 90 minutes, under $20/month.
Each step is concrete, with verifiable outputs. By the end, customer text in → your server replies → loop is live.
Create + verify your business identity with Meta. business.facebook.com → fill business info → submit for verification (2-5 days). Foundation for everything else.
Inside Meta Business → All Tools → WhatsApp → Getting Started. Add a phone number (free test number provided). Generate access token. Save 3 values: token + phone number ID + WhatsApp Business Account ID.
An endpoint Meta POSTs to whenever a customer messages you. Node: 6 lines of Express. Python: 8 lines of FastAPI. Verify Meta's signature + parse the message JSON. For now, just print it.
Deploy your code to a public URL (Vercel: 30 sec). In Meta Business, paste your webhook URL + a verify token. Click 'Verify'. Green check = Meta and your server are talking. Subscribe to the 'messages' field.
From any phone, text your business WhatsApp number. Server logs show the message in <1 sec. Your code POSTs back to Meta's /messages endpoint with your access token. The customer's phone buzzes. The full loop is live.
Top AI Africa deploys the full 5-layer stack for African businesses. WhatsApp Cloud API + webhook setup, Claude integration, Knowledge Base on your real product data, monitoring dashboard. Free 15-min strategy call to see if your business is a fit.