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How does a Sinch ASP customer become a Tech Provider?

Shahzad Ismail
Updated

Sinch provides its WhatsApp services to ASPs by participating in a partner solution. Meta partner solutions allow the parties of the solution to share WhatsApp assets and services. These partnerships are between Tech Providers (or Tech Partners, which are upgraded Tech Providers) and Solution Partners.

Your business acts as the Tech Provider, and Sinch is considered the Solution Partner. Therefore, in order to gain access to Sinch's WhatsApp services as an ASP, you must:

  • Become a Tech Provider in Meta's environment, which involves
    • Creating a Meta App
       
    • Verifying your business and adding Sinch as a Solution Partner
       
    • Preparing and Submitting your App for review
       
  • Complete partner configuration on the Sinch Build Dashboard.

These procedures, and the corresponding prerequisites, are described in the subsections below.

Note: The instructions below include summarized procedures detailed in Meta's corresponding documentation. These procedures have been streamlined for use in Sinch's environment. Links to the original documentation are included throughout this article.

 

Prerequisites

The procedures included in this article describe the creation of a Meta business portfolio, the creation and configuration of a corresponding app, and configuration steps that take place in the Sinch Customer Dashboard. Before attempting these procedures, ensure  that you have the following materials available.
 

Required materials for Meta business portfolio and app creation

Note: Third-party software requirements are subject to change at any time. Any descriptions of third-party software are included only as an aide, and may not represent the current requirements of the software or tool.

In order to create a Meta business portfolio and corresponding app, you must have:

  • A personal Facebook account with which you can confirm your identity
     
  • A unique image to use when you create your app. 
    • Image dimensions must be between 512 x 512 and 1024 x 1024 pixels
       
    • Image must be in JPEG, GIF, or PNG format
       
    • Image file size must be no greater than 5 MB
       
  • Contact information for a Data Protection Officer for your app, if you will be conducting business in the EU
     
  • A URL to the Privacy Policy for your app
     
  • A URL to instructions or a callback that allows users to delete their data from your app
     
  • A screen recording application, which is required for the app verification process
     

Required materials for Sinch configuration steps

In order to complete the configuration of your solution on the Sinch Customer Dashboard, you must have:

If you do not meet either of these requirements, or if you have any questions, reach out to your Sinch Account Manager.

 

Creating a Meta App

Note: Third-party software is subject to change at any time. Any descriptions or images of third-party software are included only as an aide, and may not represent the current version of the software or tool.

In order to gain access to Sinch's WhatsApp services as an ASP, your business must exist as a Tech Provider in Meta's system. Therefore, you must create a Meta business portfolio that meets the Tech Provider requirements. This is done in the Meta Business Manager or the Meta Business Suite. Then, you'll create a Meta app from Meta's developer site and add WhatsApp to it.

The full procedure is described on Meta's documentation site. The steps are summarized below, and Sinch-specific instructions are also provided.

To create a Meta business portfolio that meets the Tech Provider requirements:

  1. Create a Meta business portfolio using either the Meta Business Manager or the Meta Business Suite. The linked article includes the full procedure, which is summarized below:

    1. Visit business.facebook.com.
       
    2. Create an account.
       
    3. Enter your business' details to create the portfolio.

    Alternatively, you may use an existing business portfolio if that portfolio has already been populated with the requisite information (for example, business address, website, email, etc.). To use an existing portfolio, the owner of the portfolio must be able to provide the appropriate details during the Business Verification process (referenced later in this guide). Any information populated in your portfolio and/or provided to Meta during Business Verification must be accurate in good standing with Meta and successfully onboard your end-clients.

    Note: You may have two Meta business portfolios associated with your account.
     

  2. If you haven't already, register as a Meta developer by navigating to developers.facebook.com, logging in, and completing the Get Started registration flow.
     
  3. Navigate to your My Apps page of the Meta for Developers site. Click an available Create App button to create a new app.

    meta_developer_app.png
     
  4. Complete the corresponding process. When selecting a type, select the Business type. Note that you may have to select Other prior to selecting Business.

    meta_app_business_selection.png

    After you complete the process, your app's App Dashboard is displayed.
     
  5. Navigate to the newly created app's App settings and confirm that you have provided the requisite assets and pieces of information. Review the Prerequisites section of this document to ensure you have all the appropriate materials to complete this process. Also, ensure that the category of the app is set to Messaging.
     
  6. Click the Dashboard tab. Add WhatsApp to your app and complete the corresponding process.

    app_add_whatsapp.png

 

Verifying your Business

Note: Third-party software is subject to change at any time. Any descriptions or images of third-party software are included only as an aide, and may not represent the current version of the software or tool.

After creating an app, you must verify your business complete any remaining steps required for Business Verification. You may review our articles on why the Business Verification process may be necessary, what to expect, and troubleshooting tips if you run into any issues.

To verify your business:

  1. If you aren't already on your app's App Dashboard, navigate there by clicking on your app from the Apps page.

    meta_developer_existing_app.png

    Your app's App Dashboard is displayed.
     
  2. Click the Quickstart tab under WhatsApp. Then, click Start onboarding (or Continue onboarding, depending on you progress) under Scale your business.

    quickstart_start_onboarding.png

    Note: By clicking the Start onboarding button, you are agreeing to Meta's Tech Provider Terms.

    Complete the process until you are asked to choose between Independent Tech Provider and Working with a Solution Partner. Select Working with a Solution Partner.
     
  3. The onboarding flow should be displayed. If your business is already verified, it will be indicated in the UI. If your business is not yet verified, click start the verification process and complete the flow.
     

Preparing your App for Review


Note: Third-party software is subject to change at any time. Any descriptions or images of third-party software are included only as an aide, and may not represent the current version of the software or tool.

After verifying your business, you must prepare your app for review. In addition to verifying your business details, you will also add Sinch as a Solution Partner in this phase. Note that this process is a continuation of the Quickstart Onboarding flow you starred in the last section. To begin the app review process:

  1. Locate the App Review section on the Onboarding page:

    meta_create_partner_solution_in_flow.png

    Note: The above screenshot is taken from the Quickstart Onboarding flow you should already be in the process of completing. This screen is not accessible from the App Review tab on the left side of the overall web page.

    If you have left the Quickstart Onbarding flow for any reason, click the WhatsApp tab on the left side of the page, select Quickstart, and click Continue Onboarding under Become a Tech Provider.
     
  2. Click Create a partner solution.

    Sam_Williams_1-1770239109387.png
     
  3. Complete the form by entering a name for your solution and Sinch's partner App ID: 289362245923081
     
  4. Click Send request. The status of your request is Pending, and the new Partner Solution is displayed in the Partner Solutions panel. 

    meta_solution_id.png

    Contact your Sinch Account Manager and inform them that you have submitted the request.

    Note: You can continue with this procedure while waiting for Sinch to approve the request. Once Sinch approves the request, the corresponding Partner Solution is set to Active. If the status has not been updated within two business days after submitting the request, reach out to your Sinch Account Manager.

    meta_solution_id_active.png

    Confirm that your Partner Solution is Active. If you were onboarded to Sinch's WhatsApp service after January 1, 2024, record your Partner Solution's Solution ID before advancing to the Completing the configuration procedure described below.
     
  5. After adding Sinch as a Solution Partner click Review app settings in the onboarding flow. Ensure that all the information corresponding to your app is correct.
     
  6. After reviewing your app settings, find the Record video documentation in the onboarding flow. Because you are partnering with Sinch, your video will feature Sinch's technology. Record one video showing your app being used to create a message template. To demonstrate this functionality, record yourself visiting the Sinch Build site, navigating to the WhatsApp tab, and using the functionality there to build a template. Ensure that you save the recordings for submission. Note that the video will actually be submitted later in the process.
     
  7. After completing the Record video documentation flow, click Begin App Review. Then, click Edit and complete the flow.

    When describing why you app needs advanced access for the whatsapp_business_management permission, include the recording of you creating a template.

    Note: For this specific process, you do not need to provided step-by-step instructions on how to test your integration. Simply provide the video, and indicate that you have done so when asked for testing instructions.

    Complete the flow and submit your app for review. The results of the review process will then be communicated to you by Meta.
     
  8. Navigate to the Quickstart tab and click Start verification. Complete the flow to submit information about your business and its viability as a Tech Provider.
     
  9. Once all steps the above steps are complete, and the results of the review have been communicated, your status as a Tech Provider will be displayed when you click the Quickstart tab.

Note: In order to successfully connect your app to Sinch's system, it must be in Live mode. If your app is in Development mode, it will not successfully integrate with Sinch's system.
 

Onboarding customers

Once you have completed this process, you are ready to onboard your customers. See our developer docs article on onboarding customers as an ASP. Note that you'll have already completed the Tech Provider step of this process.

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