> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.alcmeon.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# WhatsApp channel: routing, rules, and configuration

> How WhatsApp works in Simio: routing through Alcmeon, what you can send, opt-in and 24-hour rules, quality ratings, and where to configure each piece.

All WhatsApp messaging is routed through **Alcmeon**, Simio's WhatsApp Business API provider. Simio does not talk to Meta directly. Template approvals, media conversions, account health signals, and all inbound WhatsApp events (new messages, delivery/read status updates, button clicks) flow through Alcmeon.

## What you get with WhatsApp in Simio

* **Campaigns**: one-off template sends to segments.
* **Automations**: event-triggered flows (opt-in confirmation, external API triggers, integrations).
* **Chatbots**: automatic replies to inbound WhatsApp messages.
* **Conversations inbox**: live threads with your customers, with a 24-hour reply window.
* **Templates**: create and submit WhatsApp templates for Meta approval.
* **Account health**: quality rating, sending tiers, and restriction alerts pulled from Meta via Alcmeon.

## What is specific to WhatsApp

WhatsApp has these particular rules that shape how you use it:

* **Templates and Meta approval**. Business-initiated messages must be pre-approved by Meta as templates. See [WhatsApp templates](/simio/channels/whatsapp/templates).
* **24-hour conversation window**. Free-form replies are only allowed within 24 hours of the contact's last inbound message. Outside that window, you must start a new conversation with a template. See [Conversation billing](/simio/channels/whatsapp/conversation-billing).
* **Per-account opt-in**. Consent is tracked per WhatsApp Business account, not per company. A contact who opted in on number A has not opted in on number B. See [Opt-in rules](/simio/channels/whatsapp/opt-in-rules).
* **Account quality and sending tiers**. Meta rates each WhatsApp account (High/Medium/Low) and enforces daily conversation limits that grow as you prove sending quality. See [Account quality](/simio/channels/whatsapp/account-quality).

## How Simio talks to WhatsApp

<Steps>
  <Step title="Pairing through Alcmeon">
    You generate a one-time pairing code in Simio and hand it to Alcmeon out of band. Alcmeon confirms the pairing back. See [Connect a WhatsApp number](/simio/channels/whatsapp/connect).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Inbound events via webhook">
    Every inbound WhatsApp event (new message, delivery/read status, button click) arrives at Simio as a webhook forwarded by Alcmeon, is queued, and is processed in the background.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Outbound via Alcmeon API">
    Simio sends outbound messages through Alcmeon's WhatsApp Business API. Templates, media, and click-tracking redirects are all managed on Simio's side and relayed through Alcmeon at send time.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Multiple WhatsApp accounts on one company

A company can connect more than one WhatsApp number. Simio figures out which account a conversation belongs to based on the most recent message sent through it, not a fixed assignment. This matters practically because:

* Templates are picked per account: replying inside the inbox offers only templates approved for that specific account.
* Consent (opt-in and opt-out) is tracked per messaging account, not per contact overall.

## Where to go next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Connect a number" icon="link" href="/simio/channels/whatsapp/connect">
    Pair a WhatsApp Business number with Simio.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Templates" icon="file-text" href="/simio/channels/whatsapp/templates">
    Structure, approval, and sync of WhatsApp templates.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Opt-in rules" icon="check-check" href="/simio/channels/whatsapp/opt-in-rules">
    How Simio tracks WhatsApp consent and what Meta requires.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Conversation billing" icon="receipt" href="/simio/channels/whatsapp/conversation-billing">
    How Meta bills WhatsApp conversations (marketing, utility, service).
  </Card>

  <Card title="Account quality" icon="shield-check" href="/simio/channels/whatsapp/account-quality">
    Quality ratings, sending tiers, and warm-up strategy.
  </Card>

  <Card title="FAQ" icon="circle-question-mark" href="/simio/channels/whatsapp/faq">
    Common questions about WhatsApp in Simio.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


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