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Go-live checklist
Work down this list once before launch. Every item has caused a real merchant either silence where a message should have been, or a message that should not have gone out.
Short answer
Before going live, confirm both channels are connected and every template your journeys use is Approved. Each journey you expect to run must be Published, and marketing should target only contacts with recorded consent. Then run one real end-to-end test on a real phone.
Connections#
Check it worked
- Shopify shows Connected with the correct store domain.
- WhatsApp shows Connected with the number you want customers to see.
- A test message from your phone shows up in Live Chat.
- Your WhatsApp token is a permanent System User token, not a 24-hour test token.
- Gmail is connected if any journey or campaign sends email.
Templates#
Check it worked
- Every template referenced by a published journey shows Approved.
- Order and shipping templates are in the Utility category and contain no promotional language.
- Promotional templates are in the Marketing category.
- Variables are mapped — a template with unmapped variables sends with blanks or fails outright.
- The preview in the dashboard matches what you want the customer to receive.
Automations#
Check it worked
- Each journey you expect to run shows Published. Draft journeys never send.
- The trigger on each journey matches the event you think it does — order confirmation is the order placed trigger.
- Trigger filters are deliberate. All rules combine with AND, so two narrow rules can exclude everyone.
- Wait timings are what you intend — the first cart reminder is minutes, not instant.
- Your main flow is Published in Flow Builder, so replies get an answer.
Consent and compliance#
Check it worked
- Marketing broadcasts target only contacts with recorded opt-in.
- No purchased or scraped phone lists are loaded into Audience.
- Opt-in tools carry consent wording that names WhatsApp marketing explicitly.
- STOP handling is understood — it opts the contact out of marketing automatically.
- Order and shipping updates use Utility templates, which do not require marketing consent.
Tracking (for cart recovery only)#
Check it worked
- All three layers on Store growth → Website tracking are green.
- The TopEdge opt-in app embed is enabled on your live theme, not a preview theme.
- A test abandoned checkout produced a cart row with a phone number.
- If you use a third-party checkout, its webhook is configured and tested.
One real end-to-end test#
Place a real order on your own phone
Use a number you control, in international format. Check the WhatsApp message reads correctly on the phone, not just in the dashboard preview.
Abandon a checkout
Enter your phone at checkout and leave. Confirm the cart shows under abandoned carts with the phone filled in, then wait for the first reminder.
Reply to the message
Your reply should appear in Live Chat and trigger your welcome flow. This proves the webhook works inbound too.
Reply yourself, then give it back
Press Reply myself on the thread and send a free-form reply. Then press Give back to bot and confirm automation resumes on your next message.
Check the money
Complete the abandoned checkout. Confirm the cart is marked recovered with revenue attributed.
Know your limits before launch day#
Two separate ceilings apply, and a launch broadcast often hits both at once.
- Your TopEdge plan caps orders and sends per billing cycle.
- Meta caps how many unique customers you can message in 24 hours.
| Plan | Orders / cycle | Campaign + email sends / cycle | Journey Branch | COD to prepaid | Send priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trial (14 days) | 20 | 200 | No | No | Standard |
| Launch | 100 | 3,000 | No | No | Standard |
| Growth | 800 | 15,000 | Yes | Yes | Priority |
| Scale | 1,500 | 30,000 | Yes | Yes | Highest |
Caps reset each billing cycle. Current prices are on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the most common reason a WhatsApp automation does not send?
- A journey left in Draft. Publishing is a separate action from saving, and a saved draft looks complete in the editor while sending nothing. The second most common reason is a template that is still pending Meta approval.
- Do order confirmations need marketing consent?
- No. Order, shipping and delivery updates are transactional and send as Utility templates, which do not require marketing opt-in. Promotional broadcasts are different and do need recorded consent from the contact.