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Quickstart
The shortest path from a new workspace to a real WhatsApp message about a real order. Roughly 30 minutes of work, plus however long Meta takes to approve your first template.
Short answer
To go live, connect Shopify and WhatsApp, then submit one order-confirmation template to Meta. Once it is approved, publish the order-placed journey and place a test order on your own phone. Cart recovery, campaigns and the AI brain all build on that base.
Before you start
- Shopify admin access to the store you want to connect.
- A WhatsApp Business Account on the Cloud API, with a phone number that is not currently active in the WhatsApp Business app (or with coexistence enabled).
- Admin rights in Meta Business Manager, so you can approve the connection and submit templates.
- A second phone you can message from — a business number cannot message itself.
1. Connect Shopify and WhatsApp#
About 30 minutes
Connect Shopify
Settings → Shopify → Connect, then approve the install in Shopify admin. You never type your
.myshopify.comdomain; the install starts from Shopify.Full walkthrough and the permission list: Connect Shopify.
Connect WhatsApp
Settings → WhatsApp → Connect and run Meta's embedded signup. Approve the WhatsApp Business Account and phone number TopEdge should send from.
Full walkthrough including the webhook step: Connect WhatsApp.
Confirm both cards are green
Both cards should read Connected. The amber "WhatsApp disconnected" bar at the top of the dashboard should be gone.
Sync your orders
Open Orders and press Sync. Real orders appear within a minute or two; if the table stays empty, re-approve your Shopify permissions.
Submit an order template to Meta
Open Meta Manager → Library and pick the order lifecycle blueprint. It prefills an image header, body variables and a View order button; submit it and wait for Approved.
Utility templates must read as transactional. One promotional word is the most common rejection reason.
Publish the order-placed journey
Open Journeys → Order placed and map the WhatsApp step to your approved template. Press Publish; draft journeys send nothing.
Place a test order
Check out on your own store with your own phone number. The WhatsApp confirmation should arrive within seconds, and the order detail page logs the send.
Check it worked
- Shopify and WhatsApp both show Connected in Settings.
- Orders lists real orders from your store after a Sync.
- Your order template shows Approved in Meta Manager.
- The order-placed journey shows Published, not Draft.
- A test order produces a WhatsApp message, and the order detail page records the send.
2. Then add one automation at a time#
Switch on one automation at a time. Each has its own prerequisite, so you always know which change broke something.
| Add this | It needs | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Shipped and delivered updates | Fulfilment permissions on the Shopify connection | Order status updates |
| Abandoned cart recovery | Storefront tracking installed and capturing a phone number | Abandoned cart recovery |
| COD confirmation | An approved template with buttons | COD confirmation |
| A welcome menu for replies | A published flow | Build your first flow |
| Promotional broadcasts | Marketing consent on your contacts | WhatsApp broadcasts |
Frequently asked questions
- Why has my test WhatsApp message not arrived?
- Check four things in order: the journey is Published rather than Draft, the template it uses shows Approved, the order carries a phone number in international format, and WhatsApp still shows Connected. The order detail page records a skip reason that names which of these failed.
- Can I test without placing a real order?
- Yes for conversations — Flow Builder has a simulator that walks menus and buttons without messaging anyone. Order journeys need a real Shopify order to trigger, so most merchants place a small test order and cancel or refund it afterwards.
- Do I need a new phone number for WhatsApp?
- Not necessarily, but the number cannot be actively registered in the WhatsApp Business app unless your WhatsApp Business Account has coexistence enabled. Many merchants use a dedicated number for automation and keep their existing one for manual chats.