Tutorial · Channels
How to set up a WhatsApp AI agent
By the end of this tutorial you will have an AI agent answering customers on a real WhatsApp number. You describe the agent in one sentence, VegaDūta builds it, and you connect WhatsApp in one of three modes — Meta Cloud API via Embedded Signup, Twilio, or QR-pairing a regular WhatsApp number with no Business API account at all. No code is required at any point.
The agent handles text and media, replies in any of 22 languages, and runs behind guardrails you control. If you just want to see it work first, the sandbox at /try needs no account.
Step by step
Try it or sign up
Open the sandbox at /try — no account, no card — to test-drive an agent immediately. When you are ready to connect a real WhatsApp number, create a free account at app.vegaduta.ai; the console is where channels live.
Describe the agent
In the agent builder, type one sentence describing the job — 'Answer order and delivery questions for my kirana store', for example. VegaDūta assembles the agent from that: persona, tools, and default guardrails. You can refine everything afterwards.
Pick a WhatsApp connection mode
Open the WhatsApp channel settings and choose how to connect. Meta Cloud API via Embedded Signup is the official Business route. QR-pairing lets you use a regular WhatsApp number — scan a QR code from your phone, no Business API needed — and the link auto-reconnects if it drops. Twilio works if your number already lives there.
Connect and send a test message
Complete the signup flow or scan the QR code, then message the number from your own phone. The agent should reply within moments. Send an image or a voice note too — media is supported on the channel.
Set guardrails and approvals
Before real customers arrive, open the agent's guardrails and mark which actions need a human sign-off. The agent will pause and ask before doing anything you flagged as risky, instead of acting on its own.
Go live
Share the number with customers. The agent answers around the clock in whichever of the 22 supported languages the customer writes in, and everything it does shows up in the conversation history in your console.
Troubleshooting
Most WhatsApp setup problems come down to the connection mode, not the agent.
- QR pairing not appearing: the QR bridge must be enabled for your workspace — check the channel settings screen for its status.
- Meta Cloud API messages not arriving: finish every step of Embedded Signup, including phone-number verification on Meta's side.
- Agent replies in the wrong language: it mirrors the customer's language by default; pin a language in the agent's settings if you want one fixed.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the WhatsApp Business API to use an AI agent?
No. VegaDūta's QR-pair mode connects a regular WhatsApp number — you scan a QR code from your phone, the same way WhatsApp Web works, and the link auto-reconnects if it drops. The Meta Cloud API and Twilio routes are also available if you want the official Business API.
Can the WhatsApp agent handle images and voice notes?
Yes. Media is supported on the WhatsApp channel, so customers can send images and voice notes and the agent can work with them. Replies can include media as well.
What languages does the WhatsApp agent speak?
The platform supports 22 languages, including major Indian languages. By default the agent replies in the language the customer writes in, and you can pin a specific language in the agent's settings.
How do I stop the agent from doing something risky on WhatsApp?
Use guardrails and approval rules. Any action you mark as needing sign-off makes the agent pause and ask a human before proceeding. That applies on WhatsApp exactly as it does on every other channel.
See it working in two minutes
The sandbox provisions a real tenant — describe an agent in one sentence and test it, no account, no card. Or browse ~90 industry workflow recipes to see what teams build.
