WhatsApp Coexistence brings AI to your existing number

WhatsApp can do more when connected to automation tools and AI, but until now there was a problem.

Adding these tools meant starting over with a new phone number, losing all your existing contacts and chat history. And any business faced a choice: add powerful AI but lose all customer contacts and conversations or keep your existing relationships intact but miss out on automation.

With Coexistence update, you don’t have to make that choice anymore. You can now keep your existing number and continue using WhatsApp exactly as you do now.

Quick overview

Before this update, connecting AI to your WhatsApp Business meant:

• Creating a brand new phone number

• Losing all your existing contacts

• Starting from scratch

Now, with WhatsApp Coexistence, you can:

• Keep your existing number

• No change in how you use WhatsApp

• Link AI directly to your current account

• Maintain all your existing contacts and chat history

Keep reading to learn how Coexistence update works and what benefits it offers for your business.

What is Meta Coexistence?

WhatsApp Coexistence is a new feature from Meta that lets businesses use their WhatsApp Business API alongside their existing WhatsApp Business app. In simple terms, it means you can add advanced AI and automation tools to your current WhatsApp number without changing how you use WhatsApp or losing your existing data.

Before this update, businesses wanting to use WhatsApp Business API had to create a completely new phone number. This meant losing all existing contacts and chat history. For most businesses, starting over wasn't an option. The cost of advanced communication tools was too high when it meant rebuilding their entire customer communication from scratch.

With Coexistence, businesses can continue business as usual and add API and AI tools without any disruption. You can maintain all your current contacts and conversation history while gaining access to advanced features like automated responses and AI-driven support.

In other words, you get to keep all your current processes and upgrade your communication without starting over.

Benefits of Coexistence

1. Keep your existing number: No more creating new phone numbers or losing your established contact list. Your current WhatsApp Business number now connects all advanced communication tools.

2. Same workflow: Use WhatsApp exactly as before - no new apps to learn, no workflow disruption. AI will handle routine tasks behind the scenes.

3. AI-powered customer support: Automate routine customer tasks, provide instant responses, and free up your team to handle more complex issues. AI can manage frequently asked questions, recommend products, book meetings and more.

4. Communication history: All your previous conversations and customer interactions remain intact. No more starting from zero or losing valuable customer context.

5. Scaling: Improve your customer communication capabilities without significant additional investment. Use AI to handle more customer interactions with the same team.

How to use Coexistence

With WhatsApp Coexistence, the real strength comes from connecting your business to an automation tool. This is how you can add AI and advanced messaging features to your WhatsApp workflow.

Chatfuel is one such automation tool. You can follow the steps below to see how simple adding Coexistence can be. While this guide uses Chatfuel as an example, the general approach works similarly with most WhatsApp automation platforms.

In short, you’ll need to:

• Connect your automation platform (Chatfuel) to WhatsApp

• Select your existing WhatsApp Business number

• Scan a QR code with your WhatsApp Business app

• Choose whether to share your chat history

• Complete the verification process

Step by step guide to add Coexistence

Follow this step-by-step guide to use Coexistence:

1. Go to panel.chatfuel.com and open Settings.

2. Click on Add number, then Connect new number.

3. Continue as yourself in the popup window.

4. Click on Get Started to continue.

5. Fill out your business info: business portfolio, name, website and country.

6. Select the option to connect your existing WhatsApp Business number.

7. After you enter your WhatsApp number, you’ll see a QR code on your screen.

8. Check your WhatsApp for a message from Facebook Business and tap on Scan QR code.

9. Confirm your choice by tapping Scan QR code.

10. Share chats to save your chat history to Chatfuel.

    

Done. Your WhatsApp number will continue to work as before. And will also be connected to Chatfuel where you can access all the AI tools and other features.

Check out the more detailed guide on how to connect your current business number.

What you get with Coexistence + Chatfuel

In short — AI-driven communication tools, like ChatGPT but inside your WhatsApp.

Below are a few examples of what Coexistence and Chatfuel can do:

1. Automate customer support: Automate FAQs and customer questions with smart responses. The AI can handle routine tasks, give instant answers, and transfer more complex questions to a human agent when needed.

2. Remember customer history: The AI remembers past conversations with customers, so it can give relevant answers based on what they've asked before. You can also connect this data with CRMs like HubSpot or Salesforce to keep all customer information in one place

3. Engage customers proactively: Send promotional messages, updates, and alerts through WhatsApp, reaching customers where they already spend their time. Organize customer information with tags and custom fields for better targeting.

4. Boost marketing efforts: Use Ads that click to WhatsApp and filter potential customers based on their behavior or interests, making getting new customers more efficient.

Key benefits

• Automate customer questions with AI

• Hand off complex issues to human agents

• Remember past conversations

• Connect with your CRM

• Send promotions via WhatsApp

• Organize contacts with tags

• Run WhatsApp ad campaigns

FAQs

What is WhatsApp Coexistence?

WhatsApp Coexistence is an update that lets you apply for the WhatsApp Business API on your existing WhatsApp Business number without deleting your account. You can now run both the WhatsApp Business app and the API side by side.

Will my existing chats, contacts, and groups remain intact?

Yes. All your current chats, contacts, groups, and communities remain safe and synchronized. You can continue using them while accessing the new API features.

What are the requirements to use WhatsApp Coexistence?

All you need is an active WhatsApp Business account. If you already have one, you can apply for the WhatsApp Business API on your existing number without additional setup.

How does WhatsApp Coexistence work on a day-to-day basis?

Once enabled, WhatsApp Coexistence allows you to manage chats and contacts using both the WhatsApp Business app and the API simultaneously. Everything syncs automatically, maintaining your existing workflow.

How long does it take to set up WhatsApp Coexistence on my number?

The WhatsApp API setup is straightforward and typically takes a few minutes. Once approved, you can start using the new features immediately without changing your number or losing existing chats.

Can I still use all the features of the WhatsApp Business app along with the API?

Yes. You keep all the existing WhatsApp Business app features while gaining access to API tools like automation, CRM integration, and multi-agent live chat.

Does WhatsApp Coexistence affect my broadcast limits or messaging rates?

No. Your broadcast limits and messaging rates remain unchanged. The coexistence feature enhances your messaging capabilities without disrupting your current communication methods.

Are there any limitations to using WhatsApp Coexistence?

WhatsApp Coexistence is currently in beta, so some advanced options are still being developed. Most features work well, and support is available if you encounter any issues.