# Send official WhatsApp templates with Reply.la

> Connect Reply.la to BCL, then send approved WhatsApp templates and keep Reply.la contacts and labels up to date from an automation.
>
> Source: https://docs.bcl.my/replyla-whatsapp/

Reply.la gives you an official WhatsApp Business number (WABA). Connect it to BCL, then add a **Reply.la** step to an automation. The step can send one of your approved WhatsApp templates, save the buyer as a Reply.la contact, or create, assign and remove labels.

Official numbers send only templates that Meta has approved. For free-text WhatsApp messages from a WhatsApp Web number, use Wabot, Wasapbot or Nakwasap instead (see [Send a WhatsApp after payment](/whatsapp-after-payment/)).

## Before you start

Do these steps in your Reply.la account:

1. Connect your WhatsApp Business number under **Device Manager**.
2. Create your message templates under **Templates** and wait until Meta approves them.
3. Go to **Integrations** → **REST API** and create a token with **Contacts: Edit**, **Templates: Send** and **Devices: View**. Reply.la shows the token one time only, so copy it.

## Connect Reply.la

1. In the sidebar, go to **Platform Setup** → **Integrations**. Click **WhatsApp** to show the WhatsApp cards, then click **Connect** on the **Reply.la** card.

   *(Screenshot: The Reply.la card on the Integrations page with Connect highlighted)*

2. Turn on **Enable Reply.la integration**.
3. Paste the token in **API Token** and click **Verify Connection**.
4. Click **Save Reply.la**.

   *(Screenshot: The Reply.la panel with Enable Reply.la integration highlighted)*

## Add a Reply.la step to an automation

Create an automation, for example with the **Payment Successful** trigger (see [Create an automation](/create-automation/)). Then:

1. Click **Add Node** and pick **Reply.la** under **WhatsApp**.
2. Double-click the new step to open **Reply.la Action Settings**, and type an **Action Name**.
3. In **Action Type**, pick what the step does:

   | Action Type | What it does |
   | --- | --- |
   | **Send WhatsApp template** | Sends an approved template from your official number. |
   | **Save contact** | Adds the number as a Reply.la contact, with **Name**, **Email** and **Company**. |
   | **Create label** | Creates a label with the **Label Name** and **Colour** you choose. |
   | **Assign label to contact** | Puts a label on the contact. It saves the number as a contact first if needed. |
   | **Remove label from contact** | Takes the label off the contact. |

4. For **Send WhatsApp template**, keep the phone variable in **Receiver Phone**, pick the **WhatsApp Number**, then pick the **Template**. Fill each template variable with a BCL variable, for example `{name}` or `{order_number}`.
5. To check it, type your own number in **Phone Number** and click **Send**. BCL sends the template now, with sample data in the variables.
6. Click **Save Reply.la**, then click **Update Automation** and switch the automation on.

> **Tip**
> In **Save contact**, a blank field keeps what Reply.la already has for that contact.

## Common issues

### Which Reply.la token permissions does BCL need?

Tick Contacts: Edit, Templates: Send and Devices: View when you create the token in Reply.la under Integrations → REST API. BCL does not need Messaging or Delete.

### Why is my template not in the Template list?

BCL lists only the templates that Meta has approved, for the WhatsApp number you picked. Pick the WhatsApp Number first, then click the reload icon to load the templates again from Reply.la.

### I made a new token in Reply.la and now the step fails. Why?

Each Reply.la organisation has one token, and a new token stops the old one. Paste the new token on the Reply.la card under Platform Setup → Integrations, click Verify Connection and save.