WhatsApp Business API Automation in n8n: Start With the Window

Описание и применение

Автоматизация ответов в WhatsApp с помощью n8n, соблюдение 24‑часового окна обслуживания, проверка подписи Meta, удаление дубликатов и ручной контроль AI‑ответов.

Задача

Small businesses receive hundreds of WhatsApp messages and answer them manually; they need automated replies that respect WhatsApp’s rules and cost structure.

Результат

An n8n workflow that respects WhatsApp’s 24‑hour window, avoids duplicate replies, and uses human review for AI‑drafted messages, reducing manual effort while staying compliant.

Рабочий процесс

• Receive message via webhook
• Verify Meta signature using app secret
• Deduplicate by storing message_id in Postgres
• Determine message type (FAQ or human handoff)
• If FAQ, draft reply from fixed source
• Send draft to human for approval via WhatsApp
• If approved, send final message to customer

Доказательства

The single most useful fact about the platform is the customer service window. According to the WhatsApp Business Platform pricing page, when a user messages a business it opens a 24-hour window in which the business can reply with service messages at no charge, and the window resets with each new user message.

Источник

First, verify that the request came from Meta. Incoming requests carry a signature header you can check against your app secret.

Источник

Second, deduplicate. If your workflow is slow and the sender decides it hasn't heard back, you can see the same message twice. I store each message ID in a small Postgres table and skip anything already seen.

Источник