WhatsApp Base for Odoo 19: Installation, Setup and User Guide

WhatsApp Base connects your WhatsApp Business number to Odoo through the Meta WhatsApp Cloud API. You can send messages, templates and files from Odoo, and customer replies come back into Odoo on the right contact.

This guide explains what the module does, who it helps, how to install and set it up, and how to use each feature.

What WhatsApp Base is for

WhatsApp Base is a free module for Odoo 19.0. It works on Odoo Community as well as Enterprise. Its technical name is ki_whatsapp_base.

With it you can:

• Send a WhatsApp message to any contact without leaving Odoo.
• Send plain text, Meta-approved templates or files.
• Receive customer replies in Odoo, linked to the right contact.
• See when each message is delivered and read.
• Reply automatically to first-time contacts and to people who write outside your opening hours.

The module is described as a reusable base. It gives you the core send and receive features, and it is meant to be a foundation that other WhatsApp features can be built on. [CHECK: which other modules, if any, currently depend on ki_whatsapp_base, and whether developers get a documented API for it]

You can download it from the store page: WhatsApp Base on the KalvyAI Store.

Who it helps

• Business owners who talk to customers on WhatsApp and want those conversations stored with the customer record, not on one person's phone.
• Sales and support teams who want to send a message or a file to a contact straight from Odoo.
• ERP admins who need a free WhatsApp connection that runs on Odoo Community.
• Developers who want a base module to build their own WhatsApp workflows on.

Before you start

You need:

1. An Odoo 19.0 database (Community or Enterprise).
2. Admin rights in Odoo to install modules.
3. For live sending: a WhatsApp Business number set up on the Meta WhatsApp Cloud API, with the credentials Meta gives you. [CHECK: exact list of Meta credentials the module asks for, e.g. phone number ID, business account ID, access token]

You do not need a Meta account to try the module. Practice mode (the Simulator) lets you send test messages without one.

Installation

Step 1: Download the module

1. Go to the WhatsApp Base store page.
2. Download the module. It is free.

Step 2: Add it to your addons path

If you host Odoo yourself, copy the ki_whatsapp_base folder into a folder that is listed in your Odoo addons path.

cp -r ki_whatsapp_base /opt/odoo/custom-addons/

Make sure that folder is in your configuration file:

[options]
addons_path = /opt/odoo/odoo/addons,/opt/odoo/custom-addons

Then restart the Odoo service. [CHECK: install steps for Odoo.sh and other hosted setups, and any Python or module dependencies]

Step 3: Install in Odoo

1. Log in as an administrator.
2. Turn on developer mode.
3. Open Apps and click Update Apps List.
4. Remove the default Apps filter and search for ki_whatsapp_base or WhatsApp Base.
5. Click Activate (or Install).

You can also install it from the command line:

./odoo-bin -c /etc/odoo/odoo.conf -d your_database -i ki_whatsapp_base

Setup

The safest order is: try practice mode first, then connect Meta, test the connection, and switch to Live.

Step 1: Start in practice mode (Simulator)

Practice mode lets you send test messages without a Meta account and without paying Meta. Use it to learn the screens and check your workflow before any real customer gets a message.

1. Open the WhatsApp settings. [CHECK: menu path for WhatsApp Base settings]
2. Make sure the mode is set to the Simulator. [CHECK: name of the mode field and whether Simulator is the default after install]
3. Send a test message to a contact (see "Send a message" below).

[CHECK: where simulated messages appear, and whether simulated incoming replies can be tested]

Step 2: Enter your Meta details

1. In the WhatsApp settings, enter the details from your Meta WhatsApp Cloud API setup. [CHECK: field names in the settings form]
2. Save.

Step 3: Connect incoming messages

Meta delivers incoming messages and status updates (delivered, read) to a webhook URL. For customer replies to reach Odoo, Meta needs to know the module's webhook address.

1. Copy the webhook URL shown by the module. [CHECK: where the webhook URL and verify token are shown in Odoo]
2. Paste it into your app's WhatsApp webhook settings in Meta, and subscribe to the message events. [CHECK: which webhook fields must be subscribed]

Your Odoo must be reachable from the internet over HTTPS for Meta to deliver webhooks.

Step 4: Test the connection

Click Test Connection. It tells you straight away whether the setup is right. If it fails, check your Meta details again before going further. [CHECK: example error messages and what they mean]

Step 5: Go live

Switch to Live with one click. From now on, messages go to real WhatsApp users through Meta, and Meta's own pricing applies to your account.

Using the main features

Send a message

1. Open Send Message. [CHECK: where the Send Message action is, e.g. contact form, menu or both]
2. Pick the contact.
3. Choose the message type: text, template or file.
4. Write your text, select a template, or attach the file.
5. Send.

After sending, you can see when the message is delivered and when it is read. [CHECK: where the delivered and read status is displayed]

Sync your templates

Templates are created and approved in Meta. The module loads them into Odoo so you can pick them when sending.

1. Create your templates in Meta and wait for approval.
2. In Odoo, click Sync Templates. [CHECK: location of the Sync Templates button]
3. Your Meta-approved templates now appear in the template list when you send a message.

Run Sync Templates again whenever you add or change a template in Meta.

See all messages for a contact

1. Open a contact.
2. Click the WhatsApp button on the contact.
3. You see all WhatsApp messages with that contact, both sent and received.

When a customer replies, the reply arrives in Odoo and is linked to the right contact. [CHECK: how contacts are matched, e.g. by mobile number format, and what happens when no contact matches]

Set up the welcome message

The welcome message is sent automatically to people who write to you for the first time.

1. Open the WhatsApp settings.
2. Turn on the welcome message and write the text. [CHECK: field names and whether templates or variables are supported]
3. Save.

Set up the away message

The away message is sent automatically to people who write outside your opening hours and at weekends.

1. Open the WhatsApp settings.
2. Turn on the away message and write the text.
3. Set your opening hours. [CHECK: where opening hours and time zone are configured]
4. Save.

Example away message:

Thanks for your message. Our team is offline right now.
We reply Monday to Friday during office hours and will get back to you on the next working day.

Tips

• Practise first. Use the Simulator to train your team before switching to Live.
• Test after every change. Click Test Connection whenever you change Meta details or tokens.
• Keep phone numbers clean. Store mobile numbers with the country code so messages go out and replies match the right contact.
• Use templates to start conversations. Under Meta's rules, free-form messages are generally only allowed within 24 hours of the customer's last message. Outside that window, send an approved template. Check Meta's current policy for details.
• Re-sync templates. If a template is missing in Odoo, run Sync Templates again and confirm it is approved in Meta.
• Keep messages short. Welcome and away messages work best when they set clear expectations.

Limitations

• Built for Odoo 19.0. [CHECK: plans for other Odoo versions]
• Live mode needs a Meta WhatsApp Business setup. Meta's account rules and pricing apply and are outside the module's control.
• Templates are created and approved in Meta, then synced into Odoo. [CHECK: confirm templates cannot be created or edited from Odoo]
• Receiving replies and delivery and read statuses depends on Meta reaching your Odoo webhook over the internet.
• This is a base module. Advanced flows such as sending from sales orders or invoices are not listed among its features. [CHECK: confirm scope]

FAQ

Is WhatsApp Base free?

Yes. The module is free. When you go live, Meta may charge for messages under its own pricing.

Does it work on Odoo Community?

Yes. It works on Odoo Community as well as Enterprise.

Which Odoo version do I need?

Odoo 19.0.

Can I try it without a Meta account?

Yes. Practice mode (the Simulator) lets you send test messages without a Meta account and without paying Meta.

How do I know my setup is correct?

Click Test Connection. It tells you straight away if the setup is right.

Where do customer replies go?

They arrive in Odoo and are linked to the right contact. Click the WhatsApp button on the contact to see the full message history.

Can I send files?

Yes. When sending a message, choose file as the message type. [CHECK: supported file types and size limits]

Why don't I see my template?

Make sure it is approved in Meta, then click Sync Templates in Odoo.

Can developers build on it?

It is designed as a reusable base module. [CHECK: developer documentation link]

How KalvyAI can help

KalvyAI is a team of eight developers who build and connect Odoo, ERPNext and Shopify systems. We can help you install and configure WhatsApp Base, connect it to Meta, and build custom WhatsApp workflows on top of it. We also add AI agents that work inside your ERP with human approvals, budgets and an audit trail.

Get the module from the store page, or contact us to talk about your setup.