# WhatsApp CRM that actually moves leads (without getting blocked)

_URL: https://calliyo.com/whatsapp-crm · Built for: Sales, support, retention and admissions teams running on WhatsApp_

> WhatsApp CRM for Indian SMEs. Auto-trigger templates from calls, run follow-up cadences, manage one shared team inbox — without getting blocked by Meta.

## TL;DR

Most Indian SMEs already use WhatsApp — they just use it badly. Personal numbers get blocked, conversations live in one agent's phone, and there's no trail for the manager. A WhatsApp CRM moves you to the official WhatsApp Business API, gives the team a shared inbox, lets you trigger templates from calls or lead stage, and tracks delivery + open + reply rates. Calliyo's WhatsApp layer plugs straight into the SIM-based calling workflow.

## What goes wrong today

### Personal numbers get blocked by Meta
Send 100+ messages a day from a personal WhatsApp and you'll get rate-limited or banned. Customers see 'this account is banned' and trust evaporates.

### Context lost across agents
Lead WhatsApped Agent A on Monday, Agent B today — Agent B has no idea what was discussed. Customer repeats the story; deal stalls.

### No follow-up cadence
Demo booked → reminder forgotten. Cart abandoned → no nudge. Site visit done → no thank-you. Most teams have intent but no system.

### Templates rejected, marketing throttled
Meta rejects your template with 'POLICY_VIOLATION' and no clear reason. Marketing sends stall for days.

## How Calliyo fixes each one

### Official Business API number
Move from a personal WhatsApp to an official Business API number. Verified branding, green-tick eligibility, no ban risk if you respect opt-in rules.

### Shared team inbox
Every agent sees the same conversation thread. Assign, transfer, add internal notes. Customer talks to 'the brand', not to a specific phone.

### Trigger templates from the workflow
Call ends → auto-send the relevant template. Lead stage changes → cadence fires. No manual copy-paste from a Google Doc.

### Pre-approved template library
Calliyo ships a library of ~30 templates pre-approved across Utility, Marketing and Authentication categories — the ones that actually get through Meta's review.

## How setup works

1. You issue your WhatsApp Business API number through Calliyo (one-time setup, takes ~2 days for Meta verification)
2. Calliyo imports your existing contact list and tags opt-in status
3. Templates from the pre-approved library get plugged into your workflows — calls, lead stage, cart events
4. Agents work from the shared inbox; managers see delivery, open, reply rates per template and per agent
5. Customer replies open a 24h session window where any free-form message can be sent (Meta's rule); after that, templates only

## Frequently asked questions

**What's the difference between WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Business API?**

WhatsApp Business is the free Android app for sole proprietors — one phone, one user. WhatsApp Business API (or Cloud API) is what real businesses use: official verified number, multi-user inbox, programmatic sending, template messages. Calliyo uses the Cloud API.

**How long does Meta verification take?**

Typically 1-3 business days for a clean account: business documents, a verified Facebook Business Manager, a phone number not previously used on personal WhatsApp. Most rejections come from a number that was used on a regular WhatsApp account — delete that first.

**Does WhatsApp Business API cost extra?**

Yes — Meta charges per conversation (₹0.30-0.80 per conversation in India depending on category and country). It's not per message; once a conversation opens (24h window), you can send unlimited messages inside it. Marketing conversations cost more than utility.

**Can I send marketing messages to anyone?**

Only to contacts who have opted in. Meta enforces this strictly. Calliyo tracks opt-in source (form fill, WhatsApp 'Hi', verbal consent on call) and blocks marketing sends to un-opted contacts to keep your account safe.

**What happens if my account gets a quality drop?**

Meta assigns a quality rating (green/yellow/red) based on user blocks and reports. Yellow = limit your daily sends. Red = your sends stop. Calliyo monitors quality in the dashboard and warns before you hit the limit. Pause marketing for 7 days, ratings usually recover.

**Can I keep my existing WhatsApp number?**

Only if it was used in the consumer WhatsApp app and you migrate it. The migration is one-way — once moved to Business API, you can't switch back. Most teams provision a new dedicated number to avoid risk.

**How does this work with Calliyo's call workflow?**

Call ends → outcome tagged → Calliyo sends the matched template ('Thanks for your call, here's the brochure', 'Demo confirmed for X', 'Sorry we missed you, please call back at Y'). The customer's call history and WhatsApp history live in one timeline.