Whatapps Integrate with Vicidial

[ramizuabhalim]

Hi All,

May i check with you vicidial has solution that already integrate with whatsapp web?

[mflorell]

Our response to this question from a post last year:

Nope, we haven't built anything with any of the Facebook APIs. There are a lot of issues involved with integrating with any of the Facebook applications, including the ever-changing terms of service, and the requirements that you have paid business accounts and that you have to host your own machines to perform the API actions. Also, keep in mind that it was only a few years ago that with almost no warning Facebook decided to shut down all APIs that they had available, and that it was a while before they released more limited new ones.

As for Whatsapp specifically, the business APIs that they have available are limited in their functionality, and their terms of service would invalidate use by many of our clients. For example, companies that offer any kind of subscription service can't use the Whatsapp Business API. Also, you cannot ask for or receive any kind of payment information through the Whatsapp Business API. That pretty much rules out a lot of sales and customer service functions that many VICIdial clients would want to perform.

So, in summary, it's complicated to set up and manage, and it is of very limited use, so we aren't going to develop compatibility with it unless a customer wants to pay for it, and that is not likely given the limitations involved.

[williamconley]

I agree with Matt, for the code base of the system it would likely get a lot of call centers in trouble (they would likely violate the terms of service with reckless abandon). But for some rooms who provide customer service and have clients that love the new social media sites like whatsapp, having the option to integrate social media is an absolute requirement (and inevitable, IMHO).

That being said: Are you looking for a Chat interface, perhaps integrating/combining with the Vicidial Chat system? OR more like the email integration? Or a whole new interface?

[traverbond]

Sorry if I don't have to post this here,

Can I integrate Vicidial API with this app: https://gbapps.net/fmwhatsapp-apk-download/

Thanks for your replies.

[mflorell]

That link you posted is to an Android App, I have no idea how you would integrate that with a VICIdial server.

[Shinra]

chat interface integrating with the vicidial chat system if possible?GBWhatsApp APK

[jamiemurray]

There's a Chrome extension that allows (with a subscription) webhooks which could possibly achieve what you're looking to do, I'm not sure if it will work but you would require skills in a language (eg. PHP) to build an endpoint for the webhook to be received and do what you need to do with the information received.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/deta ... kamh?hl=es
You'd need to do your own research on it though to make sure you can achieve your goal.

[Shinra]

thanks Jamie.

[martinch]

Integration of Whatsapp with ViCiDial should be possible via the web version of Whatsapp...my theory would be using something like Puppeteer in Node.JS to scrape / upload data from Whatsapp to some table in the schema like `vicidial_whatsapp_log` or something along those lines. This method doesn't depend on API access and will be using a headless browser / or use a web socket to scrape and upload data.

@williamconley @mflorell is there a legal barrier to the integration? I didn't read anything about that in the posts above.

NB: obviously...using an API is preferred...and the above method might be considered "janky" but technically, it's "future proof" as it's simulating a user session within Whatsapp. Obviously, that has it's own limitations but yeah.

Also, Node.JS isn't part of the ViCiDial stack...and for this one purpose...it might be frowned upon. Although, if I were to build a proof of concept integration on Whatsapp...I'd probably want to expand that out to several other popular messaging apps.

I'm willing to give it a go if the guys confirm no legal issues exist.

[mflorell]

As long as it's a separate module outside of the official VICIdial codebase I wouldn't see any issues with it from our point of view. Parts of VICIdial could be changed to accept connections to these modules without having to incorporate the actual integration code into the VICIdial codebase.

Just keep in mind that Meta has a history of changing their web interfaces without warning, and they often roll out new versions on a rolling basis to different groups of users at different times, so no guarantee that one Whatsapp account will get the same web interface as another one.

[martinch]

As long as it's a separate module outside of the official VICIdial codebase I wouldn't see any issues with it from our point of view. Parts of VICIdial could be changed to accept connections to these modules without having to incorporate the actual integration code into the VICIdial codebase.

Just keep in mind that Meta has a history of changing their web interfaces without warning, and they often roll out new versions on a rolling basis to different groups of users at different times, so no guarantee that one Whatsapp account will get the same web interface as another one.

Thanks for the clarification Matt.

I've spun up a development thread over in the Features section here -> http://vicidial.org/VICIDIALforum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=41727. I will take a stab at it to see what's possible with this. I'm not aware of regional differences with WhatsApp web but I know my instance is fairly straightforward (based in the UK). Sync with phone via QR code and are presented with pretty much a mobile phone version of the site.

Feel free to follow the updates there. Here's a little taster of a mock up UI;

[ramizuabhalim]

Hi Martinch,

This is the good initiative!!
This one can support the WhatApps Call as well?