Meta Product Catalog

The Meta Product Catalog lets businesses upload and showcase product inventory directly in WhatsApp conversations. Use it to send interactive product catalog cards, run product-focused Broadcasts, and build automated shopping Workflows — all from Aelyst.

Supported Channels: WhatsApp Business Platform (API) and WhatsApp Cloud API.

Before you begin

Before connecting the catalog in Aelyst, link it to your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) in Meta Business Manager (MBM). Learn more about linking your catalog to your WABA in MBM.

Connecting the Meta Product Catalog

1. Navigate to Workspace Settings > Channels.
2. Locate the WhatsApp Business Platform (API) Channel, then click Manage.
3. Click Meta Product Catalog > Connect Catalog.

Configuring the Meta Product Catalog

Once connected, configure the following settings:

• Enable Catalog (toggle): allows sending product messages so Contacts can access the catalog.
• Allow Contacts to add products to their cart (toggle): when enabled, Contacts see the Add to Cart button. When disabled, Contacts can still view products but can't add to cart.
• Header Text for Multi-Product Messages (text): sets the header text displayed when sending multi-product messages.
• Preview Catalog: click Preview Catalog to review and verify catalog contents.

Disabling the catalog won't remove the connection to MBM. The Meta Catalog feature just won't be accessible in Aelyst or visible to Contacts in WhatsApp.

Using the catalog across modules and features

Using Meta Product Catalog with WhatsApp Message Templates

Templates that include the Meta Product Catalog are categorized as Marketing Conversations and sub-categorized as Product Messages.

Create or edit a product message template:

1. Navigate to Workspace Settings > Channels.
2. Locate the WhatsApp Business Platform (API) Channel, then click Manage.
3. Click Templates > Submit Template, or select an existing template to edit. (To edit an existing product message, set the Category filter to Marketing to find product messages quickly.)
4. Select Marketing > Product Message in the Category list.

Button text in templates is set by Meta and can't be edited.

When editing the template, choose a Template Format:

• Catalog message: shares the full catalog when a user clicks the template button. Headers aren't allowed for this format.
• Multi-product message: shares up to 30 selected products when a user clicks the template button. Headers are mandatory for this format.

Preview the template on the right while editing, then click Submit Template when finished.

Using Meta Product Catalog in Messages

Access the Meta Product Catalog from the Inbox to send single or multi-product messages, or the full catalog, to Contacts via the integrated catalog browser.

Send a product message:

1. Click the Meta Product Catalog icon, then select the desired product(s), or click Send Full Catalog.
2. Send the Product Message.

Receive orders with product messages: When a customer places an order via the catalog, an incoming message arrives and the order details become viewable in the Inbox.

The total estimated cost and quantity displayed reflect the values set when the order was placed, regardless of later changes in prices or product availability.

Send product template messages in Workflows

1. Add a Send a Message step to the Workflow.
2. Configure the Channel, select WhatsApp Template as the message type, and fill in the Message Content.
3. Click Select Products to choose the desired product(s).

Catalog Message Templates send all products in a single catalog to Contacts (select a product to feature as the thumbnail). Multi-Product Message Templates support up to 30 products for Contacts to view.

Configure a Broadcast to send product template messages

1. Configure the Segment, Channel Type, and Channel, then select a Product Message Template from the Message Template list.
2. Click Select Product and select up to 30 products for the Broadcast using Multi-Product Message Templates. (Send all products in a single catalog using a Catalog Message Template.)
3. Optional: choose a thumbnail for the Product Message and preview it in the Message Preview section. The first product is used as the thumbnail by default.

Click Next to schedule the Broadcast once configuration is complete.

FAQ and troubleshooting

I can't find the Product Catalog. What should I do?

First, make sure you've:

• Created a Catalog in Meta Business Manager.
• Connected a Catalog to the WABA in WhatsApp Manager in Meta Business Manager.

To connect a catalog in Meta Business Manager:

1. Navigate to the WhatsApp Manager home in Meta Business Manager.
2. Click Account tools in the sidebar to expand it.
3. Click Catalogue.
4. Click Choose a Catalogue, then Select catalogue and choose your catalog.
5. Click Connect Catalogue.

If the product catalog can't be retrieved after connecting a new Channel or after recent WABA changes, check that you have the right access to your Channel:

1. Navigate to Business Integration settings.
2. Select the Aelyst integrated app and click View and edit.
3. Confirm access to the WABA listed under "Manage your WhatsApp accounts." If the toggle is off, turn it on.
4. Toggle off "Manage your product catalogues" if you already tried to connect your WhatsApp catalog before this step.
5. Navigate to Channel settings > Troubleshoot and refresh the permission.
6. Navigate to Channel settings > Meta Product Catalog and log in to Facebook again to retry connecting.

My token has expired. What should I do?

If your token has expired, refresh the catalog token by disconnecting and reconnecting the WhatsApp Business Channel in Aelyst.

Why did I receive the error "Missing Business Compliance Form"?

If your business operates in a region with additional legal requirements to sell on WhatsApp, you may need to complete a compliance form. Review Meta's requirements for selling online on the WhatsApp Business Platform in your region.

Why can't I connect my product catalog, or why did the catalog icon disappear from the Inbox composer?

This happens when:

• The connected admin lost Full Control permissions to the WABA or catalog in Meta Business Manager.
• The catalog was inactive for over six months. Meta automatically deletes unused catalogs, making them permanently inaccessible.

What's next?

• Submit and manage WhatsApp Message Templates
• Send a Broadcast on Aelyst
• Build a Workflow to automate messaging
• Understand WhatsApp Pricing and conversation types