WhatsApp Automation

Automate WhatsApp messaging with OpenCompany. Receive messages, process them, and send responses.

Prerequisites

Takes: ~15 minutes. You need: OpenCompany running, one AI key (Add your AI key), a WhatsApp account on your phone, and npm available (the WhatsApp bridge installs itself on first use). Pairing uses one of your WhatsApp “linked devices” slots and drops if the service stops.

Want a simpler first messaging bot? The Telegram tutorial needs only a free token — no phone pairing.

Understanding WhatsApp Nodes

Node	Purpose
WhatsApp Receive	Trigger on incoming messages
WhatsApp Send	Send messages to contacts, groups, or channels (also usable as an AI Agent tool)
WhatsApp DB	Query chat history, contacts, groups, and newsletter channels

Connecting your WhatsApp account is done through the Credentials modal (WhatsApp panel), not a workflow node.

Step 1: Connect WhatsApp

Click the WhatsApp icon in the toolbar to open the WhatsApp panel
A modal appears with a QR code
Open WhatsApp on your phone > Settings > Linked Devices > Link a Device
Scan the QR code
Wait for “Connected” status

Keep the WhatsApp service running. If it stops, you’ll need to re-scan the QR code.

Step 2: Create a Message Responder

Let’s build a workflow that auto-replies to incoming messages.

Add WhatsApp Receive Trigger

Drag WhatsApp Receive from the WhatsApp category
Configure the trigger:

Message Type Filter: All Messages
Sender Filter: All Messages
Ignore Own Messages: true

Filter	Description
All Messages	Receive everything
From Any Contact	Non-group messages only
From Specific Contact	Filter by phone number
From Specific Group	Filter by group
Contains Keywords	Match specific words

Step 3: Add an AI Response

Drag AI Agent from the AI Agents palette section onto the canvas
Connect WhatsApp Receive’s output to the AI Agent’s main input (top-left handle)
Click the agent and configure:

Provider: your provider (for example openai)
Model: pick from the dropdown
Prompt: Reply helpfully to this WhatsApp message: {{whatsappReceive.text}}

Model dropdown empty? Add your provider key first — key icon (API Credentials) in the toolbar.

Step 4: Send the Response

Drag WhatsApp Send onto the canvas
Connect the AI Agent’s output to WhatsApp Send’s input
Configure:

Phone Number: {{whatsappReceive.sender_phone}}
Message: {{aiAgent.response}}

Complete Workflow

[WhatsApp Receive] --> [AI Agent] --> [WhatsApp Send]

Step 5: Start it

Press the green Start button in the top toolbar
Send a message to your linked WhatsApp number from another phone
The workflow triggers and sends an AI response

Available Data from WhatsApp Receive

Field	Type	Description
`message_id`	string	Unique message ID
`sender`	string	Sender JID
`sender_phone`	string	Phone number
`chat_id`	string	Chat/group ID
`message_type`	string	text, image, video, etc.
`text`	string	Message content
`timestamp`	string	When message was sent
`is_group`	boolean	True if from a group
`is_from_me`	boolean	True if sent by you
`push_name`	string	Sender’s display name
`is_forwarded`	boolean	True if forwarded
`group_info`	object	Group details (if group message)

Group Message Handling

For group messages, use:

{{whatsappReceive.group_info.group_jid}}
{{whatsappReceive.group_info.sender_name}}
{{whatsappReceive.group_info.sender_phone}}

Example: Keyword-Based Response

Set up different responses based on keywords:

Configuration

Sender Filter: Contains Keywords
Keywords: help, support, question

AI Prompt

The user needs help. Their message: {{whatsappReceive.text}}
Provide a helpful response.

Example: Group Bot

Reply only in specific groups:

Sender Filter: From Specific Group
Group: [Select from dropdown]

Troubleshooting

QR code not appearing

Ensure the WhatsApp service is running (default port 9400)
Open the WhatsApp panel from the toolbar and click Restart to relaunch the connection
Check the Terminal tab for WhatsApp service logs

Messages not being received

Verify the workflow is started (Start pressed, not just saved)
Check “Ignore Own Messages” setting
Ensure filters aren’t too restrictive

Send fails with error

Verify phone number format (include country code)
Check WhatsApp connection status
Ensure recipient hasn’t blocked you

Tips

Use Simple Memory with WhatsApp for context-aware conversations. Set Session ID to {{whatsappReceive.sender_phone}} for per-contact memory.

Test with your own number first before deploying to production.

Next Steps

Android Automation

Control Android devices

WhatsApp Node Reference

Full node documentation

Tutorials

Deploy

WhatsApp Automation

WhatsApp Automation

Prerequisites

Understanding WhatsApp Nodes

Step 1: Connect WhatsApp

Step 2: Create a Message Responder

Add WhatsApp Receive Trigger

Step 3: Add an AI Response

Step 4: Send the Response

Complete Workflow

Step 5: Start it

Available Data from WhatsApp Receive

Group Message Handling

Example: Keyword-Based Response

Configuration

AI Prompt

Example: Group Bot

Troubleshooting

Tips

Next Steps

Android Automation

WhatsApp Node Reference

​WhatsApp Automation

​Prerequisites

​Understanding WhatsApp Nodes

​Step 1: Connect WhatsApp

​Step 2: Create a Message Responder

​Add WhatsApp Receive Trigger

​Filter Options

​Step 3: Add an AI Response

​Step 4: Send the Response

​Complete Workflow

​Step 5: Start it

​Available Data from WhatsApp Receive

​Group Message Handling

​Example: Keyword-Based Response

​Configuration

​AI Prompt

​Example: Group Bot

​Troubleshooting

​Tips

​Next Steps

Android Automation

WhatsApp Node Reference

WhatsApp Automation

Prerequisites

Understanding WhatsApp Nodes

Step 1: Connect WhatsApp

Step 2: Create a Message Responder

Add WhatsApp Receive Trigger

Filter Options

Step 3: Add an AI Response

Step 4: Send the Response

Complete Workflow

Step 5: Start it

Available Data from WhatsApp Receive

Group Message Handling

Example: Keyword-Based Response

Configuration

AI Prompt

Example: Group Bot

Troubleshooting

Tips

Next Steps