Utility Template Library
Meta has recently made available the Utility Template Library, which makes it faster and easier for businesses to create utility templates for common use cases, like payment reminders, delivery updates and more.
These pre-written templates have already been categorized and priced as utility. These templates contain fixed content that cannot be edited and parameters you can adapt for business or user-specific information.
Clients with a Shared WABA can browse and create templates using the Utility Template Library in WhatsApp Manager, or it is also possible create them via the API.
via WhatsApp Manager
Creating Utility Templates
Follow the instructions below to create templates using the Utility Template Library in WhatsApp Manager.
1: In the left sidebar of WhatsApp Manager under Message Templates, select Create Template.
2: Under Browse the WhatsApp Template Library, select Browse Templates.
3: Clients will now see all currently available utility templates. Use the search bar to search by topic or use case, or use the dropdown options on the sidebar to filter the results.
Hovering over a template will show you its parameter values that you can use.
4: To create a template, select one by clicking on it. Then, add your template name, select the language, and fill out the button details. Once you have completed these steps, click Submit.
If you choose Customize template, your template will have to go through review before you are able to send messages.
Template Parameters and Restrictions
When a template contains the value library_template_name
in the GET /message_templates?name=<TEMPLATE_NAME>
response, it is a template created from the Utility Template Library and is subject to type checks and restrictions.
The templates in the library contain both fixed content and parameters. The parameters represent spaces in the template where variable information can be inserted, such as names, addresses, and phone numbers.
In the example above, parameters like the name Jim
or the business name CS Mutual
can be modified to accept variables like your customer's name and your business's name.
Messages sent using templates from Utility Template Library are subject to parameter checks during send time. Values used in parameters that are outside of the established ranges listed below will cause the message send to fail.
List of parameters and sample values
All parameters are length restricted. If you receive an error, try again with a shorter value.
Forms
Forms are only available to accounts who have had their message limits increased (1k). See Messaging Limits.
Some templates in Utility Template Library are interactive forms that are powered by WhatsApp Flows.
In WhatsApp Manager, you can identify these specific templates by the "Form" label they contain. The current supported use cases are Customer Feedback and Delivery Failure.
Identifying FORMS in the API response
When calling the GET /message_template_library
endpoint (see documentation below), the type
key in the buttons
array will show as "FLOW"
.
via API
Searching and Filtering Available Utility Templates
To browse and filter available templates, use the message_template_library
endpoint.
GET
https://waba-v2.360dialog.io/message_template_library
Once you find the template you are interested in, note the name as you will use it when creating the template via the POST
method below.
Headers
Query String Parameters
To search for specific Utility Templates, insert the query string parameters below.
Template Filters
There are several templates to choose from in the Utility Template Library. You can use the API to filter them based on a few factors.
List of available filters by: Industry, Topic, and Use Case Enums
Example Request
GET
https://waba-v2.360dialog.io/message_template_library?industry=<INDUSTRY>
Available Filters
Example Request
GET
https://waba-v2.360dialog.io/message_template_library?topic=<TOPIC>
Available Filters
Example Request
GET
https://waba-v2.360dialog.io/message_template_library?usecase=<USECASE>
Available Filters
Creating Utility Templates
You can use the 360dialog API when you are ready to create a template from the library. Alternatively, you can also create it using the WhatsApp Business Manager.
To create a new template using the Utility Template Library API, call the endpoint using the body properties fetched from the GET endpoint.
POST
https://waba-v2.360dialog.io/message_templates
Headers
Body
Example Request
Example Response
Sending Utility Template Messages
See our Sending Template Messages to learn how to send it to customers.
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