Summary
ADD/Replace or augment existing “SMS Reminders (U.S. & Canada)” with a WhatsApp-based reminder channel, enabling organizers to send reminders to any attendee worldwide who has an internet-connected device and WhatsApp account.
Background & Problem
Current SMS reminders are limited to U.S. and Canadian phone numbers.
International attendees (outside U.S./Canada) cannot receive automated reminders.
SMS costs and carrier restrictions vary widely, complicating global scaling.
Proposed Solution
WhatsApp Integration
Leverage the WhatsApp Business API to send reminder messages.
Fall back to SMS only if WhatsApp is unavailable or attendee opts out.
Opt-In Flow
During registration, ask attendees to provide their WhatsApp-enabled number and consent.
Store WhatsApp consent as a separate communication preference.
Message Customization
Allow organizers to craft reminder templates (text, emojis, image attachments).
Support dynamic merge fields (event name, date/time, location, personalized greeting).
Delivery Reports & Analytics
Track delivery status (sent, delivered, read).
Provide aggregated analytics on open/read rates and delivery failures.
User Stories
As a organizer, I want to send automated reminders via WhatsApp so that my international attendees receive timely notifications without SMS restrictions.
As an attendee, I want to opt in to WhatsApp reminders during signup and receive clear, clickable reminders in my preferred chat app.
As a platform admin, I want visibility into which reminders were delivered/read on WhatsApp so I can measure engagement.
Acceptance Criteria
[ ] Admin UI: New “WhatsApp Reminders” toggle under Communication Settings.
[ ] Registration Form: Checkbox for “Receive reminders via WhatsApp” + input for WhatsApp-enabled number.
[ ] Reminder Scheduler: Option to choose WhatsApp channel; falls back to SMS if WhatsApp consent is missing.
[ ] Outgoing Message: Sent via WhatsApp Business API with templated content; includes event details and a link/button to add to calendar or contact support.
[ ] Reporting Dashboard: Shows counts of WhatsApp reminders sent, delivered, read, and failed.
[ ] Documentation: Update help center with setup steps (API keys, webhook URLs) and best practices.
Benefits
Global Reach: Instantly extend reminders to millions of WhatsApp users worldwide.
Cost Efficiency: Avoid high per-SMS rates and carrier-by-carrier integrations.
Higher Engagement: WhatsApp messages enjoy superior open/read rates compared to SMS.
Rich Media Support: Embed images, links, or even quick-reply buttons to boost interaction.
Risks & Considerations
API Approval: WhatsApp Business API requires registration and template message approval.
Compliance: Must adhere to local messaging regulations (GDPR, TCPA, etc.).
Opt-Out Management:** Provide clear “STOP” instructions and honor unsubscribe requests.
Next Steps
Evaluate WhatsApp Business API onboarding timeline and costs.
Prototype message-sending flow in a sandbox environment.
Conduct a pilot with select organizers and collect feedback.
Iterate on UX, monitoring delivery metrics and attendee satisfaction.
By adopting WhatsApp for reminders, we eliminate geographic SMS barriers, reduce costs, and deliver richer, more engaging notifications to attendees wherever they are.