# Setup and prerequisites

## Preparing a Meta WhatsApp account

To use the Meta WhatsApp integration with Apteco software, you need to know:

- Your **WhatsApp Business Account** name
- Your **Meta Business Account** name

You also need access rights to manage phone numbers and message templates within Meta Business Settings.

In the WhatsApp Manager accounts, you must have set up:

- Payment details
- Phone number

> [!NOTE]
>
> You must not have already assigned these to WhatsApp or WhatsApp for Business.

When adding a phone number, the display name must be acceptable to [Meta's Display Name Guidelines](<https://www.facebook.com/business/help/757569725593362>). It must also have approval from Meta before you use it in production.

## Meta API app

This article provides detail on configuring the Meta (Facebook) parameters on your FastStats Service.

## Prerequisites

Make sure you have installed:

- A pre-existing FastStats system with PeopleStage
- A social database
- A phone number for WhatsApp for Business (approved by Meta)

> [!NOTE]
>
> Before proceeding you must have created a Social database. See Creating a social database for more information.

### FastStats services

To connect your FastStats Service:

1. In the FastStats Configurator, open the FastStats Service Properties for the system, under the **System tab**.
2. Expand the **Integrations** section and select **Social**.
3. Select **Edit Connection String** to define the database connection string for the Social database using your FastStats Service credentials.

   To test your connection:

   1. Select **Test Connection**.
   2. Select **OK**.

### Web services

To connect the Web Service:

1. In the FastStats Configurator, open the **Web Service** and go to the **System tab**.
2. Under **Database**, define the database connection string for the Social database using your FastStats Service credentials, then select **Edit**.
3. Select **Test All** to check the connections are working.