# How to trigger a WhatsApp automation - WAX

You will create one API-triggered flow in WAX, add your WAX API key into Batch, and finally configure a Universal step that sends the request.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** If you have an existing WAX connection, you can skip step 2. This step must be done only once.
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

## **Step 1 — Create an API-triggered automation in WAX**

Start in WAX.\
You need a WhatsApp automation that begins when it receives an API request — this is what Batch will trigger.

#### **What to do**

1. Open **Automations** in WAX
2. Create a new automation
3. Choose "**Incoming Webhook"** as the trigger
4. You can add the WhatsApp template now or add it later

<figure><img src="/files/0WmcE3iw0JUx9okfViV5" alt="Select “Incoming Webhook” mode as the trigger."><figcaption><p>Select “Incoming Webhook” mode as the trigger.</p></figcaption></figure>

This panel also displays the destination URL, API key name, and JSON example you will use later.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## **Step 2 — Add your WAX API key into Batch**

Batch needs your WAX API key to authenticate each time it sends a trigger request.

#### **In WAX**

Copy the hidden Value (the "Bearer Token" value) from the Trigger panel, just next the `Authorization` field.

<figure><img src="/files/HBOA8Z1plSdR2eTkstHe" alt="Retrieve your Bearer token"><figcaption><p>Retrieve your Bearer token</p></figcaption></figure>

**In Batch**

1. Go to **Settings → Channels → Universal**
2. Click **New Credential Headers**
3. Choose a name (e.g., “WAX”)
4. Key → `Authorization`
5. Value → paste the key from WAX
6. Save

<figure><img src="/files/h3WXseRWmTv9Gq6YRZf3" alt="Add the information in the Universal channel settings"><figcaption><p>Add the information in the Universal channel settings</p></figcaption></figure>

> **Note:**\
> If you create multiple automations in WAX, they will all use the same API key.\
> You only need to add the credential once in Batch.
> {% endstep %}

{% step %}

## **Step 3 — Configure the Universal step in Batch**

In this step, you will add the Universal step in your Batch automation and configure it to trigger the WAX automation you created in Step 1.

#### **Add the Universal Step**

1. Open the Batch automation where you want to trigger WhatsApp
2. Click the **+** button
3. Select **Universal**

This opens the Universal step configuration screen.

<div data-full-width="false"><figure><img src="/files/qheoMB6JfCL6kHV4bSzW" alt="" width="314"><figcaption><p>Select "Universal"</p></figcaption></figure></div>

***

#### **Configure the WAX request**

Fill in the fields using the information from WAX:

**1. Destination URL**

Paste the URL shown in WAX’s API trigger (example: `https://api.getwax.io/v1/hooks/0ab31563-9c59-4e87-b112-2a7b582491d4` )

**3. Headers**

* Choose the credential header you created earlier (e.g., **WAX**)
* Add another header :&#x20;
  * "Key" : `Accept`
  * "Value" : `application/json`<br>

**4. JSON Body**

Start with the phone number:

```json
{
  "phone": "{{b.phone_number}}"
}
```

<figure><img src="/files/0Z7MCpJfmoKQBKVZcCbr" alt="Configure the step"><figcaption><p>Configure the universal channel step</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## **Step 4 — Test the connection**

Once your Universal Step is configured, you can test it directly from Batch to make sure everything is working properly.

#### **How to test**

1. In the Universal Step, click **Test API**.
2. If your JSON body includes personalization (e.g., `{{b.phone_number}}`), choose a **test profile** so Batch can fill in real data.
3. Click to send the test request.

<figure><img src="/files/JazxLt0F5bCJryOYVrET" alt="Test your configuration"><figcaption><p>Use the "Test API" button in order to make sure everything is working properly</p></figcaption></figure>

#### **What the test does**

* Batch performs the exact same API call it will make when the automation is live.
* WAX receives the request and triggers the corresponding WhatsApp automation for the selected profile.

#### **What Batch validates**

Batch will display whether the request was **successfully delivered** to WAX or if something needs fixing (e.g., wrong URL, missing key, invalid JSON).

> **Note:** Batch can only confirm that the trigger was correctly called. It does not have visibility on what happens inside WAX afterward (e.g., whether the message was sent or failed).
> {% endstep %}

{% step %}

## **Step 5 — Activate your Batch automation**

When the test is successful, you can turn your Batch automation live.

#### **To activate**

1. Review your workflow, including the Universal step.
2. Run your automation

#### **Once live**

* Every time a profile moves through this step in your automation, Batch will send the API request to WAX.
* WAX will then run the WhatsApp automation linked to the URL you configured.
  {% endstep %}
  {% endstepper %}

#### **Additional Universal steps**

If you want to trigger multiple WhatsApp scenarios (e.g., a follow-up message, or different WAX automations), you can add more Universal Steps within the same Batch automation or in a new one by following these steps again (Step 2 can be skipped).&#x20;


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