How to migrate an OBO account to Embedded Signup
Meta has announced the deactivation of On-Behalf-Of (OBO) accounts and the mandatory migration to the Embedded Signup method. All WABAs still operating under the OBO model must be transferred as required.
At Botmaker, we will guide you through this mandatory migration process and send a permission request that you must accept from your Meta Business Manager, allowing the required changes to be made.
For more information about the deprecation of the OBO model, you can consult Meta’s official documentation here.
It is important to note that this is only an administrative change and will not affect your daily operations, campaign performance, costs, or conversation history.
What are the benefits of this migration?
- It gives them the opportunity to review their account information and data access settings before the account is created.
- It grants direct ownership of their account, meaning they can use WhatsApp Manager to perform common actions such as creating templates, viewing analytics, and adding business phone numbers.
- It provides access to new features, such as the Marketing Messages Lite API, which significantly improves the performance of marketing templates.
Once this is accepted, in a next step we will be able to initiate a second update to the newest account management model called MM Lite (Marketing Messages Lite), where Meta allows you to unify the management of marketing message sending with Meta’s ads and marketing product platform.
To learn more about MM API Lite, you can consult Meta’s official documentation here.
Migration stage from OBO to Embedded Sign-up
The migration process takes place within Meta Business Manager.
To comply with this requirement, on Thursday, September 11, Botmaker will send a request that you must accept from your Meta Business Manager and follow the indicated steps to make the required changes to your account.
- Log in to your Meta Business Manager.
- Go to the Requests section.
- Select the request sent by Botmaker and click Respond.
- Follow the steps to authorize the update:
- Approve the connection with your Messaging Solution Provider (Botmaker).
- Complete your business information (name, page, and country).
- Review and confirm the details.
- Review and accept permissions for a smooth migration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the migration have any additional cost?
No, migrating your account does not generate extra costs. Your usual billing scheme remains unchanged.
What concrete benefits will I get by migrating my account?
You will gain direct ownership of your account, access to WhatsApp Manager, more control over templates and metrics, and the ability to use new features such as the Marketing Messages Lite API.
Why is Meta making this change?
Meta is deactivating the OBO model to provide more transparency and control to businesses. With Embedded Signup, businesses become the direct owners of their WhatsApp Business accounts, which simplifies management, improves security, and allows access to new features like Marketing Messages Lite.
Does the migration affect my conversations or message history?
No, the change is purely administrative. Your chats, conversation history, and templates will remain intact.
Do I need technical support to perform the migration?
No, the process is simple and can be done through Business Manager. However, this documentation provides a step-by-step guide for the process.
Will I need to create a new WhatsApp Business account?
No, your existing WABA (WhatsApp Business Account) remains the same. Only the way it is registered and managed within Meta changes.
Who should accept the request in Business Manager?
The person with an administrator role in the Business Manager associated with your WhatsApp Business account.
How long does the migration process take?
The process usually completes within a few minutes, provided the request is executed correctly in Business Manager.
What permissions do I need to accept during the migration?
You must authorize the connection with Botmaker, confirm your business information, and accept the permissions that allow Meta to perform the account update.
Is migrating to Embedded Signup the same as moving to Marketing Messages Lite?
Not exactly. The first update is from OBO to Embedded Signup. Later, as a second step, you will be able to access the Marketing Messages Lite model, which improves the performance and management of marketing messages.
What happens if I have multiple active OBO accounts?
Each WABA must be migrated individually. You will receive a permission request for each account you have configured.