Why the export changed
WhatsApp messaging by username has started to reach some customers, so a few may message you without sharing their phone number. Mersal recognises them by their WhatsApp ID, so the export now includes that ID and the customer’s username. That way every contact can be identified in the file, with or without a phone number.
The four columns at the start of the file
Every export now begins with these four columns, in this order:
1
Contact IDThe reference Mersal uses for this contact.
2
Phone numberThe customer’s phone number, when you have it.
3
WhatsApp IDThe code that identifies this customer for your business only.
4
WhatsApp usernameThe customer’s @username, if they’ve set one.
Your existing columns follow these four, unchanged.
About WhatsApp IDs in the file
A note in the file explains that WhatsApp IDs only work for your business. They can’t be used in another tool, and they aren’t phone numbers.
A customer’s WhatsApp ID stays the same if they change their username, and changes if they change their phone number.
What hasn’t changed
All your existing columns are still in the export, after the four new ones.Importing contacts by phone number works exactly as before.
Key takeaways
Exports now start with contact ID, phone number, WhatsApp ID and WhatsApp username.WhatsApp IDs only work for your business.Your existing columns and importing by phone number are unchanged.
Frequently asked questions
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