Zavon

Tickets on WhatsApp

Send each attendee their ticket on WhatsApp when they register: the ticket with its QR code as the message’s image, and links to their ticket page and calendar in the text. It uses a WhatsApp template approved by Meta, and goes only to attendees who ticked the WhatsApp box when they registered.

Before you start

  1. Connect WhatsApp

    Your WhatsApp Business number is connected in Reach under Setup → WhatsApp.

  2. The ticket template

    A ticket message needs a UTILITY template with an image header, approved by Meta. Reach’s template form does not take a sample image yet, so we set the ticket template up with you: write to info@zavonholdings.com. Once Meta approves it, it shows as Approved under Templates on the WhatsApp screen.

  3. An example

    Header: an image. Body: Hi {{1}}, here is your ticket for {{2}}. Show the QR code at the door. View your ticket or add it to your calendar: {{3}}

Send the ticket when people register

  1. Open the event’s communications

    In Pages, open the event and go to its Communications tab. Choose Add message.

  2. Trigger and audience

    Choose On registration, then All attendees or the Ticket types it is for.

  3. Channel

    Choose WhatsApp.

  4. Content

    Choose the ticket template under Approved template, then fill each Variable with a merge field. For the example above: {{attendee.first_name}}, {{event.title}} and {{ticket.link}}. Each attendee’s own ticket fills the image header for you.

  5. Test and confirm

    Enter a Test number and choose Send test to see it on your phone (a test shows a sample ticket), then choose Confirm.

Merge fields for tickets

These work in WhatsApp variables, SMS and email messages alike, each filled with the attendee’s own link:

{{ticket.link}}: Ticket page link, where the attendee sees their ticket, adds it to a calendar or transfers it.

{{event.google_calendar_link}}: Add to Google Calendar link.

{{event.outlook_calendar_link}}: Add to Outlook link.

{{event.ics_link}}: Calendar file link, now the attendee’s own calendar file.

{{ticket.apple_wallet_link}}, {{ticket.google_wallet_link}} and {{ticket.huawei_wallet_link}}: add-to-wallet links, where available. Each is empty until that wallet is switched on, so link to the ticket page as well.

Good to know

Who receives it. Only attendees who agreed to WhatsApp messages and gave a mobile number. Messages due during quiet hours go when they end, and each message uses credits, as every WhatsApp message does.

Waiting list. A place on the waiting list has no ticket yet, so no ticket image can be sent for it.

Transfers. When a ticket is transferred, the old holder’s pending messages stop and the new holder’s begin. See Ticket transfers.

The email. Every confirmation email carries the ticket too: see Tickets and calendars.