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Step by Step Process to Schedule WhatsApp Messages

Step by Step Process to Schedule WhatsApp Messages

Profile Headshot of Mehak Dhingra
Mehak Dhingra

6
mins read

March 20, 2025

Step by Step Process to Schedule WhatsApp Messages- Thumbnail

Key Takeways

For a business, it becomes imperative to prepare ahead of time. They’d want to schedule communication related to events, occasions or triggers beforehand. Here is when a WhatsApp message scheduler comes in. 

What is a WhatsApp Message Scheduler?

This is a functionality often provided by WhatsApp marketing providers through which a business can schedule WhatsApp broadcasts or WhatsApp messages in general. 

This can also be enabled if you are using WhatsApp business API. The WhatsApp API documentation from your provider would elaborate the steps to be followed to schedule WhatsApp messages. 

WhatsApp messages sent by business use either of the two tools: -Numbered list

  1. WhatsApp business app
  2. WhatsApp marketing platform or WhatsApp business API

Unfortunately, if a business is using a WhatsApp business app, then they’d not be able to schedule messages except in one scenario. That scenario is when a business is away or not available. In that case, they can define the message. This defined message will be sent to any user who reaches out to the business on WhatsApp during away hours.

How to Schedule WhatsApp Messages on WhatsApp Now by Message Central?

WhatsApp Now by Message Central is a WhatsApp marketing platform which can be used for sending and scheduling WhatsApp broadcasts. Here are the steps to be followed to schedule a WhatsApp broadcast.

1. You can signup for free for the platform using the “Try for Free” option on the website.

message central

2. You can then navigate to WhatsApp Now from the homepage.

message central dashboard
new broadcast

3. You can then do the embeded signup i.e. signin with your facebook business manager and navigate to “campaigns” from the left panel. There you can click on “New Broadcast”

4. You can name your broadcast, add your template on the next page.

name your broadcast

5. You can then select “Schedule for a specified time” instead of send now as highlighted in the image below.

schedule for specified time

Why Should Brands Use WhatsApp Broadcasts?

  1. High Open & Engagement Rates

One of the biggest advantages of WhatsApp broadcasts is the exceptional engagement rate.

Statistics show:

  • WhatsApp messages have a 90%+ open rate, compared to 20-30% for emails.
  • Messages are typically read within 3 minutes of delivery.

With such high visibility, WhatsApp broadcasts outperform email marketing, social media, and SMS marketing when it comes to engagement.

  1. Direct & Personalized Customer Communication

Unlike social media posts that rely on algorithm-based visibility, WhatsApp broadcasts go directly into customers’ inboxes, ensuring they see the message instantly.

Why It Works for Brands?

  • Each recipient receives the message as a personal chat, making it feel exclusive.
  • Customers can respond privately, allowing brands to build one-on-one relationships.
  • Brands can use customer names and personalized offers to make messages more engaging.

Example:

A fashion brand can send personalized messages like:

"Hey Sarah! Enjoy an exclusive 20% off on our new collection. Tap the link to shop now!"

  1. Cost-Effective Marketing Strategy

Compared to traditional paid ads, SMS marketing, and email campaigns, WhatsApp broadcasts are cost-effective and provide higher ROI.

Cost-Saving Benefits: Bullet points

  • No additional ad spends: Unlike Facebook or Google Ads, you don’t pay for impressions.
  • No expensive SMS fees: WhatsApp messages cost less compared to bulk SMS campaigns.
  • Higher conversions: Because messages are seen immediately, more customers take action.

Example:

A restaurant can send a broadcast message about a limited-time discount, resulting in immediate reservations.

  1. Automation & Scalability for Businesses

For businesses using WhatsApp Business API, broadcasts can be automated and scaled to thousands of customers without manual effort.

This can help schedule and automate promotional campaigns, integrate with CRM systems for personalized messaging.

Example: 

An e-commerce store can automate messages for

  • New product launches
  • Cart abandonment reminders
  • Loyalty rewards & special deals

Businesses have also started using WhatsApp for authentication with WhatsApp OTP.

Boost Sales & Customer Retention

WhatsApp broadcasts help brands drive immediate sales and retain existing customers by keeping them engaged with updates, offers, and personalized recommendations.

How Brands Use WhatsApp Broadcasts for Sales?

  • Exclusive deals & flash sales – Encourages instant purchases.
  • Event & product launch notifications – Keeps customers informed.
  • Re-engaging inactive customers – Sends personalized offers to bring them back.

Example:

A cosmetics brand can send:

"✨ New Arrival Alert! Our best-selling skincare set is back in stock. Order now before it sells out again!"

Conclusion

Thereby, using a platform like WhatsApp Now makes it quite easy to schedule a WhatsApp broadcast. With WhatsApp Now, you can:-

  1. Start WhatsApp marketing without any subscription cost
  2. Setup WhatsApp broadcasts in less than 10 minutes
  3. Get 24/7 customer support

You can signup for free to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose the right OTP service provider?

When selecting an OTP SMS service provider, focus on:

  • Delivery reliability and speed
  • Global coverage and local compliance
  • Multi-channel support and fallback
  • Ease of integration
  • Pricing transparency

The right provider should not just send OTPs but ensure they are delivered consistently across regions and networks.

Not all OTP SMS service providers are built the same.

Some optimize for cost, others for flexibility but very few balance delivery reliability, global coverage and ease of use. And that balance is what actually impacts whether your users receive OTPs on time.

If OTP is critical to your product, focus on:

  • reliable delivery (not just sending)
  • multi-channel fallback
  • scalability across regions

Try It for Yourself

Why is multi-channel OTP important?

Relying only on SMS can lead to failed verifications due to:

  • network issues
  • telecom filtering
  • device limitations

Multi-channel OTP systems (SMS + WhatsApp + voice) improve success rates by automatically retrying through alternative channels if one fails.

What is the best OTP SMS service provider in India?

Some of the commonly used OTP SMS service providers in India include MSG91, Exotel and 2Factor.

That said, India has additional challenges like DLT compliance and operator filtering. Platforms that handle these internally while also offering fallback options tend to provide more consistent OTP delivery.

Which is the cheapest OTP service provider?

Providers like Fast2SMS and 2Factor are often considered among the cheapest OTP service providers, especially in India.

However, lower pricing can come with trade-offs such as:

  • lower route quality
  • higher delivery delays
  • limited fallback options

For mission-critical OTP flows, reliability often matters more than just cost.

Which is the best OTP service provider in 2026?

The best OTP service provider depends on your use case.

  • For global scale and flexibility: Twilio, Infobip
  • For cost-effective APIs: Plivo
  • For India-focused SMS OTP: MSG91, Exotel

However, platforms like Message Central stand out by balancing global coverage, multi-channel fallback and ease of deployment, making them suitable for businesses that prioritize delivery reliability.

What is an OTP service provider?

An OTP service provider enables businesses to send temporary verification codes to users via channels like SMS, WhatsApp or voice to authenticate logins, transactions or sign-ups.

Modern OTP SMS service providers go beyond just sending messages, they ensure reliable delivery using optimized routing, retries and sometimes multi-channel fallback.

Ready to Get Started?

Build an effective communication funnel with Message Central.

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