Why we built Rivet
WhatsApp is where African businesses do business. It's not a support channel — it's the primary channel for bookings, orders, follow-ups, and customer relationships. But for most SMBs, managing it is a full-time job.
Existing automation tools were built for Western markets, Western pricing, and Western infrastructure assumptions. They didn't account for the realities of running a business in South Africa — local payment providers, load shedding, variable connectivity, and the informal communication norms that make WhatsApp work here.
Rivet is built differently. We connect directly to Meta's official Cloud API, so your clients own their WhatsApp Business accounts and pay Meta directly. No lock-in, no markup on messaging fees, no middleman between you and your data.
Meta
Official Cloud API — direct connection, no BSP middleman
0%
Markup on WhatsApp messaging fees — passed through at Meta's rates
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Built and operated in South Africa
How Rivet uses WhatsApp
Rivet is a software platform — not a messaging service. We provide the tooling for businesses to build, deploy, and manage their own WhatsApp automation. Here's exactly how the WhatsApp Business Platform is used within Rivet.
Transactional notifications
Order confirmations, appointment reminders, delivery updates, and payment receipts — sent to customers who have opted in to receive them.
Automated conversation flows
BotFlows that respond to inbound customer messages — booking confirmations, lead qualification, FAQ responses, and support routing.
Template-based outbound messaging
Pre-approved Meta message templates used for outbound notifications. All templates are submitted to and approved by Meta before use.
Agent handoff & inbox
Human agents can take over conversations from automated flows. All agent activity is logged with timestamps and user identity.
What Rivet does not do: We do not send unsolicited bulk messages, we do not operate outside Meta's 24-hour messaging window rules, and we do not use WhatsApp message content for advertising, profiling, or any purpose beyond delivering the automation configured by the business. All usage complies with Meta's Platform Terms, WhatsApp Business Policy, and WhatsApp's Acceptable Use Policy.