Which WhatsApp message templates do I need before using the MyOperator Shopify plugin, and how do I create, name, approve, and localise them?

Which WhatsApp message templates do I need before using the MyOperator Shopify plugin, and how do I create, name, approve, and localise them?

⚡Quick answer -

Create—and get approved—one template for every event you plan to automate (cart reminders, order lifecycle, COD flows, etc.). Build them inside MyOperator → WhatsApp → Create Template, name each template by its function (e.g., Order_Shipped), choose the Utility category for faster approval, add the required placeholders (e.g., {{name}}, {{orderid}}), and submit for approval. Templates can be duplicated in Hindi, Tamil, or any regional language.

When should I use this guide?

Read this before you attempt to map templates in the Shopify plugin. Without pre-approved templates, no automation workflow can send WhatsApp messages.

1. Prerequisites

Requirement

Why it matters

Verified WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) linked to MyOperator

Only verified senders can submit templates

MyOperator panel access with the WhatsApp menu visible

Template creation happens here

Event list (cart, order, COD, etc.)

Defines how many templates you need

Watch the video walkthrough

2. Template checklist (what to prepare)

Event group

Recommended template IDs

Welcome

Welcome_Customer

Abandoned Cart Recovery

Cart_Reminder_1, Cart_Reminder_2, Cart_Reminder_3

Order Lifecycle

Order_Placed, Order_Cancelled, Payment_Received, Order_Shipped, Order_OutForDelivery, Order_Delivered, Refund_Created

Engagement & Retention

Reorder_Reminder, Order_Feedback

COD Management

COD_Confirm_Cancel, COD_Cancelled_Event, COD_To_Paid

Tip: Preparing all of the above unlocks every predefined workflow in the Shopify plugin.

3. Naming & category best practices

• Function-first names (e.g., Order_Shipped, Cart_Reminder_1) make mapping effortless.

• Always select “Utility” as the template category. The PDF states this speeds up approvals and boosts delivery rates for transactional content.

• Keep names alphanumeric and avoid spaces for consistency.

4. Step-by-step

  1. Navigate: MyOperator panel → WhatsApp → Create Template.
  2. Enter template name (e.g., Order_Shipped).
  3. Select category: choose Utility.

image.png

Alt text: Creating a new WhatsApp template

  1. Compose message body and button text (if any), inserting placeholders exactly as they will map in Shopify ({{name}}, {{paymentlink}}, etc.).
  2. Submit. Approval status appears in the template list; only “Approved” templates show up in the Shopify app.

5. Localization & multi-language tips

• Duplicate your English template and translate the text into Hindi, Tamil, or any regional language—customers see the version that matches their locale.

• INR currency and Indian date formats are used by default; no extra formatting needed.

• Festival-specific variants (e.g., Diwali offers) can be added as additional templates following the same approval process.

6. Common approval pitfalls

Pitfall

Impact

Fix

Choosing Marketing instead of Utility

Slower approval, possible rejection

Re-submit under Utility

Placeholder mismatch

Errors when mapping in Shopify

Ensure placeholder names match exactly ({{name}} vs {{Name}} will fail)

Missing fallback text

Live messages may display blanks

Add fallback values during Shopify mapping

No button URLs for COD flows

“Approve/Cancel” buttons won’t work

Include /order-confirmation/{{approve}} and /order-confirmation/{{cancel}} links in the template body

7. Next steps: mapping templates in Shopify

Once all required templates show an Approved status:

  1. Open Shopify → MyOperator WhatsApp Connector → Workflow tab.
  2. Select a workflow (e.g., Abandoned Cart Reminder 1).
  3. Choose the matching template ID from the dropdown.
  4. Map placeholders and test-send.

Alt text: Workflow Edit screen

Keywords: WhatsApp template approval, MyOperator Utility category, Shopify mapping, multi-language WhatsApp messages, COD template placeholders