Poli’s SEND nodes are responsible for sending messages directly to contacts in your database.
There are two sending modes:

• Simple text messages → ideal when the conversation is already active.
• Template messages → mandatory to start conversations in WABA channels (WhatsApp Business API).

The difference between the nodes lies in how the recipient is identified:

• By phone number.
• By contact UUID (contact_uuid).

Prerequisites

Before using the sending nodes, you will need:

• Access Token → obtained in this tutorial.
• Account UUID → obtained via List Accounts.
• Account Channel UUID → obtained via List Channels.
• Contact UUID (if using contact-based sending) → obtained via List and Search Contacts.
• Template UUID (if sending via template) → obtained via List Templates.

⚠ Important notice about WABA (WhatsApp Business API):

• To send the first message of a conversation, using Templates is mandatory.
• Text messages only work if there is already an active conversation within the 24h window.

Official vs. Unofficial Templates

There are two types of Templates:

Official WhatsApp Template (WABA):

• Can only be sent if you are connected to an official channel (WABA).
• Used to initiate conversations in a validated way and within WhatsApp’s policies.

Unofficial Template:

• Can only be sent through non-official channels.
• Used in internal/testing scenarios or when no WABA connection is available.

⚠ If you try to send an official template through a non-official channel, or an unofficial template through an official channel, the message will not be delivered.

SEND Nodes available in n8n

Currently, there are four main types of sending: two for text and two for templates.

1. Send Message By Phone

Function: Sends a simple text message to a phone number.
Required parameters:

• Account UUID
• Phone number (with country/area code)
• Account Channel UUID
• Message content: defined in the Text field.

Important note: Does not work as the first message in WABA channels — use Template in this case.

2. Send Message By Contact UUID

Function: Sends a simple text message to an existing contact, using its UUID.
Required parameters:

• Account UUID
• Contact UUID
• Account Channel UUID
• Message content: defined in the Text field.

Important note: Same WABA rule → if it is the first message, it must be sent via Template.

3. Send Template Message By Phone Number

Function: Sends a message via Template to a phone number.
Required parameters:

• Account UUID
• Phone number (with country/area code)
• Account Channel UUID
• Template UUID

Optional fields:

• Header parameters (text, date/time, etc.)
• Body parameters (dynamic text inside the body of the message)

When to use: Always when you need to start a conversation in a WABA channel.

Template validation:

• If the Template is official, it must be sent in an official WABA channel.
• If the Template is unofficial, it must be sent in a non-official channel.

4. Send Template Message By Contact UUID

Function: Sends a message via Template to an existing contact, using its UUID.
Required parameters:

• Account UUID
• Contact UUID
• Account Channel UUID
• Template UUID

Optional fields:

• Header parameters (customization in the message header)
• Body parameters (dynamic text inside the body)

When to use: Ideal for contacts already registered in the system, but who need to receive the first message in a WABA channel.

Template validation:

• Official Template → official WABA channel.
• Unofficial Template → non-official channel.