How to Test WhatsApp Messages and Order Notifications

Sending transactional WhatsApp messages—including one-time verification passcodes, order confirmations, and out-for-delivery alerts—dramatically improves order fulfillment and customer trust. Before broadcasting messages to real shoppers, it is vital to test your message templates, variables, and phone number formatting.

Rivio COD & Partial Payments features a built-in WhatsApp Simulator & Live Test Dispatcher that lets you send real test messages to your personal phone number in seconds.

In this guide, you will learn how to send test messages, verify variable substitutions, and troubleshoot delivery failures safely.

Before You Begin

Confirm the following before running WhatsApp tests:

• You have enabled WhatsApp messaging in Rivio COD → Customer Messages.
• You have an active WhatsApp account on your smartphone with a valid international country code (e.g., +1 for USA, +91 for India, +44 for UK).
• You have reviewed the message billing terms (test messages do not affect your customer limits).

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. From your Shopify admin, open Apps → Rivio COD & Partial Payments.
2. Click Customer Messages in the left navigation sidebar.
3. Select the template you wish to test (e.g., Order Confirmation or OTP Verification).
4. Click the Send Test Message button located above the template preview pane.

1. In the test modal, enter your mobile phone number including your country code (e.g., +1 555 123 4567).
2. Select Test Mode:

• Simulated Preview (Free): Generates an on-screen preview of exactly how the WhatsApp chat bubble looks.
• Real Device Test: Dispatches an actual live WhatsApp message directly to your phone.

1. Click Dispatch Test Message.

1. Check your WhatsApp mobile app within 10 to 30 seconds to confirm delivery.
2. Verify that dynamic variables—such as {{customer_name}}, {{order_number}}, and {{balance_due}}—are replaced with realistic sample data.

Configuration Settings & Options

Example Scenario

Pre-Launch Testing for a Multi-Country Cosmetics Brand

A beauty retailer is expanding COD fulfillment into two new countries. Before turning on automated WhatsApp order alerts for live shoppers, the store manager uses the Send Test Message tool to send sample alerts to local team members in each country. They verify that international dialing prefixes format properly and that the currency symbol matches local standards, ensuring a flawless customer experience.

Important Notes & Limitations

Troubleshooting

Test message status says "Failed - Unreachable Number"

• Possible Cause: The phone number was entered without an international country prefix or the phone does not have an active WhatsApp account.
• How to Fix:

1. Re-enter the number using the full E.164 format (e.g., +14155552671).
2. Confirm that the phone has an active internet connection and can receive WhatsApp chats.

Variables like {{order_number}} appear as blank spaces

• Possible Cause: The template was tested on a draft order that does not have an assigned order number yet.
• How to Fix:

1. The test dispatcher uses mock data (#1001, John Doe) for preview. For full storefront testing, place a real test order using our Test Order Guide.

Related Guides

• How WhatsApp Order Updates and Verification Work
• Understanding Message Usage, Billing, and Spending Limits
• How to Configure WhatsApp OTP Verification

Need Help?

Need assistance registering your custom WhatsApp sender ID or business profile?

• Email: Connect with our messaging team at support@rivioapps.com
• Help Center: Read all communication tutorials in the Rivio COD Knowledge Base