The short version:
- You can issue a ZATCA Phase 2 compliant e-invoice from inside a WhatsApp chat by connecting Watsio to Wafeq, Qoyod, Odoo or Alostaz.
- The invoice reaches the customer in the same chat, with a payment link for mada, Apple Pay or STC Pay, and a reminder if payment is late.
- Invoices are included from the Lite plan at SAR 79 a month before VAT, and you can try every feature free for 14 days with no card.
A customer orders on WhatsApp, you agree on the price, and then comes the usual question: “Where is the invoice?” Many shop owners and service providers open their accounting software after every order, copy the customer name and amount, issue the invoice, then go back to WhatsApp to send it. After that starts a second job: chasing the payment. You can now cut most of this out. The invoice is created from the chat itself, reaches the customer with a payment link, and the reminder runs on its own. This guide explains what Phase 2 of e-invoicing means in short, how invoicing from WhatsApp works step by step, and what to prepare before you start.
Where invoicing after a WhatsApp sale wastes your time
Selling on WhatsApp is fast. The trouble starts after the customer says “OK”. It shows up in three places:
- Manual copying: you move the customer name, VAT number and amount from the chat into your accounting software. One wrong character means an invoice that needs fixing.
- Delays: invoices pile up until the end of the day or the week, and the customer waits, sometimes asking two or three times.
- Scattered collection: the invoice is in one place, the payment in another, and the follow-up on one employee’s phone. If that employee is away, nobody knows who has paid.
The result is lost time, a customer who feels the service is slow, and money that arrives late because nobody reminded them on time.
Phase 2 of e-invoicing in short
Phase 2 of e-invoicing from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) is known as the integration phase. It means your invoicing system connects to ZATCA’s systems. According to Wafeq’s explanation of the Phase 2 requirements:
- Invoices are issued in an electronic format set by ZATCA, and each invoice has a unique ID.
- Every invoice carries a QR code with data such as the seller name and VAT number, the time of issue, the total and the VAT amount.
- Integration with ZATCA’s systems is done through APIs.
- ZATCA notifies the businesses in each group at least six months before their deadline.
This is general information, not tax advice. Check your own deadline and requirements on the ZATCA portal or with your accountant.
The key point for you: Watsio does not issue the tax invoice itself. Your accounting system issues it, whether that is Wafeq, Qoyod, Odoo or Alostaz. Watsio connects the chat to that system, so the invoice is created and delivered without leaving WhatsApp.
How to issue the invoice from the chat, step by step
From a WhatsApp chat to a paid invoice
- Connect your accounting systemLink Wafeq, Qoyod, Odoo or Alostaz to your Watsio account once.
- Open the customer chatThe customer profile shows their orders, bookings, invoices and tickets in one place.
- Create the invoiceSet the invoice lines and your accounting system issues it in a Phase 2 compliant form.
- Send it in the same chatIt reaches the customer on WhatsApp in the conversation they ordered from, with no lost emails or files.
- Add the payment linkThe customer pays with mada, Apple Pay or STC Pay through Tap, PayTabs or Paymob.
If the AI assistant is the one replying to customers, it never sends an invoice or payment link without confirming with the customer first. This is a fixed rule in Watsio for any action involving money, such as cancelling an order or sending a payment link or invoice. So no customer gets an invoice they did not ask for.
Your whole team works on the same number from one inbox. You can assign chats, leave internal notes and decide who can issue invoices through roles and permissions. Read more about the WhatsApp team inbox.
From invoice to payment: do not stop at sending
The invoice is half the job. The other half is getting paid. Watsio has a collections assistant that works in the same chat:
- It sends a WhatsApp reminder of the amount due.
- It includes a ready payment link inside the reminder.
- It offers an installment plan if the customer needs one.
- It hands the chat to a team member if the customer disputes the amount.
If you run a store on Salla, Zid, Shopify or WooCommerce, orders and customers sync with Watsio from the Starter plan. So the order and customer details are already in their profile before you issue the invoice. See connecting Salla, Zid and Shopify to WhatsApp, order confirmation and shipping messages, and Watsio for online stores.
What to prepare before you start
- An accounting system that supports Phase 2: an active Wafeq, Qoyod, Odoo or Alostaz account.
- A WhatsApp number on Meta’s official platform: you can keep the number you use on the WhatsApp Business app with Coexistence and keep using the app.
- A payment gateway: a Tap, PayTabs or Paymob account if you want payment links.
- Your list of services or products: with clear prices so invoice lines are ready.
- Team permissions: decide who issues invoices and who follows up on payments.
If you would rather have someone set this up for you, there is an optional managed setup service from SAR 1,490 one time, where our team sets up your services, prices and assistant.
What does it cost?
The cost in short (before VAT)
You pay Meta’s fees directly to Meta at Meta’s rates. They are approximate and change quarterly. Incoming customer messages are free, and the first 1,000 service replies per month per number are free under Meta’s current policy. Estimate your cost with the WhatsApp cost calculator and see plan details on the pricing page.
Quick comparison: platforms that mention ZATCA invoices
Based on competitors’ public pages in November 2026, a few other platforms mention ZATCA invoices. Prices and features may change, so check with them before you decide.
ZATCA invoices with WhatsApp: short comparison
| Watsio | Watily | go4whatsup | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZATCA invoices | Yes, via Wafeq, Qoyod, Odoo and Alostaz | Yes | Yes |
| Lowest monthly price | SAR 79 | SAR 49 (+29 per connected system, AI +79) | SAR 149 with unlimited staff |
| Salla and Zid | Yes, from Starter | Yes | No |
| Meta fees | No markup | At cost, no markup | At cost |
| Published refund guarantee | 30 days | Not published | Not published |
To be fair: Watily has a lower starting price, plus bookings and Salla and Zid integration. go4whatsup suits larger teams because its price stays fixed however many staff you add. Watsio combines invoices with an assistant that understands Saudi dialect and voice notes, plus bookings with deposits and a waitlist, in one product. See the full comparison and all features.
Issue your first invoice from a WhatsApp chat during the trial, no card needed.
Common questions
Does Watsio issue the tax invoice itself?
No. The invoice is issued by your connected accounting system: Wafeq, Qoyod, Odoo or Alostaz. Watsio triggers it from the chat and sends it to the customer on WhatsApp with a payment link.
Do I need a new WhatsApp number?
No. You can connect the number you use on the WhatsApp Business app with Coexistence and keep using the app. If your number is with another provider, you share your WhatsApp account with Watsio and the number stays where it is, with no interruption.
Will the AI assistant send invoices without asking the customer?
No. The assistant confirms with the customer before any money action, such as sending an invoice or payment link or cancelling an order.
How much does an invoice message cost on WhatsApp?
Utility messages such as invoices and reminders cost about SAR 0.04 per message at Meta’s rates for Saudi Arabia, before VAT. You pay Meta directly, and Watsio adds no markup.
Sources:
Last updated: November 2026 · Watsio team.
