How to Access Your CRM on WhatsApp with DenchClaw

DenchClaw connects to WhatsApp so you can query and update your CRM without opening a browser. Send a message to your DenchClaw contact on WhatsApp, and it responds with live data from your local DuckDB database. Here's how to set it up.

Why WhatsApp for Your CRM?#

If your team already uses WhatsApp for business communication, adding your CRM there removes friction. Instead of switching to a separate app to log a call or check a contact's status, you stay in WhatsApp.

The DenchClaw WhatsApp integration handles:

• Contact lookups and updates
• Pipeline queries ("What deals close this month?")
• Note-taking ("Log call with Marcus, interested in enterprise plan")
• Lead enrichment triggers
• Follow-up reminders

Everything runs through your local DenchClaw instance. Your CRM data stays on your machine.

Prerequisites#

• DenchClaw installed and running (npx denchclaw → localhost:3100)
• A WhatsApp account (personal or business)
• wacli installed (comes with DenchClaw)
• About 15 minutes

Step 1: Install and Verify wacli#

wacli is the WhatsApp CLI that DenchClaw uses to connect to WhatsApp Web. It ships with DenchClaw.

Verify it's available:

wacli --version

If not found, install it:

npm install -g wacli

Step 2: Scan the QR Code#

Run the wacli auth command:

wacli auth

A QR code will appear in your terminal. On your phone:

1. Open WhatsApp
2. Go to Settings → Linked Devices → Link a Device
3. Scan the QR code in your terminal

WhatsApp will confirm the connection. wacli will display your phone number and session info.

Step 3: Connect wacli to OpenClaw#

Now link the WhatsApp session to DenchClaw's gateway.

Open localhost:3100 → Settings → Channels → WhatsApp.

Click Connect via wacli. OpenClaw will detect the active wacli session and link it.

Alternatively, via config:

# ~/.openclaw-dench/config.yaml
plugins:
  whatsapp:
    enabled: true
    session: default

Restart the gateway:

openclaw gateway restart

Step 4: Message DenchClaw on WhatsApp#

DenchClaw will now appear as an active WhatsApp connection. To interact with your CRM, you message yourself (the WhatsApp number you linked) — or, if you're using WhatsApp Business, DenchClaw runs as a business contact.

Send a message:

Show me my pipeline summary

DenchClaw replies:

Pipeline summary:
• Discovery: 8 deals ($42K)
• Proposal: 3 deals ($87K)
• Negotiation: 2 deals ($155K)
• Closed Won (this month): 1 deal ($23K)

Step 5: Common Queries and Updates#

Look up a contact:

Find John Matsuda

Log an interaction:

Note for John Matsuda: Had intro call. He's evaluating 3 vendors, decision in 6 weeks

Update a status:

Move Stripe deal to Negotiation

Create a new lead:

New lead: Priya Patel, Head of Ops at Retool, met at YC event

Check overdue follow-ups:

Which contacts haven't heard from me in 14 days?

Trigger enrichment:

Enrich Priya Patel's profile from LinkedIn

The last command kicks off DenchClaw's browser agent — it opens LinkedIn in the background and fills in company, role, and recent activity.

Differences from Telegram#

Both WhatsApp and Telegram give you the same CRM functionality. The choice comes down to where you already work.

WhatsApp's limitation is that it runs through WhatsApp Web — if your phone's WhatsApp disconnects or the session expires, you'll need to re-scan. Telegram bots don't have this constraint.

For teams that live in WhatsApp, this tradeoff is worth it. For solo founders or engineering teams, Telegram is often simpler.

See all supported messaging channels for the full picture.

Keeping the Session Alive#

WhatsApp Web sessions expire if inactive. To keep DenchClaw always connected:

1. Keep your phone's WhatsApp active (don't delete the linked device)
2. DenchClaw polls the session periodically to prevent expiration
3. If the session drops, run wacli auth again and re-link

You can check session status anytime:

wacli status

Security Considerations#

WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted between devices. The DenchClaw integration receives messages on your linked device (via wacli), processes them locally, and sends responses back. No data passes through a third-party server.

However:

• Anyone who can send you a WhatsApp message could potentially query your CRM
• Enable the allowlist in OpenClaw settings to only respond to your own number
• Don't expose your OpenClaw gateway port publicly without authentication

Troubleshooting#

QR code expired before scanning:

• QR codes expire after ~60 seconds. Run wacli auth again to generate a new one.

Session disconnects frequently:

• This usually happens when your phone's WhatsApp app is force-quit. Keep WhatsApp running in the background.

Messages not received:

• Check openclaw gateway status — the gateway must be running
• Check wacli status for session health
• Review logs: openclaw gateway logs

"Unauthorized" response:

• Your number isn't in the allowlist. Add it in OpenClaw → Settings → Channels → WhatsApp → Allowlist.

FAQ#

Do I need a WhatsApp Business account?

No. A regular WhatsApp account works. WhatsApp Business adds some features (business profile, quick replies) but isn't required for DenchClaw integration.

Can multiple team members connect?

Each instance of DenchClaw can connect to one WhatsApp account. For team use, consider running DenchClaw on a shared machine with a shared WhatsApp Business number.

Does my CRM data go through WhatsApp's servers?

Your query text travels via WhatsApp's encrypted protocol. The actual CRM data (your DuckDB entries) never leaves your local machine — DenchClaw generates a text response locally and sends that back.

What happens if my phone is off?

WhatsApp requires your phone to be online and connected for the Web session to work. If your phone is off, DenchClaw won't receive new WhatsApp messages until it comes back online.

Can I use both WhatsApp and Telegram simultaneously?

Yes. DenchClaw supports multiple channels at once. You can have Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, and the web chat all active simultaneously, each routing to the same CRM agent.

For complete DenchClaw setup instructions, see the OpenClaw CRM setup guide. New to DenchClaw? Start with what is DenchClaw.

Ready to try DenchClaw? Install in one command: npx denchclaw. Full setup guide →