Linkbreakers + WhatsApp: QR codes that open a WhatsApp conversation

Short answer

Linkbreakers can route QR code scans to a WhatsApp deep link that opens a pre-filled conversation with your business number. Because the redirect goes through Linkbreakers first, you get full tracking data on every scan — which QR code, which location, which time — before the visitor reaches WhatsApp. You can also use Linkbreakers' workflow features to qualify visitors or collect basic information before routing them to the conversation.

Quick summary

• Route QR scans to a WhatsApp deep link that opens a chat with your business number
• Pre-populate the opening message so the visitor knows what to say and why they are reaching out
• Track which QR codes and physical campaigns drive the most WhatsApp conversations
• Use Linkbreakers' form step to qualify leads before they enter the WhatsApp conversation
• Works with both personal WhatsApp numbers and WhatsApp Business accounts
• Ideal for retail, hospitality, restaurants, real estate, and customer support scenarios

What you can do with WhatsApp + Linkbreakers

WhatsApp is the dominant messaging platform in many markets — particularly in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. For businesses in those markets, WhatsApp is not just a messaging app; it is a primary customer communication channel. Connecting a physical QR code to a WhatsApp conversation brings that communication channel into your offline marketing materials.

Linkbreakers acts as the intelligent layer between the physical QR code and the WhatsApp conversation. Every scan is tracked and attributed. Optional workflow steps — a form, a multi-link page, a scan/rescan condition — can be used before the WhatsApp redirect to qualify the visitor, capture their contact information, or route different visitor types to different WhatsApp numbers.

Use case	How it works	Business value
Restaurant QR → WhatsApp order	Menu QR → Linkbreakers → WhatsApp with pre-filled order message	Zero-friction ordering via the channel customers already use
Retail product → support chat	Product QR → Linkbreakers → WhatsApp with product reference pre-filled	Instant product support without a ticketing system
Event QR → contact sales via WhatsApp	Event badge QR → Linkbreakers → WhatsApp with event context	Sales conversations started at the event continue naturally
Real estate QR → agent WhatsApp	Property listing QR → Linkbreakers → agent's WhatsApp	Prospective buyer contacts agent instantly with property reference
Hospitality QR → concierge chat	In-room QR → Linkbreakers → hotel WhatsApp	Guest reaches concierge from their room without calling
After-scan qualification → WhatsApp	Linkbreakers form step → WhatsApp redirect	Collect name and query before routing to WhatsApp

Key use cases

Let restaurant customers order or make enquiries via WhatsApp

In markets where WhatsApp is the primary communication channel, many restaurant customers prefer it to phone calls or web forms. A QR code on the table, the menu, or the front door opens a WhatsApp conversation with a pre-filled message: "Hi, I'd like to make a reservation for tonight." The customer adjusts the message and sends. The restaurant receives the WhatsApp message with the opening context already established.

Because the scan went through Linkbreakers first, you know which table the customer was sitting at (if you assign a unique QR code per table), which location they visited, and what time they scanned. Over time, this data tells you which tables or locations generate the most WhatsApp conversations and when peak inquiry times occur.

Give retail product QR codes a direct line to support

A QR code on a product can be the fastest path to customer support — faster than searching for a website, finding a contact page, and submitting a ticket. By routing the product QR to a WhatsApp deep link with the product name and model pre-filled in the opening message, the customer has a support conversation started in seconds. The support team receives the WhatsApp message with the product context already in it, without the customer needing to explain which product they are asking about.

Linkbreakers tracks which product QR codes generate the most support conversations, helping your product team identify which items have the highest support demand and potentially signaling product issues that need addressing.

Start event sales conversations that continue on WhatsApp

At trade shows and conferences, a badge QR code or a booth QR code that opens a WhatsApp chat lets prospects start a conversation on a channel they will continue to use after the event. The pre-filled message might say "Hi, I met your team at [Event Name] and would like to learn more." The prospect sends the message, your sales team responds, and the conversation flows naturally from the event into an ongoing WhatsApp thread.

This is especially effective in markets where LinkedIn InMail response rates are low but WhatsApp response rates are high. The QR-to-WhatsApp flow meets the prospect on their preferred channel.

Qualify visitors before routing them to WhatsApp

For businesses that handle different types of inquiries, routing all QR scans to a single WhatsApp number creates noise. Linkbreakers' workflow features can add a qualification step before the WhatsApp redirect. A multi-link page can let the visitor select "I want to order," "I need support," or "I want to know more about pricing" — and route each choice to a different WhatsApp number or conversation with a different pre-filled message. The right team member gets the right inquiry from the first message.

Alternatively, a Linkbreakers form step can capture the visitor's name and their specific query before redirecting them to WhatsApp. The WhatsApp conversation starts with context the visitor already provided, reducing friction for both sides.

How to connect WhatsApp with Linkbreakers

1. Determine the WhatsApp number you want to connect (personal or WhatsApp Business). Note the full number including country code (for example, +1 555 000 1234).
2. Build your WhatsApp deep link URL. The standard format is: https://wa.me/[country code and number]?text=[URL-encoded message]. For example: https://wa.me/15550001234?text=Hi%2C%20I%20scanned%20your%20QR%20code%20and%20would%20like%20to%20know%20more.
3. Log in to app.linkbreakers.com and create or open the link you want to use.
4. In the link's workflow editor, set the final redirect destination to your WhatsApp deep link URL.
5. Optional — add a Linkbreakers workflow step before the redirect: a form step to capture the visitor's name and query, or a multi-link page to route different inquiry types to different WhatsApp numbers.
6. Generate your Linkbreakers QR code and publish the link.
7. Test by scanning the QR code on a device with WhatsApp installed. Verify that WhatsApp opens with the correct number and pre-filled message.
8. Check Linkbreakers analytics to confirm scan events are being recorded with the expected metadata.

Frequently asked questions

Does this work with WhatsApp Business as well as personal WhatsApp? Yes. WhatsApp deep links work with both personal WhatsApp accounts and WhatsApp Business accounts. For businesses handling significant message volume, WhatsApp Business is recommended as it supports automated welcome messages, away messages, quick replies, and multiple agent access via WhatsApp Business Platform (formerly API).

What happens on a device that does not have WhatsApp installed? When a visitor scans the QR code on a device without WhatsApp installed, the WhatsApp deep link typically opens the WhatsApp web interface in the browser (web.whatsapp.com) or shows an App Store/Play Store link to install WhatsApp. In markets where WhatsApp is near-universal, this is rarely an issue. For campaigns in markets with lower WhatsApp penetration, consider using a Linkbreakers multi-link page to offer both WhatsApp and an alternative contact method.

Can I track individual WhatsApp conversations back to a specific QR scan? Linkbreakers tracks every scan and records which QR code, location, and time generated it. However, once the visitor is in WhatsApp, the conversation is outside Linkbreakers' tracking scope. The link between a Linkbreakers scan event and a specific WhatsApp message requires either a pre-filled message identifier that your team can log manually, or a WhatsApp Business API integration that assigns conversation identifiers.

How do I pre-fill different messages for different QR codes? Each Linkbreakers QR code can have a different destination URL. For each QR code, build a WhatsApp deep link with a different pre-filled message that references the specific product, location, or campaign context. Encode each message URL appropriately (spaces become %20, commas become %2C, etc.).

Can I route WhatsApp conversations to different team members based on which QR code was scanned? If you have separate WhatsApp numbers for different team members or departments, yes. Create multiple Linkbreakers QR codes — one per team member or department — each with a deep link pointing to the appropriate WhatsApp number. Linkbreakers' multi-link page workflow can also offer the visitor a choice of team members or departments before routing to the relevant WhatsApp number.

Is there a limit on how many WhatsApp messages can be triggered from QR scans? WhatsApp does not limit the number of conversations initiated by users scanning a QR code and messaging you. However, if you use the WhatsApp Business Platform (API) and send outbound messages, different pricing and policy rules apply. For QR-to-inbound-conversation use cases, standard WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business applies without per-message charges.

Limits and caveats

• Integration availability may vary by plan. Visit app.linkbreakers.com to check your current plan.
• Webhook delivery depends on third-party service uptime and configuration.
• Feature availability on connected platforms depends on your subscription with those services.