AI-Powered WhatsApp B2B Marketplace

Build WhatsApp-First B2B RFQ Marketplace with AI Supplier Matching

PROJECT

I need an experienced developer/team to build and launch a WhatsApp-first B2B RFQ and supplier-matching platform initially for Oman.

I already have an Excel database of approximately 20,000 businesses containing company names, phones, emails, products, services, categories and locations.

Every company can be BOTH buyer and supplier.

Example:

Buyer WhatsApps:

“Need 3 forklifts in Sohar for 6 months.”

System:

WhatsApp → AI understands request → creates RFQ → searches database → ranks suppliers → sends RFQ → suppliers respond → buyer receives responses.

Goal: maximum automation and minimal manual operation.

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1. WHATSAPP BUSINESS

Use official Meta WhatsApp Business Platform/Cloud API or approved BSP. NO unofficial WhatsApp Web automation.

Developer assists with:

- Meta/WhatsApp Business setup
- Phone/API/webhooks
- Message templates/approval
- Interactive buttons
- Opt-in/opt-out
- Delivery/read/failure tracking
- WhatsApp compliance

All accounts and numbers must belong to me.

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2. BUYER FLOW

Buyer sends normal English or Arabic message:

“Need 200 safety helmets in Muscat.”

AI extracts:

- Requirement
- Category/subcategory
- Keywords
- Location
- Quantity
- Date/duration
- Urgency/specifications

If information is missing, bot asks short follow-up questions.

Then:

“RFQ #1028 submitted. Suitable suppliers are being contacted.”

No app/password/account required for normal WhatsApp use.

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3. AI

Use OpenAI/LLM API for English and Arabic.

AI handles:

- Requirement understanding
- Category classification
- Keywords
- Location
- Quantity/date
- Urgency
- Follow-up questions
- Matching assistance

Matching should combine structured database filtering + keywords + AI where useful, not rely entirely on AI.

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4. BUSINESS DATABASE

I provide ~20,000 company contacts in Excel.

Import/migrate into scalable database such as PostgreSQL/Supabase.

Fields may include:

Company ID/name, contact, phone, WhatsApp, email, location, categories, products, services, keywords, buyer/supplier status, verification, WhatsApp opt-in and activity.

Source may contain duplicates/missing data. Clean/identify duplicates without losing original information.

Every company can simultaneously be:

BUYER + SUPPLIER

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5. SUPPLIER MATCHING

Automatically rank suppliers using:

- Category/subcategory
- Keywords/services
- Location
- Verification
- Response history
- Recent activity

Weights should be configurable.

Do NOT blast every RFQ to hundreds of suppliers.

Example:

Best 5 suppliers → wait → if insufficient responses send next 5 → continue until target/max reached.

Admin controls batch size, delay and maximum suppliers.

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6. SUPPLIER WHATSAPP FLOW

Example:

“NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

RFQ #1028
Location: Sohar
Requirement: 3 forklifts
Duration: 6 months

[Interested]
[Not Interested]”

Responses automatically update database.

Interested supplier can:

1. Submit quotation
2. Unlock buyer contact
3. Spend credits to unlock lead

Architecture should support all options.

Quotation can contain price, availability, delivery time, notes and PDF/image.

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7. CONTACT PRIVACY

Buyer contact can remain hidden.

Before unlock:

Buyer #B1028
Contact: LOCKED

After required action/payment/credits, company/contact details become available.

Admin controls this feature.

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8. CONTACT ONBOARDING

System must support controlled WhatsApp onboarding campaigns to the existing database.

Example:

“We are launching an Oman B2B sourcing network connecting companies with relevant opportunities. Would you like to receive relevant RFQs on WhatsApp?

[YES] [NO]”

Track:

- Sent
- Delivered
- Read
- Replied
- Opted in/out
- Failed/invalid
- Campaign/date

Admin should send controlled batches such as 100 → 500 → 2,000 → 5,000, filtered by category/location/status.

Must follow applicable WhatsApp/Meta messaging and opt-in requirements.

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9. ADMIN DASHBOARD

Secure web dashboard.

Companies

Search/edit companies, contacts, categories, location, buyer/supplier status, verification and opt-in.

RFQs

Create/view/edit/close RFQs, buyer, category, matched suppliers, contacted suppliers, responses and quotations.

WhatsApp

Messages sent/delivered/read/failed, replies and template status.

Analytics

RFQs/day/month, active companies, response rate, popular categories/locations, repeat users and conversions.

Manual Override

Admin can edit AI classification, add/remove supplier, manually send/stop RFQ, close RFQ, merge duplicates, block company and adjust credits.

CSV/Excel export required.

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10. MONETIZATION

Initially platform may be FREE.

System should support future:

- Pay per lead
- Credit wallet
- Supplier subscription
- Contact unlocking

Example:

10 OMR = 100 credits.

Normal lead = 1 credit
High-value = 3 credits
Urgent = 5 credits

Admin can change prices and turn monetization ON/OFF.

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11. PAYMENTS

Integrate or prepare for Oman-compatible online payment gateway.

Support credit purchases, subscriptions, payment history, receipts, failed payments and admin adjustments.

Developer should recommend appropriate Oman payment gateway and identify third-party fees.

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12. WEBSITE

No large marketplace website initially.

Build a simple professional mobile-first landing website.

Main CTA:

“Looking for a supplier? Tell us what you need on WhatsApp.”

Sections:

- Home
- How It Works
- Buyers
- Suppliers
- Join Network
- Contact
- Terms/Privacy

Main CTA opens WhatsApp.

English initially; architecture ready for Arabic.

Basic SEO/analytics required.

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13. BRANDING

Basic startup branding:

- Simple professional logo
- Color palette
- Typography
- WhatsApp profile image
- Favicon

Minimalist professional B2B style.

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14. TECHNICAL ARCHITECTURE

Suggested:

WhatsApp API → Webhook/n8n → AI → PostgreSQL/Supabase → Matching Engine → WhatsApp RFQ → Supplier Response → Buyer Notification/Admin

n8n preferred where appropriate.

Developer may recommend better architecture with explanation.

System should eventually support 100,000+ companies and thousands of RFQs/month.

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15. SECURITY/BACKUPS

Include:

- HTTPS
- Secure authentication
- Role-based admin
- Secure API secrets
- Webhook/input validation
- Rate limiting
- Error/audit logs
- Automated database backups

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16. OWNERSHIP

VERY IMPORTANT.

I must own/control:

- Source code/GitHub
- Domain/hosting
- Database
- Meta Business
- WhatsApp Business account/number
- OpenAI/API accounts
- n8n workflows
- Payment gateway
- Analytics
- Branding/design files

Do NOT permanently build under freelancer-owned accounts.

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17. DOCUMENTATION

Provide:

- Complete source code
- README
- Database schema
- Deployment instructions
- API/environment documentation
- n8n workflow documentation
- Backup/restore instructions
- Admin training
- Recorded walkthrough preferred

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18. ACCEPTANCE TEST

Buyer sends:

“Need 2 forklifts in Sohar for 3 days.”

System automatically:

1. Receives message
2. Extracts requirement/location/quantity/duration
3. Creates RFQ
4. Searches/ranks suppliers
5. Sends RFQ
6. Supplier selects Interested
7. Response recorded
8. Buyer notified
9. Dashboard updated

Also test Arabic:

“مطلوب رافعتين شوكية في صحار لمدة ثلاثة أيام”

System should understand equivalent requirement.

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19. DEVELOPMENT PHASES

Phase 1 — MVP

Database import + WhatsApp API + AI + RFQ creation + supplier matching + supplier notifications/responses.

Phase 2

Admin dashboard + campaigns + quotations + analytics + opt-in/out.

Phase 3

Credits + payments + subscriptions/contact unlocking.

Phase 4

Website + branding + deployment + documentation/training.

Quote Phase 1 separately and complete project.

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20. BID REQUIREMENTS

DO NOT send generic proposal.

Please answer:

1. WhatsApp Business API experience?
2. n8n experience?
3. OpenAI/LLM experience?
4. Marketplace/RFQ/lead platform experience?
5. Proposed technology stack?
6. Meta Cloud API or BSP and why?
7. Database recommendation?
8. How will supplier matching work?
9. How will ~20,000 contacts be imported?
10. How will WhatsApp opt-in/templates be handled?
11. Recommended Oman payment gateway?
12. Expected monthly third-party costs?
13. Timeline?
14. Fixed price for complete project?
15. Fixed price for Phase 1?
16. Examples of similar systems you personally built?

I need an automation/marketplace developer, not simply a website designer.

Core product:

WhatsApp + AI + Business Database + Supplier Matching + Automated RFQs

Buyer: WhatsApp what you need → system finds suppliers.

Supplier: Receive relevant opportunity → Interested → quote/contact buyer.

Goal: scalable B2B network where the same companies continuously act as both buyers and suppliers.