Facebook-owned WhatsApp on October 22 introduced new features that allow WhatsApp Business users to sell products directly from the platform.
Facebook is adding a shopping button on WhatsApp which will be coming to India later. With this button, people will be able to add items to a cart, and check out, right within WhatsApp.
The company will also provide hosting services to small businesses through Facebook’s partners in the country.
While WhatsApp already charges businesses for sending notification messages to customers, the new services allow the platform a new revenue making opportunity. The company said the Facebook hosting solutions will require additional payments and both businesses and customers will be made aware that their data is being shared with Facebook in such cases.
The WhatsApp Business application allows small businesses and startups to connect with customers and sell to them directly. Along with chanrging businesses, Facebook said it will be investing to add more features.
Offline to online business models have flourished in the country due to the pandemic. WhatsApp Business is one amongst many platforms that gained new business from offline businesses. The company said 175 million people message a WhatsApp Business account globally every day.
Additionally, in the latest update of WhatsApp, a forever option in the mute menu has been introduced for users across the world. WhatsApp took to Twitter to announce the introduction of this feature for both Android and iOS users.