WhatsApp launches in-chat payments service in India

WhatsApp users in India will be able to pay for products and services through the chat app, as parent company Meta seeks to generate more revenue from the messaging service in its biggest market. Shoppers will be able to buy products and services from businesses using WhatsApp Pay, the company said. Companies will not be charged for the in-app payments.

Apart from this, the company also introduced other new features like Flows, which allows businesses to create customised chat experiences for customers; and Meta Verified, which gives businesses a badge of authenticity and additional benefits at Meta’s second annual Conversations conference in Mumbai

The new feature Flows allows businesses to create rich menus and forms within the chat, so customers can perform various actions without leaving the conversation. The feature will be available to businesses around the world using the WhatsApp Business Platform in the coming weeks.

The Payments feature makes it easier to complete a purchase directly in the chat. Indian customers can now add items to their cart and send a payment using the method of their choice from all supported UPI apps, debit and credit cards, and more. Razorpay and PayU are the partners of WhatsApp to make paying for something as simple as sending a message. The Payments feature is live in Brazil and Singapore at present.

Meta Verified lets businesses receive verification from Meta and it helps customers know that they are chatting with the right business. Businesses need to showcase their authenticity to Meta to become Meta Verified and in return receive a verified badge, enhanced account support and impersonation protection. Meta Verified will also come with premium features such as creating a custom WhatsApp page that is easily discoverable via a web search, and multi-device support so multiple employees can respond to customers. Meta Verified will be tested soon with small businesses using the WhatsApp Business app before introducing it to businesses on the WhatsApp Business Platform in the future.

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Meta, said India was at the forefront of many of the innovations that WhatsApp was introducing at the conference. “You’re leading the world in terms of how people and businesses have embraced messaging as the better way to get things done,” he said in a pre-recorded address. India is one of the biggest markets for WhatsApp, with more than 500 million users in the country.