WhatsApp Expands Business Features in India with Payments, AI Support, In-App Calling, and Citizen Services

WhatsApp is transforming into a business-first digital platform in India, unveiling powerful features like payments, AI support, in-app calling, and citizen services. At the WhatsApp Business Summit in Mumbai, Meta India announced tools that help small businesses and large enterprises improve customer engagement, close sales faster, and enhance discoverability.

Small businesses can now accept secure payments directly in WhatsApp using QR codes, enabling faster transactions. In-app voice and video calling will make WhatsApp a hub for telehealth, customer service, and e-commerce support, with AI-powered assistants scaling virtual customer interactions.

Meta is also launching Centralised Campaigns in Ads Manager, allowing businesses to run and manage ads across WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram with AI budget optimization. Meanwhile, the WhatsApp Status tab, used by over 1.5 billion people daily, will feature ads from leading brands like Maruti Suzuki, Air India, and Flipkart, along with creators and channels such as Jio Hotstar. Importantly, these ads will stay separate from personal chats to maintain user trust.

With these updates, WhatsApp is positioning itself as a comprehensive digital infrastructure for businesses, government services, and e-commerce in India, making it a key player in the country’s digital economy.