WhatsApp to allow users to shop directly from Business Chats

Facebook-owned WhatsApp on October 22nd announced to introduce a new feature that allows WhatsApp Business users to purchase and sell products directly from the platform.

The company will further provide hosting services to small businesses through Facebook’s partners.

Facebook will be adding a shopping button on WhatsApp which will be introduced in India later. The button will enable the users to add items to a cart, and check out, right from the app just like the other online shopping apps.

While the app is already charging businesses for sending notification messages to customers, the new services will allow the platform a new revenue-making opportunity.

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A WhatsApp spokesperson said, “We will make it clear to people when they are messaging with a business that is receiving hosting services from Facebook. We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this move and believe we are leading the industry in transparency.”

The platform also promises to offer end-to-end encrypted messaging on the app and in cases where Facebook’s hosting services are being used, WhatsApp will not be able to see the content of messages between the sellers and buyers.

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.

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