Mark Zuckerberg Introduces Game-Changing Upgrades, Including Payment Options. WhatsApp, owned by Meta, recently hosted its second annual Conversations conference in Mumbai, unveiling an array of groundbreaking features tailored for WhatsApp Business users in India. His recent announcement brought forth a slew of new features designed to enhance user interactions with businesses on WhatsApp. These revelations occurred during the Conversations event held in Mumbai and are aimed at streamlining business interactions within WhatsApp chats. The new features, namely Flows, Payments, and Meta Verified, are set to transform business profiles on the messaging platform.
In-Short:
- Mark Zuckerberg introduces a host of innovative features for WhatsApp Business.
- WhatsApp users can soon acquire a Meta-verified badge for authenticity.
- WhatsApp’s global rollout of Channels in over 150 countries continues to make waves.
WhatsApp Flows: Elevating Chat Efficiency
WhatsApp Flows will empower businesses to offer an array of services directly within WhatsApp chat windows. For instance, businesses in the booking industry can enable customers to select train seats, order meals, or book tickets seamlessly without exiting the chat. WhatsApp Flows will support rich menus and customizable forms to cater to various needs. WhatsApp plans to make this feature accessible to global businesses through the WhatsApp Business Platform in the near future.
Seamless Payments with UPI and Cards
WhatsApp is also simplifying the process of in-chat purchases. Users in India can now add items from WhatsApp Business to their shopping cart and proceed with payments using a variety of methods, including supported UPI apps, debit and credit cards, and more.
Meta Verified Badge: Ensuring Authenticity
WhatsApp is introducing the Meta verified feature for WhatsApp businesses, offering them an authenticity badge similar to a blue tick. This badge will confirm the legitimacy of the business, enhance account support, and provide protection against impersonation. Premium features include the ability to create a custom WhatsApp page for easy discovery through web searches and multi-device support for multiple employees managing customer interactions.
WhatsApp intends to initially test Meta Verified for WhatsApp with small businesses using the WhatsApp Business app, with plans to extend this feature to businesses on the WhatsApp Business Platform.
WhatsApp Channels: Private and Secure
WhatsApp Channels are now accessible to users on Android, iOS, and the web, providing a private means to connect and receive updates from various entities such as organizations, sports teams, artists, and prominent figures. WhatsApp Channels prioritize user privacy by operating independently from regular chats. While they won’t feature end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp ensures the confidentiality of follower identities and implements measures to safeguard the personal information of channel administrators and followers.