WhatsApp is bringing in-chat payments to India as part of several new features designed to help consumers get things done with businesses more quickly.
Meta made the announcement at its global Conversations event in Mumbai, explaining that people in India can now complete a purchase directly from its popular messaging platform.
Through partnerships with Razorpy and PayU it will be possible to make paying for something as simple as sending a message, Meta said. Consumers can add items to their cart and send a payment using a method of their choice from all supported UPI apps, debit and credit cards, among others.
Meta also announced the launch of its ‘Flows’ feature so businesses can enable consumers to carry out common tasks without leaving the chat. This could include choosing a train seat, ordering a meal or booking an appointment.
With Flows, businesses will be able to provide rich menus and customisable forms that support various needsneeds. It is expected to be made available to businesses globally using the WhatsApp Business Platform in the coming weeks.
In addition, in an effort to combat security fears, businesses will soon be able to receive official verification from Meta. The company said it will initially begin testing Meta Verified with small businesses using the WhatsApp Business app before introducing it to businesses on the WhatsApp Business Platform in the future.
To become Meta Verified, businesses demonstrate their authenticity to Meta and in return receive a verified badge, enhanced account support and impersonation protection.
Meta Verified will come with additional premium features including the ability to create a custom WhatsApp page that is easily discoverable via a web search, and multi-device support so multiple employees can respond to customers.
In May, WhatsApp introduced in-chat payments for Singapore-based businesses. Earlier this months, Meta announced the launch of WhatsApp Channels, a new private broadcast service that allowing users to follow organisations, sports teams, artists, and thought leaders within the social media platform.
