WhatsApp always manages to surprise us with its new features. WhatsApp launched WhatsApp Business in January 2018 so that small businesses can find an easy to use platform for their business. Yet again, WhatsApp has taken a step towards maximizing its e-commerce potential with the addition of a shopping button in business chats to streamline purchases and transactions.
In a WhatsApp tweet posted on November 10th, 2020, they have quoted, “Now you can easily discover something you’d like to buy from your favourite business by tapping on the new shopping button at the top of chats.”
Very similar to the shop options that we see on Instagram and Facebook, WhatsApp takes you to a product listing in-app. Here, you can directly select items and make a purchase with a simple tap.
In comparison to its recent features, this is just a small addition. WhatsApp is looking forward to building a stronger presence in India as it is the most used messaging app. Two weeks ago, India approved the use of WhatsApp Pay in the nation. With this feature, you can make secure money directly on WhatsApp.
With WhatsApp pay, it is easier for people to make subsequent purchases by using the shopping button. Very soon, we can expect WhatsApp to become a key e-commerce provider in the region.
Ads were not successful on WhatsApp, but Facebook Ads can make WhatsApp a critical business tool. The addition of a dedicated shop tab will normalize the shopping behavior in the app. WhatsApp is not as big as Messenger in the Western markets, but it still has a significant presence. Let’s wait for what WhatsApp has in store for us next.
