WhatsApp, the messaging platform from Meta, has announced the expansion of its payments service in India. This update will make it easier for people transacting with businesses to pay for purchases directly in the chat. Users will now have a choice of UPI apps, including rival digital payment options, as well as credit and debit cards.
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Meta, emphasized that India is leading the world in terms of people and businesses embracing messaging. WhatsApp currently has over 500 million users in India. However, regulators have previously capped its in-app WhatsApp Pay service to only 100 million people.
Previously, people shopping on WhatsApp could make payments using popular services like Google Pay, Paytm, and PhonePe, but only after being redirected outside of WhatsApp. Now, payments via rival services and any others that run on UPI will be possible directly within the messaging platform. In addition, new in-app options for credit and debit cards will also be offered.
It’s important to note that while WhatsApp Pay users remain capped in India, there is no such limit on the number of users permitted to transact with businesses on WhatsApp using other payment methods.
One of the benefits of this expansion is that users will be able to add items to a cart and send a payment using the payment method of their choice. This can be done without having to visit a website, open another app, or make payments in person.
To use the WhatsApp Payments service, users must have a phone number with the country code for India and have a bank account that supports UPI. The phone number used for WhatsApp’s services must be the same one linked to the bank account used for Payments.
Moving forward, these new payment tools will be available to any company in India that uses WhatsApp’s business platform, primarily serving large companies. WhatsApp is also working with partners, Razorpay and PayU, to simplify the payment process.
In addition to the payment expansion, WhatsApp has announced other tools for businesses, including WhatsApp Flows and the Meta verified badge. WhatsApp Flows allow businesses to create richer in-chat experiences for customers, such as booking reservations, ordering deliveries, and checking in for flights.
Mark Zuckerberg highlighted that Meta continues to innovate with messaging formats, group chats, and broadcast channels. With WhatsApp Flows, businesses have the opportunity to create customized experiences within chat threads.
These updates aim to enhance the overall user experience of WhatsApp and make it a more convenient platform for both individuals and businesses in India.
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