WhatsApp to soon get 'shopping' features to promote businesses: Facebook

WhatsApp may not just be a messaging app in the future. Facebook, the messenger app's owner, at its F8 annual developers conference stated that the company is planning to add a feature that would allow users to shop online straight from the app.

Facebook stated that the company is planning to make WhatsApp more useful for businesses. In a bid to improve user experience while chatting with businesses, the company is testing a feature that would enable businesses to add their product catalog directly into chats.

"With catalogues, businesses can showcase their goods so people can easily discover them.” said Facebook. 

The feature would be useful to small businesses that do not necessarily have a website and can use the platform to promote their products. Users can check the list of products through the catalog without leaving the app.

Facebook launched WhatsApp for Business in April which is a dedicated app for businesses to promote trade online. The feature is said to arrive by the end of this year. The company is also planning to release WhatsApp Payments officially in India. WhatsApp Payments’ release was delayed in India as it did not comply with RBI guidelines. Mark Zuckerberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Facebook, did not mention the release date of the payments feature.

At the conference, Facebook also mentioned about introducing new ways to push businesses on Messenger. The company has created ‘appointment experience’ wherein users can book appointments with car dealers, cleaning services, etc, within the Messenger app.

The company is also planning to introduce a similar feature on Instagram wherein users can shop from creators without leaving the app. The feature works with a simple tap on the post after which users can buy the product(s) directly from the app.