Whatsapp starts testing in-app Business directory
- ByAyushi Ray | September 16, 2021
WhatsApp started testing a new feature to make it possible to search for businesses within its app for the first time, on Wednesday. Whatsapp’s in-app business feature which allows users to find shops and services through a directory in the app is the latest feature in Facebook’s drive to boost e-commerce services. The test has been kicked off in São Paulo.
According to a FAQ posted by the platform, “The WhatsApp business directory is a fast, safe, and convenient way for WhatsApp users to find local shops, restaurants, and businesses without leaving WhatsApp.”
Once it is accessible to them, users can find businesses nearby. Users can share a current location to look for businesses in the area, select a specific location or search without a location to look for businesses within their region. Users can also select a business category that they would like to explore. By taping on the name of the business within the search results users can view their business description. They can also chat with the business or view their business profile. The Facebook-owned messaging platform will not log the details of the user’s location and what businesses they were browsing, it said.
“Based on feedback from the people who try it over the next few months, we’ll look at expanding this service to other cities and other types of businesses available on WhatsApp,” WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart said on Twitter.
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