WhatsApp is now even smarter for businesses! From payments to calling, everything in one place...
WhatsApp Business Features: During a business summit, WhatsApp launched several new features and tools that will greatly help businesses, large and small, connect with customers, simplify their work, and grow their businesses. Find out how they work.
WhatsApp Business Features: WhatsApp, which we all use extensively for chatting, has now become equally effective for businesses. Recently, their second 'Business Summit' was held in Mumbai, where they launched several new features and tools that will greatly help businesses, large and small, connect with customers, simplify their work, and grow their businesses. Let's take a look at what new features WhatsApp has introduced.
1. Direct Payments on the WhatsApp Business App!
What is it?
Small shopkeepers will now be able to receive payments from their customers directly through the WhatsApp Business app.
How will it work?
Merchants will send a QR code to the customer with just one click. Customers will be able to make payments using their preferred payment method (e.g., UPI, debit/credit card) directly within the WhatsApp app.
What are the benefits?
This will make the purchase and payment process much faster and easier. Customers will no longer need to navigate to other apps.
2. Business AI for in-app calling and better customer support!
What is it?
You can now call or receive calls from large companies directly within the WhatsApp app.
When will it be useful?
This feature will be very useful if you have a difficult question or need to speak with customer care. This feature is available to all companies using the WhatsApp Business platform in India.
What's next?
WhatsApp will further improve this. In the future, you'll be able to get help by sending voice messages or making video calls. For example, video calls will also be available for health-related appointments.
What is Business AI?
Companies will now be able to use an AI assistant to answer customer questions, even through the voice calling feature. This will make customer support faster and more effective.
3. Manage all your marketing from one place – Ads Manager!
What is it?
Merchants in India will now be able to manage their ads across WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram in one place, called 'Ads Manager.'
How does it work?
You can create, set up ads, and manage your budget all from one place.
What are the benefits?
Once this feature is fully rolled out, companies will be able to upload their customer lists. They can decide where and how to display ads themselves, or use Meta's AI system, 'Advantage+,' which will optimize their budget and ensure their ads perform optimally.
4. Finding businesses and channels on the Status tab is now easier!
What is it? WhatsApp's 'Updates' tab is used by 1.5 billion people daily. Now, ads in WhatsApp Status, promoted channels, and channel subscriptions will provide new opportunities for businesses and creators to grow.
Who's using it?
Major brands like Maruti Suzuki, Air India, and Flipkart are using ads in Status. People in India will soon start seeing them. Popular channels like Jio Hotstar have also started using the Promoted Channels feature.
These features will be completely separate from your WhatsApp chats and inbox, ensuring your privacy. These features will gradually roll out to everyone over the next few months.
What do Maruti Suzuki and Air India have to say? Bhuwan Dhir of Maruti Suzuki and Sunil Suresh of Air India said that advertising on WhatsApp Status will greatly help them increase sales of their products and services and connect directly with customers.
5. Small businesses can now use both the WhatsApp Business app and platform simultaneously!
What is it?
Now, small companies can use both the WhatsApp Business app and the WhatsApp Business platform simultaneously without changing their phone number.
What's the benefit?
If a company receives a lot of marketing messages or wants automation (automated replies), they can use the WhatsApp Business platform. Additionally, they can continue using the WhatsApp Business app for group chats, calls, and status updates. This is very beneficial for companies that are growing rapidly and want to scale.
6. Easy access to government services for people!
Whats the role of WhatsApp
People in India now use WhatsApp extensively to communicate with companies (according to the Kantar 2025 report, 91% of online Indians chat with companies every week). WhatsApp is also becoming an easy way to access government services.
What's happening?
Millions of people in India already use WhatsApp to purchase tickets, recharge metro passes, and pay electricity and water bills.
Planning for the Future
WhatsApp and several state governments are working together to provide people with easy access to all the government services they need in every state, all in one place.
Example: The Andhra Pradesh government's "Man Mitra" chatbot (launched this year) now offers over 700 citizen services and has been used by over 4 million citizens to access essential government services. WhatsApp is launching official chatbots in collaboration with state governments such as Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
Arun Srinivas, Managing Director of Meta India, said that these new tools in WhatsApp will greatly benefit companies, strengthen their relationships with customers, and help them grow their businesses more easily. So, WhatsApp is no longer just an app for chatting, but has become a vital part of our daily lives, for shopping, learning, and accessing essential services.
