WhatsApp, the messaging platform from Meta, has announced the expansion of its payments service in India to facilitate direct payments within the chat. This new feature allows users to pay for purchases directly on WhatsApp using various UPI apps, including rival digital payment options, as well as credit and debit cards.
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Meta, praised India for leading the world in adopting messaging for both individuals and businesses.
While WhatsApp has over 500 million users in India, the in-app WhatsApp Pay service is limited to only 100 million people as per regulatory restrictions. Previously, users could use popular services like Google Pay, Paytm, and PhonePe but had to be redirected outside of WhatsApp for payments.
However, Meta has now made it possible to make payments directly within WhatsApp using rival services that run on UPI. In addition, the company will introduce new in-app options for credit and debit cards.
It’s important to note that while there is a cap on the number of users allowed to transact with businesses on WhatsApp using WhatsApp Pay, there is no such limitation with other payment methods, according to a Meta spokesperson.
The new payments feature provides several benefits to users. They can add items to a cart and make payments using their preferred payment method, be it WhatsApp or other options like UPI apps, debit and credit cards, and more. This eliminates the need to visit a website, open another app, or pay in person.
To be eligible for the WhatsApp Payments service, users must have a phone number with the country code for India and a bank account that supports UPI. The phone number used for WhatsApp’s services must also be linked to the bank account used for payments.
Moving forward, these new payment tools will be available to any company in India using WhatsApp’s business platform, mainly catering to large companies. Meta has collaborated with partners Razorpay and PayU to simplify the payment process.
In addition to the payments service, Meta has also introduced new tools such as WhatsApp Flows and the Meta verified badge to enhance business interactions within WhatsApp chats. WhatsApp Flows allows businesses to create richer in-chat experiences for customers, such as booking reservations, ordering deliveries, or checking in for flights. Businesses can choose from pre-made building blocks to design customizable experiences for their customers.
Mark Zuckerberg emphasized Meta’s ongoing innovation in messaging formats, group chats, and broadcast channels. He stated that WhatsApp Flows enables businesses to create personalized experiences within chat threads.
These developments aim to accelerate business transactions and interactions on WhatsApp. Meta continues to prioritize advancements in messaging and aims to provide seamless experiences for businesses and users alike.
Namit Singh Sengar, Senior Sub Editor at News18.com, contributed to this article, covering personal finance, brands, and the economy.