WhatsApp Introduces Business Search Feature That Expands Streaming Payment

WhatsApp is making it easier for users to find businesses on the messaging platform with new search functionality. The Facebook-owned company announced the new feature on Thursday, which will allow users to search for businesses by name or category.

WhatsApp has over 1.5 billion users globally, and the new features will make it easier for businesses to reach out to potential customers. The features will also help businesses accept payments and conduct transactions directly on the WhatsApp platform.

To use the new feature, businesses will need to type in a keyword or category, and WhatsApp will return a list of businesses that match the search criteria. businesses will then be able to contact the customers directly through the app.

The company is also expanding its in-stream payments feature to more countries, including Brazil, India, and Mexico. The feature, which allows users to make payments without leaving the WhatsApp app, was first launched in India in November.

The new in-stream payments feature will allow users to make payments without leaving the WhatsApp app. Users will be able to link their debit or credit card to their WhatsApp account and make payments directly to businesses. WhatsApp says that the feature will be available in the coming weeks.

With the new search feature, WhatsApp users will be able to find businesses in their contact list or by searching for them in the app. Businesses will also be able to tag themselves with relevant keywords so they can be found more easily.

The new feature is part of WhatsApp's push to become an essential platform for businesses. The messaging app already has a number of features that businesses can use, such as customer support and order tracking.

Expanding in-stream payments to more countries is also a key part of WhatsApp's strategy to make the app more indispensable for businesses. In India, the feature has been a hit with small businesses that use WhatsApp to communicate with customers.

The new Business Search feature and the expansion of in-stream payments are part of WhatsApp's ongoing efforts to monetize the platform. WhatsApp is currently free to download and use, but it plans to start charging businesses for some of its features in the future.

The launch of the new features comes as WhatsApp is facing increased competition from other messaging apps such as Telegram and Signal.

The new search functionality and expanded in-stream payments feature are both rolling out to users in Brazil, India, and Mexico starting today.