Meta is already planning the next big revolution for WhatsApp, its superior instant messaging service. In a recent publication, the company reiterates its desire to turn its platform into a kind of super app from which users can access other features beyond communication. Now, in some countries you can make purchases directly from the service.
As part of this new integration there is a new function: Streams. In short, they can be defined as add-ons that a company can implement in its conversations and through which users can perform various actions. For example, you can buy train tickets directly from WhatsApp, as well as movie tickets and other products or services.
According to the WhatsApp website, with Flows you can also do things like make appointments, sign in to your accounts for certain services, set up products, fill out and submit forms and subscribe to events and promotions. All this without leaving the application.
Who currently has access to WhatsApp Flows? Meta reports that the first trials include Banco Pan (a Brazilian bank), Lenovo, Redbus (an Indian transport service), Indian bank SBI, as well as retailers MagaLu and Spinny (a platform for used cars).
Meta aims to turn WhatsApp into its next digital commerce platform
This is Meta’s first large-scale approach to WhatsApp, going beyond just communication. In an interview with TechCrunchAccording to Nikila Srinivasan, vice president of corporate communications at Meta, “shopping and e-commerce are some of the most important verticals we want to focus on.” For this, They want users to be able to perform more actions in a single conversation thread.. “This is where Flows come in,” he adds.
Yes indeed This option probably won’t be free for businesses.. After all, WhatsApp already charges companies to use the messaging service for 24 hours. According to Mehta, the new product will fall into the categories of marketing, authentication, utility and service. So it’s almost certain that you’ll have to open your wallet to take advantage of Flows.
However, this is not all that the Meta has in store for us. In addition to Flows, the company has also begun integrating payment services through partnerships with companies dedicated to this function. Yes indeed These are regional platforms such as Razorpay and PayU in India.which already had Reliance Jio since last year.
Brazil and Singapore are two more lucky ones.. Since the beginning of the year, the company has integrated payment options directly into WhatsApp, available to all users in both regions.
Meta’s move makes a lot of sense. After all, WhatsApp Business’s revenue depends on conversations between the customer and the user, encouraging the latter to make more transactions and generate more cash flow. Once you are done settling in India, we’ll likely see these features spread to the rest of the world.where messaging service is very common.
Source: Hiper Textual
I’m Ben Stock, a highly experienced and passionate journalist with a career in the news industry spanning more than 10 years. I specialize in writing content for websites, including researching and interviewing sources to produce engaging articles. My current role is as an author at Gadget Onus, where I mainly cover the mobile section.
