Getting more than 15 million business users in India each month: WhatsApp

NEW DELHI: Facebook owned messaging giant WhatsApp said on Thursday that WhatsApp Business users have found tremendous value in the platform during the lockdown in India and it is now getting more than 15 million users on the app in the country every month.

Globally, WhatsApp said it has more than 50 million people using WhatsApp Business each month. WhatsApp also said starting Thursday, it launching new features that will make it easier for users to do business on the app.

“The lockdown has been extremely difficult on small businesses, with several being forced to pivot and restructure their operations to ensure business continuity as well as find new ways to engage and interact with their customers,” a WhatsApp spokesperson said.

“WhatsApp Business users are finding tremendous value in the very nature of WhatsApp, and have relied on the platform as a lifeline to stay connected with their customers at a time, when they might not be able to see them in person,” the spokesperson added.

The company said its new QR codes feature will make it significantly easier to open a chat with a business. “As businesses across the world prepare to re-open and expand online, people need simple ways to get in touch with them to ask questions, get information or find something they might like to buy. Previously when people came across an interesting business, they had to add its WhatsApp number to their contacts, one number at a time. Now, people simply can scan the QR code a business displays on its storefront, product packaging or receipt to initiate a chat,” a WhatsApp spokesperson said.

The company said it is also making catalogs and individual items available to be shared as links on websites, Facebook, Instagram and elsewhere. “If people want to share a catalog or item they find with friends or family, they can simply copy the link and send it on WhatsApp or other places as well. Since launching last year, catalogs have become a popular way for people to engage with a business on WhatsApp,” the spokesperson added.

WhatsApp said more than 40 million users globally and over three million in India view a business catalog on WhatsApp each month.

The company said businesses like Akshayakalpa, organic milk provider working with farmers, online education marketplace Kriger Campus and organic milk and dairy product business Happy Milk have witnessed an increase of 25%, 55% and 43% respectively in their business interactions during the lockdown period.

The company said it will also be launching new ‘Open for Business’ sticker packs to help people and businesses stay connected. WhatsApp said its new animated sticker packs displaying various messages ranging from we are open, sorry closed, out of stock, to free delivery besides others will be available to all of its more than two billion users worldwide as well as the 50 million users of the WhatsApp Business app.





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