WhatsApp Business: How Latest Features Will Make Online Shopping Easy?

WhatsApp has just announced two new features that will make it easier for people to find out what's available and for entrepreneurs to sell their products on WhatsApp for Business more quickly. Improved desktop support for WhatsApp Catalogs, as well as the ability to hide items that are out of stock, are among the new features.

WhatsApp Business is an over-the-top (OTT) chat app that gives customers the functionality and convenience of personal messaging.

On the same phone, you can use WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Messenger, but each app requires its own phone number.

Businesses can now create and manage their catalogues through WhatsApp web/desktop rather than just mobile phones, according to the company. Businesses with large inventories, such as a restaurant or clothing store, will benefit from this because they will be able to manage their catalogue from a larger screen.

According to the report, people can currently browse more than 8 million business catalogues on WhatsApp, including 1 million in India, to find something they might want to buy.

First Update

In 2019, the instant messaging platform launched Catalogs, which allows businesses to create a storefront and menus for the products they sell. The same will be possible from WhatsApp's web/desktop applications with the new update. This could be especially beneficial for established businesses that have already digitised their systems using ERP software and other methods.

Second Update

It now allows them to "hide" specific items from their catalogue and easily reveal them once they are back in stock or available to customers. Where a dynamic storefront is required, this feature is common among e-commerce platforms, grocery delivery, and food delivery services. It essentially allows sellers to change their menus on the fly, avoiding delivery delays and taking orders for products that may not be available right away.

"Since many businesses manage their inventory from a computer, this new option will make it quick and easy to add new items or services so their customers know what's available,' WhatsApp said in a statement.