WhatsApp launches an app for small businesses to speak to customers directly
Now its possible to speak to your local bakery on WhatsApp.
Messaging giant WhatsApp has launched a new app aimed at small businesses to help them communicate more quickly with customers by using the messaging platform.
WhatsApp Business is a free Android app which enables users to interact with customers through the service, rather than by email or another form of communication.
The tech firm said users can create a business profile for customers to find and get in touch with, as well as create quick reply templates to answer queries or confirm orders in a more timely fashion.
“People all around the world use WhatsApp to connect with small businesses they care about — from online clothing companies in India to auto parts stores in Brazil,” the Facebook owned firm wrote in a blog post.
The app is launching in the UK today, the company confirmed.
A similar system for quickly contacting businesses in a way normally meant for one-to-one chat is already being used on another Facebook-owned service, Messenger.
Here, chatbots – machine learning and artificial intelligence powered software – respond to customer messages in Messenger conversations, enabling users to get updates on delivery times and other services from a range of businesses.
WhatsApp is one of the world’s largest social network platforms, with more than 1.3 billion active users.
