WhatsApp[1] has announced that it is introducing verified business accounts to the app[2] in order to increase the convenience with which users are able to communicate with businesses. WhatsApp, the chat app that has a massive user base in India[3], is already being used by small businesses[4] and charitable organisations[5] to reach out to their audience. For the longest time, WhatsApp has been focused on adding features that individuals find useful, with not much going the way of businesses. This move should begin to address that shortcoming.
In an FAQ post regarding the new update, WhatsApp said that some business accounts have already been verified and that if you see a green badge with a white tick mark next to a contact's name, you can be assured that it is a business profile. The company has clarified that WhatsApp business verification is currently limited to a small number of businesses participating in a pilot program. Think about use cases such as an official police number where you can send complaints or ask them to guide you to safe areas in the event of a natural disaster. That is also where verified WhatsApp accounts could be very useful.
WhatsApp has already been planning to introduce UPI payments[6] and that could be another way for businesses to use this Facebook[7]-owned platform. Instead of accepting payments outside the app, small businesses could do it in WhatsApp itself[8] and make the entire transaction much smoother. It remains to be seen how Facebook executes its plans for businesses on WhatsApp but for the moment, today's development appears to be a step in the right direction.
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