WhatsApp is adding new shopping features to its web app

Reuters

WhatsApp had introduced the Carts shopping feature to its mobile app last year, to allow people to browse a catalog.

Synopsis

Since many businesses manage their inventory from a computer, this new option will make it quick and easy to add new items or services, WhatsApp says in a statement.

Last Updated: Apr 07, 2021, 01:03:00 PM IST

New Delhi: WhatsApp is adding shopping features to its web app, making it easier for people to browse for products. Businesses too will be able to create and manage their catalog from the desktop and not just mobile phones.

"Today, people can browse more than 8 million business catalogs on WhatsApp, including one million in India to find something they might like to buy,” the world’s largest messaging service said in a statement on Wednesday. “Catalogs have also allowed businesses to easily showcase and share what they offer. 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.”

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WhatsApp’s new features would be particularly helpful for businesses with large inventories, such as a restaurant or a clothing store, as they can manage their catalog from a bigger screen. The messaging app is also giving businesses the option to 'hide' specific items from their catalog and easily show them again when they’re back in stock or available to customers.

WhatsApp had introduced Carts during the holiday season last year to allow people to browse a catalog, select multiple products and send the order as one message to the business.