WhatsApp Launches Business Directory Feature

WhatsApp is launching a new business directory feature that will allow users to browse business categories (such as travel or banking) or search directly for companies to contact through the service.

The directory will allow users to find companies with business messaging accounts on WhatsApp, making it easier to access customer service chats, according to Meta.

The ultimate goal here is to make it so you can find, message and buy from a business all in the same WhatsApp chat,

Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said in a video shown at a WhatsApp summit in Sao Paolo.

The new feature is available in Brazil, the UK, Indonesia, Mexico and Colombia. Meanwhile, Brazil will be testing a payment tool that will allow transactions on the app using credit or debit cards.

WhatsApp has been testing the new feature in Sao Paulo, Brazil since last year. It is currently only available on Android in Brazil, but in other countries it is available on both Android and iOS.

Brazil's central bank initially opposed WhatsApp's payments feature in 2020, but the following year the company was allowed to make payments between individuals and businesses, with the central bank not allowing payments to merchants.

The new feature comes to WhatsApp amid a decline in Meta's core revenue from the advertising business. The company has  also seen its annual revenue decline for the first time in its history and last week laid off 11,000 employees.