Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the development at the company’s messaging event on Thursday.
Digital Desk: WhatsApp introduces free cloud-based API services to get more businesses using the app. Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the development at the company’s messaging event on Thursday.
Facebook-owner Meta has released new shopping and business-focused services on numerous platforms, including the messaging app, which has increasingly courted business users.
Zuckerberg, speaking at Meta’s “Conversations” event, said the offering would mean “any business or developer can easily access our service, build directly on top of WhatsApp to customize their experience and speed up their response time to customers by using our secure WhatsApp Cloud API hosted by Meta.”
It may be mentioned that WhatsApp already offers an API, or application programming interface, that allows businesses to link their systems to the service and engage in customer service chats, generating cash for Meta.
Further, Meta stated that Businesses would not be able to message people on WhatsApp unless they have requested to be reached, which bought WhatsApp for $19 billion (approximately Rs. 1,47,355 crore) in a blockbuster 2014 deal.
WhatsApp also said on Thursday that it plans to offer optional paid capabilities as part of a new premium service for customers of its small-business-focused business app.
It is to be noted that the features to manage chats across up to 10 devices are still being developed, as are customizable click-to-chat links that businesses may publish on their websites and share with consumers.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, speaking in a session with Meta Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, said third users ordering rides via WhatsApp in India are new customers.
The ride-hailing company, which launched its WhatsApp chatbot in December, is now planning to customize the service further, starting for users in and around Delhi and expanding to markets like Brazil, he said.
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