WhatsApp to help businesses grow

Facebook-owned chat app, WhatsApp announced on Thursday, January 19, that it will be introducing a new feature which would allow business accounts. This will be the first time that a feature like this would be introduced and it is meant to bring the free service closer to a plan that would generate revenue for its parent company.        

While some businesses have been using the chat app to connect with customers, the new feature will enable them to set up automatic greetings, observe statistics about their messaging and present a profile page with hours of operation.

The accounts are aimed at businesses that receive a high volume of WhatsApp messages and need help keeping up, WhatsApp Chief Operating Officer said,“What we saw was a need for businesses to have more efficient tools.”

WhatsApp said its business accounts would be available beginning on Thursday through a WhatsApp Business application in the Google Play store in Britain, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico and the United States.