WhatsApp is the most used mobile messaging app in the world, with over 2 billion active monthly users. While it has come under criticism over the last few years, the app continues to reign supreme. The Facebook-owned messenger continues to dominate the instant messaging industry amid competition from the likes of WeChat and Facebook Messenger. Behind its success of WhatsApp Business is a slew of new features, the latest of which is a quick action bar for Android users.
What Is WhatsApp Business?
WhatsApp Business is a free-to-download app that’s available on Android and iPhone. The app is for business owners and simplifies interacting with customers. It does this by providing tools to sort, automate, and quickly respond to messages. It can also do everything that the original WhatsApp can do. Some of its features include business profile listings, labels, and advanced messaging tools.
A History of WhatsApp Business
WhatsApp Business launched in January 2018 in select markets across the U.S., U.K., Mexico, Italy, and Indonesia, among others. The new app differed from its twin WhatsApp with the integration of new messaging tools and business profiles. The new features were aimed at business customers and were part of the company’s plan to generate more revenue. The plan was to charge large enterprises for access to advanced tools for communicating with customers. The new app was cross-compatible with the existing WhatsApp app. In addition, the app’s API was released for large enterprises to access even more advanced tools.
New Features for a New App
Since WhatsApp Business was rolled out, it has released several new features for users. With the API, you can automate chat threads to conduct complete conversations automatically and effectively resolve customer queries. You can also organise your chat in labels, segregating your customer communication per where they belong in the sales funnel. Arguably, the standout feature is the catalogue, which serves as a storefront for business owners to display their products and regularly update the accompanying details. There’s also a business directory to help you quickly get discovered by local customers.
Related: WhatsApp Ads in Statuses and Channels: 17 Amazing Pros and Cons
How Often Does WhatsApp Business Release New Features?
There’s no concrete timeline for the release of new features. However, judging from WhatsApp’s standard practice of planning and testing one or two new features every year, the same can be expected of WhatsApp Business. At its Global Conversions event in September 2023, it released some new features. The first one, called Flows, makes it easier for users to make choices while interacting with businesses. Users can also easily make payments within WhatsApp Business and choose from supported UPI apps, debit and credit cards, and more. This feature is made possible via a collaboration with PayU and Razorpay.
WhatsApp Business Explores New Feature for Android Users
WhatsApp is currently testing out a new feature on its WhatsApp Business app for Android users. This feature is expected to enhance the user experience by enabling easy and quick access to different functions via a new icon situated just above the microphone button. The feature will simplify and improve how business owners interact with their customers on the app. By making key functions readily available, business owners can save effort and time when using the app. Some of these features include accessing quick replies, easily sharing products from your catalogue, and quickly creating orders.
WhatsApp Business Quick Action Bar Feature: Verdict
The latest WhatsApp Business feature is a user-friendly update that further highlights the app’s dedication towards providing a great experience for business owners. The quick action bar feature is available to a few beta testers who have installed the latest versions of WhatsApp Business beta for Android. Subsequently, it will be rolled out to more users.
What Next for WhatsApp?
WhatsApp will keep testing its view-once mode for voice notes, similar to its view-one feature for videos and photos. The feature will restrict users from forwarding, saving, or exporting voice notes to other individuals and groups. The company is also developing a new feature to hide locked chats from the chat list for additional privacy. The new toggle option will reduce the visibility of private chats. Users will only be able to access the specific chats using the search bar after entering the passcode.