WhatsApp has unveiled a range of new features for businesses during Meta's second annual Conversations conference in Mumbai, India. These additions encompass Flows, empowering businesses to craft personalized chat interactions for their customers; Payments, facilitating in-chat transactions from customers to businesses; and Meta Verified, bestowing a badge of authenticity upon businesses, accompanied by supplementary perks.

Flows is an innovative feature enabling businesses to design interactive menus and forms directly within their chat interface. This empowers customers to take a variety of actions without the need to exit the conversation. For instance, a bank can offer customers the ability to schedule an appointment for opening a new account, a food delivery service can streamline the process of placing orders from their partner restaurants, and an airline can provide customers with a convenient way to check in for a flight and select their preferred seat. Flows will soon become accessible to businesses worldwide through the WhatsApp Business Platform in the upcoming weeks.

Payments is a convenient feature designed to streamline the purchasing process right within the chat interface. In India, customers can now effortlessly add items to their cart and make payments using their preferred method, including various supported UPI apps, debit and credit cards, and more. WhatsApp has collaborated with partners Razorpay and PayU to simplify the payment experience, making it as straightforward as sending a message. Additionally, Payments is currently active in Brazil and Singapore, offering similar convenience to users in those regions.

Meta Verified is a feature that empowers businesses to attain verification from Meta, assuring customers of their legitimacy during chats. To achieve Meta Verified status, businesses must prove their authenticity to Meta, earning them a verified badge along with benefits such as enhanced account support and protection against impersonation. Additionally, Meta Verified offers premium features like the ability to create a custom WhatsApp page that's easily searchable on the web and multi-device support, allowing multiple employees to engage with customers. Initially, Meta Verified will undergo testing with small businesses using the WhatsApp Business app before extending it to businesses on the WhatsApp Business Platform in the future.