The enterprise platform is already hidden in the latest beta version of the app.
WhatsApp continues to be the most popular instant messaging app in the world. According to the latest stats, a whopping 63 billion WhatsApp messages were sent on New Year’s Eve worldwide, out of which Indians contributed to 14 billion messages. With a lot of users concurrently using the platform, WhatsApp is reportedly planning to introduce an ‘Enterprise’ service to allow businesses to directly message its users.
References to the service were recently spotted on the latest beta version of the app, courtesy of WABetaInfo (Twitter user who tracks latest changes in WhatsApp beta). The reference code hints at structured messages for ‘enterprise’ and business users. According to the user’s findings, there are several templates for structured WhatsApp messages, one of which is translation feature. It will allow businesses to send a message that is translated to local language of the recipient.
Facebook, which also owns WhatsApp, uses JSON files to manage its structured messages, and the WABetaInfo believes that the same could be used on the instant messaging platform too. All the references to the code were found in beta versions of Android, iOS and Windows Phone apps, along with WhatsApp web and desktop versions too. ALSO READ: WhatsApp rolls out GIF search, insert support for Android, raises media sharing limit to 30
As of now there is no word on when exactly the WhatsApp Enterprise service will go live. However, the rollout is expected to happen sometime this year. The enterprise service opens up a lot of possibilities for businesses, mainly helping them to stay connected with their target audiences. Also, details about how these notifications will arrive, will there be an option to mute or completely disable these, are scarce at the moment. But more information is likely to pour in once the testing in beta begins. ALSO READ: Indians sent 14 billion WhatsApp messages on New Year’s Eve
This comes days after WhatsApp confirmed opening its doors to businesses. “Starting this year, we will test tools that allow you to use WhatsApp to communicate with businesses and organizations that you want to hear from. That could mean communicating with your bank about whether a recent transaction was fraudulent, or with an airline about a delayed flight. We all get these messages elsewhere today – through text messages and phone calls – so we want to test new tools to make this easier to do on WhatsApp, while still giving you an experience without third-party ads and spam,” WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum had said.
Besides working on ‘enterprise’ service, WhatsApp has been constantly adding new features to its platform. Recently, the company rolled out support for GIF search, raised media sharing limit to 30, introduced video streaming feature and more. In the recent WhatsApp beta update, an option to revoke messages, photos and videos, and a ‘Status Tab’ – Instagram stores like feature was also spotted. Other additions include video calling feature, two-factor authentication, Snapchat like doodle feature and public WhatsApp groups with sharable links among others. ALSO READ: WhatsApp beta update lets users ‘revoke’ messages, photos and videos