WhatsApp Business Introduces Meta Verified in India

WhatsApp Business has introduced new features and programs in India. This was announced at the first WhatsApp Business Summit in India. “These features and programs show our commitment to helping businesses maximize their value while providing great customer experiences on WhatsApp,” said Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President of Meta in India.

One key update is Meta Verified for eligible small businesses using the WhatsApp Business app. Meta Verified includes a verified badge, impersonation protection, account support, and premium features to help businesses promote their brand and interact with customers better. Another addition is the ability for businesses to create and schedule customized messages.

This can be used for sending appointment reminders, birthday greetings, and updates on holiday sales. Meta is also launching in-person and online training to help small businesses use WhatsApp’s full potential. The in-person training will happen in several cities across India, providing guidance on setting up WhatsApp Business accounts, creating catalogs, and setting up ads that lead to WhatsApp.

Online training resources will be available on Meta’s website. “The ease of WhatsApp places it at the center of India’s transformation, helping businesses fuel new ideas and models of growth,” added Devanathan. India, with over 1 billion people, has more than half a billion WhatsApp users.

Meta Verified boosts WhatsApp use

The country’s consumers are also comfortable with mobile payments, using digital wallets for 55% of retail purchases. WhatsApp is introducing a Meta Verified badge and customized messaging features for small businesses in India.

India has over 65 million small and medium-sized businesses, but only about 5 million of them operate online, according to a report by Meta and Bain & Company. By promoting WhatsApp Business, Meta aims to tap into this large market, as WhatsApp is widely used for messaging by most Indians. Meta Verified subscriptions provide WhatsApp Business users with features like the ability to create custom WhatsApp pages that are discoverable on the web, multi-device support, and multiple employee accounts.

Meta Verified for WhatsApp Business costs around $8 (about ₹639) per month for Indian users. Along with Meta Verified, small businesses using WhatsApp Business can now schedule and send personalized messages to customers, such as appointment reminders, birthday wishes, or updates on sales. These messages can include customer names and customizable call-to-action buttons.

WhatsApp is also launching “WhatsApp Business Yatra” (Yatra means tour in Hindi), aimed at promoting the service in tier-2 and tier-3 cities across the country. This will provide in-person training to small businesses on setting up their WhatsApp Business accounts, creating catalogs, and setting up ads that link to WhatsApp. Meta will also build a resource center on its website as a quick-access tutorial center for these businesses.

These new features and initiatives are part of Meta’s broader strategy to support small businesses in India through accessible digital tools and training, using the widespread use of WhatsApp in the region.