Meta has launched new features to help small businesses in India, including a Meta Verified badge and AI tools to improve customer engagement. These updates were announced at the WhatsApp Business Summit in Mumbai.
The Meta Verified badge is now available to eligible small businesses on WhatsApp Business. This badge acts as a trust symbol, helping businesses build credibility. Subscribers to Meta Verified get a badge, protection against impersonation, and extra features to boost their online presence.
Meta is also testing AI tools in India to make it easier for businesses to connect with customers. Early results are positive, showing that AI can be used directly from the WhatsApp Business app to offer more personalized and quick responses.
Additionally, Meta introduced new messaging options that allow businesses to send custom messages like appointment reminders or holiday sale updates. These messages can include the customer’s name and be scheduled for a specific time. Meta stressed the need for businesses to get customer consent before sending these messages to keep them relevant and avoid spam.
To further support small businesses, Meta launched the “WhatsApp Bharat Yatra,” an outreach program focused on smaller cities. This initiative offers hands-on training for businesses on setting up WhatsApp Business accounts, making product catalogs, and using ads linked to WhatsApp.
Sandhya Devanathan, Meta India’s Vice President, highlighted WhatsApp’s key role in India’s digital growth, noting that it has become an essential tool for business-customer interactions. Meta shared examples of businesses already benefiting, like Max Life’s local language chat support and Maruti Suzuki’s digital customer engagement.
Source: timesnownews
