WhatsApp launches Carts for small businesses to sell in app, online

Dec 10, 2020Updated Dec 9, 20201 min read

WhatsApp has added a feature called Carts to its business app, offering a more “seamless and intuitive” shopping experience on the chat program.

The Carts feature will allow customers to quickly add goods or services they want from a business’ catalog, and then send the order as one message to the business. WhatsApp says this makes it easier for customers to order products and for businesses to keep track of order inquiries.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a significant number of small businesses in Hong Kong and Singapore have moved their focus to digital tools like WhatsApp Business to keep close connections and high interactivity with their customers.

The app has turned into a potential channel for brands as about 175 million people around the world message a WhatsApp Business account every day. This trend in conversational commerce is rising across many industries – from fashion and beauty, to food and beverage, and even home and living.

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Mei Ling Tan

Contributor · RetailNews.asia

Mei Ling Tan is the Editor of Retail News Asia, where she leads the editorial team in delivering in-depth coverage of Asia’s dynamic retail landscape. With over a decade of experience in business journalism, Mei Ling is known for her sharp analysis, deep industry insights, and commitment to uncovering the stories behind Asia’s most innovative retail brands. Before joining Retail News Asia, Mei Ling held senior reporting roles at regional business publications, covering everything from consumer trends to digital transformation in retail. A graduate of the National University of Singapore with a degree in Communications and New Media, she combines journalistic integrity with a strong understanding of evolving market forces. Outside the newsroom, Mei Ling is a frequent speaker at industry panels and a mentor for young journalists.

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