WhatsApp released its 2021 year-end review earlier this month, giving us a flashback to all the highlights of the Meta-owned instant messaging app. The year-end review covers all new features and services to be offered in India during 2021. WhatsApp’s year began with the instant messaging app embroiled in controversy over its updated policy and terms of service. The instant messaging app was also used by several governments and civic bodies to provide COVID-19 related information and resources to citizens. WhatsApp also allowed users to book COVID-19 vaccines through the app.
In addition to essential services, WhatsApp It has also introduced several features for Indian users including a one-time view of media files, encrypted backup, and more. WhatsApp finally also launched the payments feature which was in beta since long before 2021. Let’s take a look at what the Meta-owned instant messaging platform gave us all this year:
Initiatives to help in the fight against COVID-19
As the second wave wreaked havoc in India during April-May, 15 state governments launched dedicated COVID-19 helplines on WhatsApp to provide access to resources and vaccination booking. Central and state administrations also used WhatsApp business platform to connect with citizens and drive COVID-19 Vaccination.
The MyGov corona helpdesk chatbot that was launched by the central government in 2020 was also updated this year to offer features including COVID-19 vaccine appointment booking and certificate download.
Features to improve user experience
This year, WhatsApp brings us many new features that have made the experience better and more secure. In terms of security, WhatsApp has come up with View Once option to make the pictures and videos disappear which the receiver can see only once. To help provide users with additional privacy, the company has also come up with a disappearing mode with multiple periods. The app has also added the ability to report specific messages (message level reporting) so that users can report accounts by simply flagging a message. Apart from all this, WhatsApp came with encrypted chat backups to enhance user security.
In terms of improving the user experience, FacebookThe proprietary instant messaging app brought features like desktop calling, Archive 2.0, the ability to join group calls, and cross-platform migration, which means it’s easy to transfer your WhatsApp data from Android to iPhone and vice versa. The company also launched several new sticker packs, a media editor on the web, and status stickers throughout 2021.
whatsapp payment update
WhatsApp Payments also got a list of updates this year. One of them was the new payment shortcut which is available on all platforms. It shows a rupee sign in the text box right next to the paperclip option for attachment. WhatsApp also brought stickers in pay mode and cashback to persuade more users in the country to pay using WhatsApp. WhatsApp also enabled the camera icon on its app to scan QR codes, effectively providing access to over 20 million QR-enabled stores in the country. WhatsApp also said that it launched a pilot program in 500 villages across Karnataka and Maharashtra to connect the next 500 million Indian users to the digital payments ecosystem.
whatsapp business update 2021
The most recent thing here is that WhatsApp announced that it is partnering with Uber to allow Indian users to book cabs directly from WhatsApp. In addition, Bharat Petroleum used WhatsApp Business to launch its chatbot called Urja that will help provide a self-service experience for both B2C and B2B use cases.
WhatsApp claimed that its Business app has been used by over 15 million small and micro businesses. WhatsApp has also tied up with trade union Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA). This partnership will help women farmers in Kashmir to sell thousands of kilograms of apples and cherries to customers in Gujarat.
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