This archive report was first published on 15 June 2020.
On June 15, 2020, WhatsApp rolled out a nationwide payments system in Brazil, marking a significant expansion of its services in the country.
The new feature, which is being rolled out in Brazil first, enables users to send money or make a purchase from a local business without leaving their WhatsApp chat.
“Today we are starting to launch payments for people using WhatsApp. We are making sending and receiving money as easy as sharing photos. We are also enabling small businesses to make sales right within WhatsApp,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in an update.
WhatsApp tested the payment system in India beginning in 2018, and the Brazil launch will be the first nationwide rollout. The service will introduce the ability to directly pay a business.
With over 120 million individual users in Brazil, WhatsApp is a popular platform for small businesses to market their products and services. The new payments feature will enable customers to send payments for products as well as view a store’s catalog.
“The over 10 million small and micro-businesses are the heartbeat of Brazil’s communities. It’s become second nature to send a zap to a business to get questions answered. Now in addition to viewing a store’s catalog, customers will be able to send payments for products as well,” WhatsApp said in a statement.
The company said sending money or making a purchase on WhatsApp is free for people, while businesses will pay a processing fee to receive customer payments.
