WhatsApp is planning to roll out a nearby businesses filter for its users. The Meta-owned instant messenger is developing a search filter that will allow people to browse businesses around them. Restaurants, hotels, stores, and many such small to big businesses will be in reach with just a few clicks on WhatsApp.
According to the popular WhatsApp tracker, WABetaInfo, the nearby business filter is still under development. This feature is quite similar to the recently released business directory which lets people find business accounts in a short time without leaving WhatsApp. Although it must be worth noting that the business directory has not been made available for everybody.
Only a limited number of people living in São Paulo, a Brazilian city with a huge population have access to it. The company is working on releasing the business directory for more users in the coming times. With the apparent recent endeavors in the business directory space, WhatsApp’s inclination towards a business filter feature is not a surprise.
They are developing an interface within which there will be a section just for the closest businesses in the area. When someone chooses this category, the person automatically gets the list of business accounts near him or her. A somewhat identical interface will be available on iOS as well as Android phones.
Will Cathcart who’s the current head of the company, told about their plans for bringing a feature that could detect the nearest business in a locality. However, he did not announce more details as there’s no certainty since the feature is under the development stage. The feature is neither available to beta testers either as of now.
At present, it is also unclear whether they can just access the information on businesses or do more. Whether the users will be able to place orders directly from WhatsApp or not. There are many questions around the new function which only time can answer. The online messaging platform has not released any date for the feature’s release. It is pretty much anticipated that ‘Businesses Nearby’ is going to be firstly in reach of those who already have ‘Business Directory’ from WhatsApp.