WhatsApp is adding an in-app shopping service in India.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NEW DELHI — Meta Announces Launch of Shopping Experience end to end first on WhatsApp. The move reaffirmed the app’s aspirations for the messaging platform.

WhatsApp adds an in-app purchase service to India where users will be able to shop online directly via chat. The new in-app shopping experience is the result of a collaboration between Meta and the Indian e-commerce platform JioMart. User WhatsApp in India can now access JioMart via WhatsApp chat.

“Excited to launch our partnership with JioMart in India. This is our first end-to-end shopping experience on WhatsApp,” said Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Technological pointTuesday (8/30/2022).

By chatting with JioMart business account on WhatsApp, users can start shopping and browse JioMart catalog. Then they can add items to their cart and make payments. Zuckerberg thinks this type of chat-based interaction will be a growth driver in the future.

“Business messaging is an area with real momentum and chat-based experiences like this will be how people and businesses communicate for years to come,” he said.

The collaboration between Meta and JioMart began more than two years ago when Meta acquired a 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms, a subsidiary of Indian technology company Reliance Industries. Meta and Jio platforms are forging a strategic partnership with the aim of transforming digital and revolutionizing the way businesses connect with consumers in India. The JioMart integration was also announced at Reliance Industries’ 45th Annual General Meeting earlier this week.

The news shows WhatsApp’s aspirations to become a super app in India, following in the footsteps of Chinese powerhouse WeChat. Used by over 1.2 billion users, WeChat is an integral part of daily life in China offering a full list of features, from e-commerce to transportation.