WhatsApp launched a feature on Tuesday that allows its more than 2 billion users to shop through the messaging platform and enables merchants to track orders and inquiries.
WhatsApp Cart was introduced globally after the company piloted the service with select businesses. The Facebook-owned instant messaging app expects its new feature to have traction during the holiday season this month, the company said.
Here is how the new shopping platform will work and potentially disrupt the contactless shopping ecosystem globally.
What is WhatsApp cart?
WhatsApp cart is useful when messaging businesses that typically sell multiple items at once, like a local restaurant or a clothing store. With cart, people can browse a catalogue, select multiple products and send the order as one message to the business. This will also make it simpler for businesses to track orders, inquiries, manage requests from customers and close sales.
How to place an order using cart?
Users can go to the business profile of the company and tap on the shopping button icon to access the catalogue. After accessing the catalogue, they can use the "message business" option to start a conversation. They can browse through a list of products from different categories and order by clicking on the "add to cart" button.
How to edit the cart?
As with online shopping, cart users can at anytime see the items they have added by clicking on "view cart". They can click "add more" to navigate back to the catalogue to continue adding more products. They can also edit the quantity for each product added to the cart.
Once the cart is successfully updated, users can send it to the seller as a WhatsApp message. They can also see the details of the order by tapping on the "view cart" button in their chat window with the seller.
How safe is WhatsApp messaging for business?
To attract more business users, WhatsApp is also offering free storage to host messages. WhatsApp ensures safety through its high level of encryption, the company said.
“Every private message sent using WhatsApp is secured with end-to-end encryption by default. Strong encryption acts like an unbreakable digital lock that keeps the information you send over WhatsApp secure, helping protect you from hackers and criminals.”
Messages are only kept on your phone, and no one in between can read your messages or listen to your calls, it said.
WhatsApp is committed to not using messages to boost target advertising.
How big is WhatsApp community?
WhatsApp was founded in 2009 and sold to Facebook for $19 billion in 2014. The messaging platform has more than 2 billion users, compared with 1.5 billion in 2018. Nearly 175 million of WhatsApp's 2 billion users interact with a business on the app every day, according to the company's chief operating officer, Matt Idema.
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- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
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- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
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The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
