Meta has introduced a shopping experience within the WhatsApp messaging app in India, extending a feature that is already available there. The initiative aims to drive digital adoption by letting people shop for grocery and everyday items directly through their chat conversations, simplifying the path from discovery to purchase.
Meta is partnering with Indian e-commerce company JioMart to promote shopping via WhatsApp. The collaboration was highlighted by Mark Zuckerberg on his Facebook profile, underscoring the strategic goal of accelerating digital transformation across the country and bringing more commerce into familiar messaging spaces.
The alliance enables JioMart to present a product catalog within WhatsApp, allowing users to browse products, select quantities, and view prices without leaving the chat. This in-chat catalog approach turns a simple message thread into a shopping channel, where options are clearly displayed and buyers can compare items in real time.
Items are added to the chat as users barter or discuss options, and once the chat sequence concludes, the shopping list can be finalized and payments can be completed within the same interface. The aim is to provide a seamless end-to-end shopping experience that keeps users within their preferred messaging environment.
Through this shopping feature, Meta positions WhatsApp as a direct line to consumers across India, enabling a more integrated form of commerce that blends communication and purchasing. The official statement notes that this move strengthens the connection between businesses and customers by leveraging the familiarity and accessibility of the messaging platform to support growth in digital retail.