Meta-owned messaging and calling app WhatsApp on Tuesday announced a mobile bus tour WhatsApp Bharat Yatra to offer on-ground and in-person training to small businesses on leveraging services offered by WhatsApp to improve digital skills and business growth potential.
Starting with Delhi-NCR, WhatsApp said the bus will visit some of the region’s most popular and busy markets such as Laxmi Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Nehru Place, Malviya Nagar, Amar Colony, and Safdarjung Enclave. The journey will also cover key hubs in Gurgaon and Noida, including Sapphire Mall and Atta Market.
Following its tour in Delhi-NCR, the WhatsApp-branded bus will travel to cities including Agra, Lucknow, Kanpur, Indore, Ahmedabad, Surat, Nashik, and Mysore.
Through interactive demos and hands-on personalized training, WhatsApp said small and medium businesses (SMBs) will learn about creating their business profile, setting up a catalogue and creating an ad that clicks to start a WhatsApp chat.
Speaking on the initiative, Ravi Garg, Director, Business Messaging, Meta in India said “WhatsApp Bharat Yatra is our commitment to helping these businesses unlock their full potential by providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to digitally connect with their customers, grow and succeed. By meeting businesses where they are—both physically and digitally—we aim to create a meaningful, long-lasting impact across India’s entrepreneurial landscape.”
Recently, WhatsApp had introduced some new updates for small businesses, including Meta Verified, which helps businesses build credibility with customers. Additionally, businesses can now send customized messages to their customers, such as appointment reminders, birthday greetings, or even updates on a holiday sale, all in a faster and more efficient way.
For small businesses, WhatsApp also started testing Meta AI to help businesses activate AI directly from the WhatsApp Business app and engage with their customers.
Focusing on small businesses, WhatsApp had earlier launched the WhatsApp Se Wyapaar programme with traders’ body CAIT to upskill 10 million traders.
Importantly, India is among the key markets for WhatsApp Business globally. According to the data from Statista, with 481 million downloads, India had the highest number of WhatsApp Business app downloads as of February 2024.