What it is and how to use it

WhatsApp has launched a new search feature for Business app users. This feature allows users to search for local businesses and restaurants directly from the app itself. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Business Directory feature and how to use it.

WhatsApp Business, for those who are new to the messaging platform, is an alternative app aimed at users who run their businesses from the platform. It offers features such as listing your catalog and welcome messages.

The new Business Directory feature was discovered a few weeks ago when some users got the feature on their phones in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Although not much was known about the global availability of the feature at the time, we now know that it is rolling out to all WhatsApp Business users on Android and iOS.

WABetaInfo has recently leaked a screenshot showing the new search filters that come with the feature.

To use this feature, all WhatsApp Business users need is to simply tap the search button on their app at the top of the home screen. Among the results, users will see new filters for nearby businesses like restaurants, groceries, and more, as well as old subcategories like Photos, Videos, and Documents, as shown in the screenshot above.

It remains to be seen if the WhatsApp Business Search feature will make its way to the default WhatsApp app, although this seems unlikely at least for the time being. The feature is more likely to be used on a business platform, where users may want to learn more about local entities such as competitors in their area.