Popular messaging app WhatsApp is rumored to be working on introducing a new feature that supports bill payments in India. This is to further open the way to the integration of the use of digital payment service through the use of WhatsApp Pay. The feature will let the users pay the utility bills, including electricity, water and gas through the app and hence, act as a single platform for both the purposes- communication and payment.

Highlights:

• WhatsApp is testing a bill payment feature for Indian users.
• The feature will support utility bill payments like electricity and water.
• It integrates seamlessly with the existing WhatsApp Pay service.
• The move aligns with India’s push for digital payment adoption.
• The feature is currently in the testing phase, with no official launch date yet.

The bill payment feature is strategically significant since it will help the users reduce the time required to pay for bills while addressing a different application. Currently, WhatsApp has more than half a billion active users in the country, meaning financial services included in the application may greatly increase the percentage of payment services users. It also has the common ubiquitous design so that the customers with little knowledge on digital payments settlements can easily use it.

This goes well with India’s ongoing Digitization India campaign in which it encourages cashless economy and financial integration. In this case, WhatsApp is entering the financial sector as well by providing customers with the opportunity to pay utility bills. It is actually believed that the provision of the feature will boost the use of the WhatsApp Pay most especially in the rural areas where use of the digital payments is relatively low.

Thus, the concept of such a feature is rather prospective, even if it is still in a trial period. If done properly, this could indeed change the way a large part of the Indian populace pays their utility bills for the better. Competitive forces might also increase due to the entry of WhatsApp in this particular space thus providing more services to the consumers.