WhatsApp Bharat Yatra: Empowering Indian SMBs with Digital Growth Tools

Meta-owned WhatsApp has launched a nationwide initiative, WhatsApp Bharat Yatra, to empower small and medium businesses (SMBs) with in-person training on leveraging the app’s tools for business growth. Starting in Delhi-NCR, the campaign features a WhatsApp-branded bus visiting key markets such as Laxmi Nagar, Rajouri Garden, and Nehru Place, offering hands-on guidance on creating business profiles, setting up product catalogs, and crafting ads that link directly to WhatsApp chats. The initiative will expand to other cities, including Agra, Ahmedabad, and Mysore, to enhance SMBs’ digital capabilities.
Ravi Garg, Director of Business Messaging at Meta India, underscored the program’s significance in unlocking entrepreneurial potential. “We aim to create a meaningful, long-lasting impact by meeting businesses where they are—both physically and digitally,” he stated. The initiative complements WhatsApp’s recently introduced features like Meta Verified for enhancing credibility and AI-driven tools for streamlined customer interactions, further enabling businesses to build strong digital connections with their customers.
This initiative builds on WhatsApp’s earlier collaborations, including the WhatsApp Se Vyapaar program with the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), which aimed to upskill 10 million traders. India remains a vital market for WhatsApp Business, with 481 million app downloads as of February 2024, the highest globally. Through programs like WhatsApp Bharat Yatra, the platform reinforces its commitment to strengthening the digital entrepreneurial ecosystem across the country.
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