Facebook parent company Meta Platforms Inc. FB is adding commercial services to WhatsApp so businesses can build a custom dashboard to chat with customers and offer customer services. Company CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in a Facebook post the introduction of WhatsApp Cloud API, a cloud-based version of the WhatsApp Business API.
The service is the latest technology iteration in a years-long push to monetize the otherwise free messaging app as Meta explores revenue streams outside of advertising. Additionally, the company is venturing into the metaverse to boost sales.