WhatsApp is reportedly rolling out a feature that will allow users to scan UPI QR codes directly from the chats list.
The feature, according to WhatsApp tracker WABetaInfo, is currently available to select beta testers running on the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.7.3 update and will be rolled out to more users in the coming days. If you have not applied for beta testing for WhatsApp, then the feature should reach you in the coming months.
The feature is especially beneficial to users in India who heavily depend on UPI to transfer money or make payments. In 2023,
the total number of UPI transactions stood at 117.6 billion, according to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The total value of money processed through the payment method is said to be over
₹182 lakh crore in the same year.
“With the integration of UPI QR code scanning feature directly from the chats list, users no longer need to navigate through multiple screens or follow several steps to make payments. This process not only saves time but also enhances the overall user experience, making the scanning experience more intuitive,” the report said.
Users will be able to see a QR code icon next to the camera icon in the top right corner of the chat list. Whether or not the feature will be available for iOS users is not clear yet.
Developed by the NPCI, WhatsApp first introduced its in-app payments feature in 2020. It lets users receive and send money to their WhatsApp contacts within the chat.
