The article examines how WhatsApp has become essential infrastructure for small businesses in India, functioning as a communication and inventory management tool. It highlights the challenges businesses face due to WhatsApp's limitations and the risks of relying on unofficial apps for automation.

WhatsApp has introduced a QR code payments feature for its Business App, allowing small businesses to easily share codes for direct customer payments within the app. This development was announced at a business summit in India, where additional tools for customer support and advertising were also revealed. The popularity of WhatsApp payments in India is growing, following the launch of its P2P payments service earlier this year.