14 DAY TRIAL // WhatsApp seems to be interested in broadening its horizons by expanding into digital payments, considering one job ad posted on the company's website targeting the Indian market.
WhatsApp is looking to hire someone for the Digital Transactions Lead position. His or her responsibilities would include providing customer support to WhatsApp users in India with inquiries related to digital transactions, troubleshooting user issues, constructing workflows to allow an efficient ticket processing, collaborating with banks to resolve issues encountered by WhatsApp users, and so on.
The company requires those who apply to have a bachelor's degree from the US or an equivalent from another country, over two years experience in Customer support, and over two years experience working with financial services in the Indian market, as well as the ability to use and learn multiple mobile operating systems. The person they're looking for has to be eligible to work in the United States, but doesn't offer international relocation.
Incoming changes
This is clearly an indication that WhatsApp seeks to move into digital payments in India, which is its biggest market with some 200 million of its user base. The Ken cites unnamed sources saying that WhatsApp plans to launch this person-to-person payments tool in India within the next six months.
"India is an important country for WhatsApp, and we're understanding how we can contribute more to the vision of Digital India," a WhatsApp spokesperson told Reuters. "We're exploring how we might work with companies that share this vision and continuing to listen closely to feedback from our users."
The move is also backed by a statement made a couple of months ago by WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton, who said that the app was in the early stages of looking into digital payments in India and that he had already discussed the matter with the Indian government.