Telegram challenges WhatsApp Business with new business features: Check details

Telegram has declared war against WhatsApp. Last month, Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced the first set of business features for the messaging app. At the time, Telegram Business features were limited to a couple of basic tips and tricks. The features announced at the time enabled users to add their location and opening hours, organise chats with colour labels, use greeting messages and shortcuts for quick replies. Now, in another update, the Telegram founder has officially announced Telegram Business. Along with it, Durov has also shared a long list of features that Telegram Business users will get. Here is a detailed list of features coming to Telegram Business:

All the new features coming to Telegram Business

Hours and Location

This feature will let Telegram Business users display their hours of operation and show their location on a map. Users can open a business profile and tap the location pin to see the details on a map.

Start Page

The update also brings the ability to customise the start page of businesses for empty chats. Telegram Business users will be able to choose which text and sticker people see before they start a conversation. Businesses will also be able to showcase info about products and services or welcome customers with branded artwork.

Image: Telegram

Quick Replies

Telegram Business also enables users to create quick replies, which are nothing but shortcuts for sending preset messages that may contain several messages, text formatting, links, stickers, media, and files. The only caveat is that this feature works in private chats only.

How to use: Type ‘/’ in the message bar > a panel with all quick replies appears > edit a message or send it.

Greeting Messages

Telegram Business users can also set a greeting message that will be sent to users who contact the business for the first time.

Away Messages

Users can also set an away message that will be sent when a user’s business is closed or while they are on a vacation. Users can also limit any automated messages to exclude specific chats or entire chat categories.

Tags for Chats

This feature lets users add coloured labels to chats based on the chat folders they are in.

Links to Chat

This feature lets users create links to chat with businesses. Telegram says that when tapped, these links instantly open a chat with the business and paste a suggested message for the user.

Telegram says that these links can be used both inside and outside of Telegram and that each link shows how many times it was tapped so that the business can track its performance.

Chatbots

These chatbots will let businesses process and answer messages on their behalf. “This allows businesses to seamlessly integrate any existing tools and workflows, or add AI assistants that manage their chats,” Telegram wrote.