On Wednesday, Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced that personal accounts on his chat app can now be converted into business accounts for a monthly fee. Users are able to list information such as location and opening hours, which may be helpful to small cafes and shops.
Telegram now gives users the ability to upgrade their personal chat account into a professional business account. There is a monthly subscription fee to access great new features created specifically for businesses. These premium tools can help you better engage with customers and provide top-notch service right from your Telegram mobile app.
Some of the handy business tools include organizing chat threads with easy-to-spot color labels. You can also set up automatic greeting messages or out-of-office replies. Quick response shortcuts allow quick replies to frequent customer questions.
Durov said Telegram aims to roll out even more helpful business features this month. Soon accounts can add AI chatbots to assist with customer support. These smart bots can take on repetitive tasks and answer customer questions around the clock. This lets small businesses provide service like much bigger companies.
Telegram sees an opportunity to compete with popular WhatsApp Business. That service now has over 200 million monthly users. However, Telegram charges for premium tools while WhatsApp looks to conversations and engagement for revenue.
Last year WhatsApp grew their business services with tailored messaging. Customers can now complete online orders and payments without leaving the app.
In recent years, Telegram focused on self-hosting crypto wallets and auctions of premium usernames. They launched premium subscriptions like these new business accounts. Telegram plans to roll out an ad platform this month and share revenue with large channels. Upgrading personal accounts to professional business profiles gives Telegram another stream of paid subscriptions.
