A recent Telegram update introduced new features of payment bots, which now support JavaScript. Now, you can open websites and mini-applications right in the messenger.

New tools open opportunities for various services, from online stores to mobile games. As one of Telegram’s payment partners, Bank 131 helps companies accept payments through the messenger’s native interface.

What can payment bots do

Newly added bot functionality allows you to create a storefront to showcase goods and add delivery options. Comments and other forms of feedback make Telegram a real e-commerce platform. You can take a look at this store or check the example created by the Telegram team.

Who can benefit from new features

The new features of payment bots are genuinely universal and suit companies from various fields.

Online shopping

You can set up a bot store that can accept payments from customers. For example, it could be a blogger’s merch store. These stores tend to be small, so Telegram is an excellent solution.

Education

Using a bot, you can provide educational services with paid access to videos and other content. This option suits the authors of courses and different training programs.

Food delivery

You can now create a delivery app in Telegram, with an interface and payment processing matching those of separate apps.

Tipping

It has become common for restaurant guests to tip waiters via QR codes. Instead, they can go to a store in Telegram, choose their waiter, and tip them right in the app.

Other opportunities

Payment bots also work great if you need to enable monetization in a game.

Advantages of using Telegram payment bots

Recently, opportunities for e-comm businesses in Russia have become scarce. For example, many companies are leaving the social networks they used previously. Yet, Telegram offers a powerful alternative.

Here are just a few points in favor of moving an online store to Telegram:

• Native payment interface: customers can purchase goods and services without leaving Telegram.
• There’s no need to design and maintain a website. You can create a storefront in Telegram and connect Internet acquiring to it using the payment bot.
• You can create your bot with special bot builders.
• Telegram audience: Telegram has more than 500 million users worldwide.

Getting started with Bank 131 payment bot

The bank’s product allows stores to accept payments in Telegram made with Russian Visa, Mastercard, and MIR bank cards. It’s safe: all transactions are protected according to the PCI DSS Level 1 security standard. Technically, it’s the same as Internet acquiring, which has become so common in commerce, but now in Telegram.

How to get started?

1. First, a company creates a storefront with functionality matching its needs. It can be a flower or food delivery service, an online store, and even a game (Instruction: how to create a bot store).
2. Next, the store connects to the Bank 131 bot. (Instruction: how to connect the bot to Telegram).
3. Done! Now the store can work and receive payments in Telegram.