Instagram testing a booking & payments feature it first announced more than a year ago

For now, the feature is available to a limited set of partners and businesses on Instagram.

Instagram has started testing a new booking and payments feature that lets users book services and make direct payments to businesses directly from the app. Right now, the feature is only available to a limited number of partners and businesses on Instagram — one being Resy, an online reservation app for restaurants.

The social platform first announced it would be rolling out the feature last March. At the time, Instagram said it was working on a way for users to book services via a company’s business profile on the app — but now that the feature is live, tests show it also includes a payment option.

Users can register a debit or credit card through their Instagram profile and set up a security code with it, making it possible to send payments without ever leaving the app, according to TechCrunch. Instagram told TechCrunch it has plans to expand the payment option to items like movie tickets.

Instagram has gradually been working on more commerce options for brands on the platform. Last month, it extended its shoppable organic posts to eight more countries. Launched in the US last year, Instagram’s shoppable organic posts allow businesses to augment product photos with purchasing information and links pointing to buying options on the business’s site.

This new feature is a different beast, as it is attached to a company’s business profile on Instagram — offering a revenue-driving opportunity directly within the app.

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