US ride-hailing firm Uber Applied sciences Ltd mentioned on Thursday it will roll out a characteristic that may permit customers in India to guide rides by way of messaging service WhatsApp. The transfer might assist Uber faucet into the greater than 500 million consumer base of Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp in India.
“Beginning this week, we’re rolling out a brand new service that provides individuals the choice to guide an Uber trip by way of an official Uber WhatsApp chatbot,” Uber mentioned in a weblog submit.
Uber has been working within the nation for the previous eight years and is now obtainable in 100 cities. “Riders will now not must obtain or use the Uber app. The whole lot from consumer registration, reserving a trip, and getting a visit receipt might be managed inside the WhatsApp chat interface,” Uber added.
WhatsApp customers can guide a trip by both messaging to Uber’s enterprise account quantity, scanning a barcode, or clicking a hyperlink on to open an Uber WhatsApp chat.
Riders will get the identical security options and insurance coverage protections as those that guide journeys by way of the Uber app straight, the corporate mentioned. The WhatsApp chat move will inform the consumer about security tips, together with methods to contact Uber in case of emergencies.
The characteristic will initially be launched in Lucknow, the capital of India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh, after which expanded to different places by subsequent 12 months.
The service might be obtainable in English, Uber mentioned, including that Indian languages might be included within the close to future.