Uber Technologies Inc. and WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms Inc., have launched ride-booking through the messaging app in India, a first for the U.S. ride-hailing giant and an improvement to WhatsApp’s functionality in the nation.
According to a statement from Uber, the agreement enables users to use Uber’s mobility services by messaging a WhatsApp chatbot, initially in the northern
city of Lucknow, and later in additional cities. JioMart, the online store for Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Retail business launched in-app grocery purchasing
shortly after WhatsApp launched it. India is the country with the greatest single user base for the messenger service owned by Meta, with more than half a billion users.
According to Nandini Maheshwari, senior director of business development at Uber, “We want to make it as simple as possible for all Indians to take an Uber
journey, and to achieve so we need to meet them on platforms they are familiar with.” The integration negates the need for the Uber app itself: Users of WhatsApp may register, order rides, and get travel receipts all via the chat interface.
Here’s how The Users Will Be Able to Book an Uber Using Whatsapp
Three quick methods exist for WhatsApp users to order an Uber ride: sending Uber’s business account number; scanning a QR code or clicking a link to
initiate an Uber WhatsApp chat. After that, they will be asked for pickup and drop-off locations. Users will be provided with up-front fare information as well as the driver’s anticipated arrival time.
Riders receive the same security features and insurance protections as customers who make direct trip bookings through the Uber app. When making a
reservation, they will receive information about the driver’s name and license plate. They will also be able to watch the driver’s progress toward the pickup site and communicate with him or her in confidence by dialing a secret number.
- First, they can message Uber’s business account number.
2. Two, they can scan a QR code.
3. There they can click a link directly to open an Uber WhatsApp chat.
Uber has not specified that WhatsApp number just yet. Customers who start the chat with Uber on WhatsApp will then be asked to provide pickup and drop-off locations. Users will receive the driver’s expected time of arrival along with the fare via WhatsApp itself.
The rider will learn about safety precautions, including how to contact Uber in an emergency, through the WhatsApp chat flow (type help on-trip). The Uber
customer support service will call the consumer if they choose the “emergency” option while on the trip. Additionally, until 30 minutes after the end of the trip, Uber users will have access to the safety line numbers to call the Uber team in case of an emergency.
Whether a ride is booked using WhatsApp or Uber, safety measures and insurance protections remain the same, according to the firms. The WhatsApp
booking details will also contain the driver’s name, license plate, and location while they are traveling to the pickup spot. The differences between rides booked
on the various platforms won’t be noticeable to the drivers themselves. Uber added that while it is currently only available in English, the service will soon be available in additional Indian languages.
However, the ride-hailing experience for drivers on the Uber platform will remain the same.
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