Uber, the world’s largest ride-hailing company partners with WhatsApp to launch a new feature that enables Indians to book an Uber ride as smoothly as sending a message in WhatsApp.
The service is currently available in Lucknow and will soon be extended to other cities in India. The feature can only be accessed in English but will soon be available in other regional languages in India.
Uber’s new feature allows people to book a ride through the company’s official WhatsApp chatbot without downloading the company app.
The various steps involved in booking an Uber ride from registration, to submitting a trip request to getting a trip receipt, will be administered within the WhatsApp chat interface.
Nandini Maheshwari, Head of business development, Uber India, commented that they wanted to make Uber rides easily available to all cities across India.
It can only be achieved through a platform like WhatsApp that is familiar, simple, and trusted by all. Maheshwari added that Uber is excited about the global-first integration and looks forward to introducing it across India.
Abhijit Bose, head of WhatsApp India, said that the WhatsApp Business platform turns out to be a leveraging force for other businesses who want to build direct contact with customers.
WhatsApp, being a comfortable channel for Indians, catalyzes the use of Uber among people. The integration of Uber with WhatsApp is instrumental in accelerating the adoption of Uber among a new category of riders in India.
Bose added that WhatsApp is excited about the potential of such great collaboration. WhatsApp is planning to create more customized solutions for various brands in India.
The steps involved in booking an Uber ride via WhatsApp include messaging to Uber’s business account number; then scanning a QR code, or directly opening a link to the Uber WhatsApp chat.
Once the message is forwarded, you will get an OTP. After the OTP verification, users must enter the pick-up and drop-off locations. The riders are informed about the fare details and the driver’s estimated arrival time.
Uber assures the same safety services and insurance protections for users booking Uber rides via WhatsApp as those who book Uber rides via the company’s app.
The users are informed about safety guidelines through WhatsApp. They are updated with the name of the driver and the car’s license plate on booking.
The Uber riders are informed to contact the company in case of any emergency by typing ‘help’ on-trip.
Tapping the emergency call will be followed by receiving an inbound call from Uber’s customer support team.
Uber also provides its riders to speak anonymously to their drivers using a masked number. It also facilitates them to track the driver en route to the pick-up point.
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