Uber has introduced that it has launched and prolonged its partnership with WhatsApp, which is able to now enable customers in Delhi NCR to e book a journey by way of a chatbot on the moment messaging app. Riders will now not have to obtain or use the Uber app for reserving a journey, and the whole lot might be managed throughout the WhatsApp chat interface. The characteristic was first launched as a pilot in Lucknow in December 2021, and now it’s being rolled out to a wider viewers.

Uber announced that it has formally launched and expanded the WhatsApp to Ride (WA2R) product characteristic for customers in Delhi NCR. Users in one in every of Uber’s high cities globally by quantity, can now use WhatsApp for consumer registration, reserving of a journey, and getting a visit receipt. They aren’t wanted to obtain the Uber app for a similar. Users can select from English and Hindi languages to e book a cab on WhatsApp.

As per WhatsApp the Lucknow Pilot revealed that “the WA2R audience is younger than the average Uber App user with almost 50 percent of them being less than 25 years old. The fact that 33 percent of the inbounds during this pilot were received from new users shows the potential of new user acquisition through this partnership.”

How to e book an Uber cab by way of WhatsApp

1. A brand new or current consumer who has registered with solely a telephone quantity on Uber can e book a journey by way of WhatsApp.
2. They can ship ‘Hi’ on Whatsapp to +91 7292000002, or Click to Whatsapp (Mobile telephone solely), or scan the code under.
3. Users might be requested to supply pickup and drop off areas.
4. Users can even obtain upfront fare data and the driving force’s anticipated time of arrival.
5. They can then verify their journey.

Photo Credit: Uber

Uber’s official chatbot on WhatsApp is powered by Infobip and the characteristic is constructed on the WhatsApp Business Platform. Furthermore, the Meta-owned platform says that riders will get the identical security options and insurance coverage safety as those that e book journeys by way of the Uber app straight. These embrace the title of the driving force, licence plate of the automotive, skill to trace the placement of the driving force en path to the pickup level, and skill to talk to the driving force anonymously utilizing a masked quantity.

“The WhatsApp chat flow will inform the rider about safety guidelines, including how to reach Uber in case of emergencies (type help on-trip). If the user selects the ‘emergency’ option while on the trip, they will receive an inbound call from Uber’s customer support team. Uber riders will also have access to its safety line number to call, if needed, until 30 mins after the trip ends. This video explains the WA2R flow while booking an Uber ride,” Uber mentioned.

The ride-hailing platform additionally mentioned that future product iterations of WA2R will enable current customers of the Uber app to additionally e book journeys by WhatsApp.