US ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Ltd on Thursday said it will roll out a feature that will allow users in India to book a ride through its WhatsApp messaging service. The move could help Uber reach more than 500 million Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp users in India.
“Starting this week, we will be rolling out a new service that gives people the option to order Uber rides through an official Uber WhatsApp chatbot,” Uber said in a blog post.
Uber has been operating in the country for the past eight years and is now available in 100 cities. “Rivers will no longer need to download or use the Uber app. Everything from registering a user, booking a ride and getting a ride receipt will be managed within the WhatsApp chat interface,” Uber added.
WhatsApp users can book a ride through texting to an Uber business account number, scanning a barcode, or clicking directly on a link to open an Uber WhatsApp chat.
The company says riders will get the same safety and insurance features as those who book rides directly through the Uber app. The WhatsApp chat stream will inform users about safety guidelines, including how to contact Uber in an emergency.
The feature will initially be launched in Lucknow, the capital of India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, and will then be expanded to other locations next year.
Uber says the service will be available in English, adding that Indian languages will be added in the near future.
