Now, Book Uber Rides Via WhatsApp In India. Everything You Need To Know

Ride-hailing app Uber and WhatsApp on Thursday announced a partnership in India that will let people book an Uber ride via the app's official WhatsApp chatbot.

Now, Book Uber Rides Via WhatsApp In India/Getty

New Delhi: Ride-hailing app Uber and WhatsApp on Thursday announced a partnership in India that will let people book an Uber ride via the app's official WhatsApp chatbot, in a global-first for the cab aggregator. It is being rolled out on a pilot basis in the city Lucknow first and will be rolled out to other Indian cities soon. 

According to Uber, booking rides will now be as easy as sending a WhatsApp message. Built on the WhatsApp Business Platform, the partnership will expand access to Uber’s mobility services in India, one of the company’s largest international markets.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for all Indians to take an Uber trip, and to do that we need to meet them on platforms they are comfortable with. Our partnership with WhatsApp does just that, giving riders a new way to get a ride through a simple, familiar and trusted channel. We are thrilled at this global-first integration for Uber, and look forward to rolling it out across India," Nandini Maheshwari, Senior Director, Business Development, Uber APAC, said in a statement.

With this integration, riders will no longer need to download or use the Uber app. User registration, booking a ride, and getting a trip receipt will be managed within the WhatsApp chat interface itself. 

“The WhatsApp Business Platform has been an important lever for businesses that want to build a direct connect with their consumers. The Uber experience on WhatsApp is simple, familiar, and relatable for users and has the potential to accelerate adoption of Uber with a new category of riders in India. We are excited about the potential of this partnership and look forward to creating more such customised solutions for products and services across sectors in India," said Abhijit Bose, Head of WhatsApp India.

How to book Uber rides through WhatsApp

WhatsApp users can book an Uber ride in three simple ways.

Messaging to Uber’s business account number; scanning a QR code; or clicking a link directly to open an Uber WhatsApp chat.

They will then be asked to provide pickup and drop-off locations. Users will receive upfront fare information and the driver’s expected time of arrival.

According to Uber, riders will get the same safety features and insurance protections as those who book trips via the Uber app directly.

They will be informed of the name of the driver and license plate of the driver on booking, be able to track the location of the driver en route to the pickup point and be able to speak to the driver anonymously using a masked number. 

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 minutes after the trip ends.