Uber cabs can now be booked via WhatsApp

New Delhi : WhatsApp users can now book Uber Cab rides in India. An official chatbot has been introduced for the service and it has been introduced in Lucknow first. For now, it has been launched in English language but soon it will be upgraded into multiple regional languages. The integration is global first and aims at making booking cab an easy affair.

WhatsApp users can book an Uber ride by messaging Uber's business account number; scanning a QR code, or clicking a link directly to open an Uber WhatsApp chat. The chatbot will then ask the user to offer pickup and drop off locations and chose the kind of ride they would like to book. The chatbot will offer upfront fare information and will give the driver's expected time of arrival as well.

The users who have WhatsApp number registered with Uber can avail the service from now. From user registration, booking a ride, and getting a trip receipt, all the functions are said to be managed within the WhatsApp chat interface.

The company says that 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.