Latest numbers show that at least 900 million individuals are now using Facebook Messenger to get in touch with and update family and friends. Now, the company now provides individuals the chance to chat with businesses as well.
The social network giant announced today the companies now have the ability to set up on Messenger and get in touch with their consumers. It can also be the other way around.
The newest feature provides businesses with a platform for customer service. With it, businesses can offer automated, interactive "bots" that can be used to provide the services they offer. For instance, food companies can now use Messenger to take orders.
This development was announced during the conference for developers in San Francisco on Tuesday.
With this feature, businesses and the bots now has an easier way to deliver services and information. "I don't necessarily want to download a separate app for every business or service I interact with," Seth Rosenberg, a product manager for Messenger, said. Rosenberg believes that the businesses will take advantage of this feature especially because the messaging app already is connected to billions of people around the world.
What is good with this feature is that the businesses cannot send messages to anyone on Messenger. The person should opt into a conversation before this is possible. "Chats with businesses will feature a prominent Block button so people can easily shut down bots or businesses they don't like, and Facebook will screen what companies build before allowing them to let it loose on Messenger," Technology Review reports.
Since the application does not generate an y profit, the businesses are not allowed to send advertisements via the service. However, in the future, they might be able to do so for a certain amount of payment. "We're not going to let it be like e-mail and become spammy," Rosenberg said.
Facebook Messenger also has the feature that allows individuals to send and request money.
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