On Monday, WhatsApp announced a partnership with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to launch the QR ticketing service ‘Namma Metro’.
The chatbot is integrated with Unified Payments Interface (UPI) powered payments on WhatsApp and will allow ‘Namma Metro’ commuters to purchase tickets and recharge their travel pass right within WhatsApp, as per the reports.
Available in English and Kannada, the chatbot allows commuters to purchase their single-journey transit tickets, recharge metro travel passes, check updated fare tables and view transit timetables. Commuters need to send “Hi” to the phone number +918105556677 to initiate their interactions with the chatbot.
“The process of making the payment is a seamless experience that gives users the option to pay without leaving the WhatsApp chat interface. After choosing their travel details, users are given the option to pay using payments on WhatsApp by authenticating the transaction using their UPI pin,” the BMRCL said.
“This is yet another great example of how organizations across sectors, from the largest transportation service to the smallest retail business, can transform their customers’ experience using the WhatsApp Platform,” said Abhijit Bose, head of WhatsApp India, in a prepared statement.
WhatsApp users can make payments for their tickets and recharges using UPI after choosing their travel details on the app. The QR ticket, once generated, can be scanned at the terminal for contactless entry and exit.