Ask HN: Will you use a service that allows you too book tickets via WhatsApp?

[wagraduate]

Imagine you're to book a flight and you can do so by typing the required details on WhatsApp. Would you use a service of that sort?

The idea is to allow people to book tickets (movies/flights/sports/etc.) and pay all sorts of bills via WhatsApp. You simply chat with my company's automated WA Business Account and get things done.

[pavel_lishin]

> You simply chat

"Simply" is carrying a lot of weight there.

No, I would prefer not to slowly talk to an AI of unknown quality, waiting for its responses, trying to guess what magic words I need to say, when instead I can load up a website and use an interface that actually shows me things.

[whoitsjustme]

> "Simply" is carrying a lot of weight there.

True. OP underestimates the actual problem in making this "simple" enough. Sounds like a good problem to be solved, but not sure if this can be solved properly.

[wagraduate]

I meant that it'd be simple for the user, not (necessarily) so much for the developer.

[wryoak]

As someone who actually has acquaintances outside the US, I have used and do use WhatsApp so I’ll chime in.

I’ve basically done (had to do) this for lodging and transport in parts of the world where a web presence (and digital business architecture) are less common, though obviously without the AI (I assume). It’s not my favorite way to book things but it works. It’s not a terrible idea by any means and I’m sure it will be incorporated into many apps in the future - I say just build the dang thing and FB will prolly buy you out before you have to deal with a lot of the really hard problems. Focus on a particular market so you can hone in on getting it right for that one thing and accumulating some users and reputation.

[wagraduate]

Thanks for all the insights, and you're right - the use of WA to get things done is extremely popular in certain countries. However, automation isn't the norm. Most of it is through directly messaging local businesses.

I won't enter that territory of dealing with small, local businesses since there's very little ROI for them - while they can use automation, it will neither bring more customers nor reduce the overall costs nor help them in getting the products delivered to their customers. My plan is as stated in the (original) post.

[whoitsjustme]

I have a feeling that it'll be much easier to use an app or website to search and find the best deal / choice.

[josephcsible]

No. When something went wrong with a booking, your company would say it's the airline's fault, and the airline would say it's your company's fault, so nobody would be willing to help me. I'll never use a middleman to book anything if I can help it.

[wagraduate]

Do you not use websites like Kayak[dot]com and Booking[dot]com at all?

[josephcsible]

I do not, for the exact same reason.

[wagraduate]

Well then, it makes sense. I was wondering if it's about more trusted middlemen v/s less trusted middlemen - you trust none.

[12thhandyman]

Don’t use WhatsApp either. Personally I’ve found aggregator/ticket websites to work well for finding deals or availability but they seem to all link directly to the airline anyway. Its easiest to go to the source for things like this in my experience

[Quinzel]

I don’t trust Whatsapp. I’d rather book directly with the service I’m booking with.

[PaulHoule]

No. I don't use WhatsApp.