[vijucat]

I woke up one night with the idea that if WhatsApp allowed API integration, it would so awesome : you could message DHL or UPS with your waybill tracking number, and they could push updates to you.

More interestingly, the WhatsApp text box then effectively becomes a REPL shell to a remote API : you could ask for stopping updates, updates only once a day, etc; If the remote server implements a DSL, you could do a LOT.

The possibilities were endless and exciting.

But I have a feeling WhatsApp / their new owner are going to just let the opportunity pass by. If anyone at FB is reading this : guys, Business integration with WhatsApp is where the next $250 billion is. That's how FB will get a permanent, maybe even irreversible, grip on mobile. Imagine every service business providing updates via WhatsApp by integrating with their backend.

[detaro]

They did announce plans for B2C use cases earlier this year (and of course are already used for conducting business, but only for communicating with a human on the other end