November 21, 2017 TnH Global

OYO customers have the choice to receive booking confirmation via WhatsApp

Company testing WhatsApp enterprise solution to offer customers a new channel for communication
Process to enable faster and convenient communication with customers
WhatsApp among the most widely used messaging service globally

In a bid to ensure hassle-free communication and booking experience for its guests, OYO – India’s largest hospitality company, has started testing WhatsApp enterprise solution. Travellers booking an OYO will now have the choice to receive their booking confirmations along with cancellation and navigation details for locating a hotel via WhatsApp. This development is in line with OYO’s pioneering use of technology in budget hotel operations in India – enabling users to book a hotel across 230 cities in India, Malaysia and Nepal within seconds via the OYO app.

Once a booking is created, the integration will allow OYO to send a confirmation message through WhatsApp. Customers will receive the message through OYO’s verified profile to ensure reliability. In case of connectivity issues, OYO will further notify the guests through SMS. Users who do not use WhatsApp will receive notifications through SMS and email. In order to ensure privacy and security for guests, the company will only send relevant information about a guest’s stay through WhatsApp. Guests will also receive directions for locating their hotel on the day of the check-in and notification in case a booking is cancelled.

Commenting on the development, Anil Goel, CTO – OYO, said, “Technology has been the biggest driver for OYO to create value in India’s hospitality industry and also the experience we offer to our guests. Since OYO’s inception, we have built first-in-industry tech solutions – such as OYO consumer app, Krypton and the Owner app for our hotel partners. With the latest WhatsApp integration, we will make the post-booking experience hassle-free for our guests. They can now easily access their booking details via WhatsApp, which enjoys a huge reach in India with over 200 million active users. It’s fast, secure and hassle-free — exactly how the OYO experience is.”

Through innovation in technology, training and strong brand recall, OYO has established its leadership in the hospitality segment today with 8,500-plus hotels in more than 230 cities within its network.