It’s a match made in social app heaven.
Snapchat users will now be able to use the popular social media app to book a ride through Uber or Lyft. Users will also be able to book restaurant reservations to establishments featured on the app. This is courtesy of a new Snapchat feature called Context Cards, which integrates third-party applications onto sites, allowing users to engage multiple activities at once.
Basically, it’s a collection of advertisements that give users information about products, businesses, venues and restaurants, while also giving them a chance to book tickets and/or visit the places advertised. Other apps, such as Facebook Messenger, already have similar programs.
According to Snap, Inc., the company that owns Snapchat, many companies are involved in the Context Cards partnership, including:
- Uber
- Lyft
- TripAdvisor
- Foursquare
- Goop
- OpenTable
- Bookatable
- Resy
- Michelin
“With Context Cards, Snaps have become the visual starting point for learning more about the world, empowering our community to get more information about anything that catches their eye,” said a spokesperson in the company’s press release.
If this program becomes a success, more partners are expected to eventually sign on. Since Snapchat is arguably the most popular social media app among teens and young adults, there is a very good chance Context Cards will be used, thus attracting more businesses to the Snapchat model.
While Snap has declined to comment on whether or not there is a revenue split between Snapchat and the participating companies, Evan Spiegel, Snapchat’s co-founder and CEO, expects many good things to come from this change, both socially and financially.
“Anytime you can connect people with what interests them and connect them with more information and more opportunities, there’s usually a business there,” said Spiegel. “But it’s just so early, I think there’s a lot of work to do first.”
Photo: AlesiaKan / Shutterstock.com
