Facebook is expanding its Messenger API to Instagram, in order to make it easier for businesses to communicate over the app. The company said 90 percent of people on Instagram already follow at least one brand, and this will make it easier for them to message with businesses.
With the new features announced at Facebook's F8 developers conference, businesses can integrate Instagram messaging with their applications and workflows. This can drive more meaningful conversations that increase customer satisfaction and grow sales, the company said. Sinch and Infobip were among the first channel partners to announce their support for the Instagram API.
Other announcements at F8 included enhancements to the WhatsApp business messaging platform, which the company said is already used by over 175 million people a day, and opening up the Facebook Login system to Messenger users.
In addition, the Facebook Business Suite launched last year to group business tools for all its apps will be opened up to third-party apps. A new platform called Facebook Business Extension will support integration of the external apps, and invites for early access this system will be sent out to developers in the coming months, Facebook said.
Finally, the company also updated its Spark AR platform with a preview of the new Multipeer API. This will allow AR creators to build effects that deliver a coordinated experience across multiple call participants, such as a shared sense of space for group calls and meetings on Messenger, Instagram and Portal. Developers can apply to participate in a beta trial of Spark AR on the new video calling features.
