This is the first conference since 2019, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the company to cancel last year's event. This year, the company decided to present F8 for the first time in a virtual, open and free manner.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg opened the conference with a promise that Facebook would return to its roots and that this year's updates would focus on technologies that allow developers to diversify and tailor their platforms to the needs of businesses.
Here is a summary of the most notable announcements:
Messenger API for Instagram
On the business messaging front, Facebook announced that the Instagram Messenger API is now available to all developers.
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Ankur Prasad, Facebook's director of product marketing for enterprise messaging, said opening up the Messenger API for Instagram will enable the development of key automation tools.
Prasad also noted that API-driven services will also help improve the relationship between customers and businesses. For example, developers can link Messenger with order management systems to allow live agents to instantly look up a person's order history.
Businesses can create automated responses to common questions or requests, such as “What is your return policy?”, “What are your payment methods?”
There are already tools like these for businesses to send messages to their taiwan phone number customers via WhatsApp or Messenger, but now they can create similar messaging experiences on Instagram as well.
Improvements in WhatsApp Business
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The new WhatsApp updates include:
Faster access to WhatsApp Business: The time it takes for businesses to use the WhatsApp Business API has been reduced. The onboarding process has been reduced from weeks to just five minutes.
Learn more about businesses and their products: WhatsApp has enabled new types of commercial messages. For example, when an item is back in stock.
New messaging features: In the new WhatsApp update, users have access to predefined messages that they can send without having to type.
Augmented reality for multiple users
As part of an effort to enable more augmented reality features, Facebook announced its Multipeer API beta program. This technology allows developers to create effects and filters that can be used by multiple users at the same time.
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Users could join a group video call through Messenger and apply a VR filter created using the Multipeer API. That filter would then be applied to all participants in the video call. In one demo we saw four people on a video call, all wearing virtual party hats to celebrate a birthday together in different locations.
Login Connect Messenger
With Login Connect Messenger, customers will be able to message businesses directly from the Facebook login flow.
With this new tool, companies can increase engagement with people, have greater visibility in the chat, and offer fast and personalized customer service. This feature is currently in closed beta and will be available in the coming months.
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Facebook Business Extension
Last year, Facebook introduced Business Suite, the platform that companies can use to manage their activity on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger.
The new feature is that it will incorporate business applications, adding third-party tools through a developer platform, with the aim of simplifying the integration of Facebook Business Suite and general management.
With the Facebook Business extension, companies will be able to publish products and offer service appointments on Facebook and Instagram. In addition, purchasing and booking will be simplified, as well as the analysis of results.
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