Bert Bröske, Regional Marketing Manager - DACH & Eastern Europe, Marin Software "With the Messenger Bot Store, Facebook can succeed in taking the topic of "chat" to a new, real and practical level. The company has a relevant number of users, with several hundred million people using Messenger worldwide. And chats have long since become part of users' everyday lives. They are now used to communicating in real time via Messenger. The integration of various bots into Facebook Messenger could make numerous apps superfluous in the future if the service combines the functions into one service. It will then soon be possible to reserve a table at your favorite restaurant directly via Messenger, for example. Facebook Messenger will thus become a tool for commercial communication."

Thomas Kabke-Sommer, Managing Director, Kontor Digital Media

"Publishing cooperations, the expansion of Messenger, the payment function - Facebook is making massive efforts on various fronts to further bind its users and keep them in its own ecosystem for longer and longer. This is an implied strategy. Stickiness is the keyword here. Google has also tried this and other big players will do the same. However, Facebook is extremely well positioned thanks to its extensive user base. Facebook is a semi-permeable construct thanks to the Facebook Atlas ad server, which enables advertising via Facebook to be displayed outside the network based on user profile information. The more users do via Facebook, the better the eco-system works and the more powerful it becomes.""The planned Messenger bot store and the payment function represent the "Uberization" of Facebook. Mobile services such as booking movie tickets, ordering cabs or money transactions etc. are intended to get users used to perceiving and using Facebook as a single 'convenience cockpit'. Various apps that have so far taken over individual services, or even the comparison portals of this world for insurance, electricity, travel, etc. will inevitably fall behind. Facebook, on the other hand, is on a steep upward curve. We can look forward to the next quarter. Perhaps Facebook is already planning a social TV and thus a further attack on YouTube."

Julien Hervouët, CEO of iAdvize

"The current developments at Facebook clearly show that the Messenger application itself is being developed into a platform and is therefore becoming more important in the Facebook app universe. Messenger offers brands the unique opportunity to always be present in consumers' pockets. It is becoming a tool that can do everything, making it the perfect interface between internet users and companies. Brands use it to enter into dialog with their customers and thus offer the perfect 'conversational experience'. Messenger is therefore a new contact channel for companies, which can now interact with customers in their familiar environment. Our initial experiences with tourism and telecommunications companies show that communication about orders or exchanges with customer service via Messenger are extremely well received by users."

Mickael Froger, CEO, Lengow

"The Messenger Bot Store makes the service even more attractive for companies. They can use Messenger as a support channel to boost their sales and be even more present for the user."

Ben Prause, Managing Director eprofessional

"Facebook Messenger, previously just a chat service, is being expanded into a platform. The announced Bot Store is particularly exciting for companies. This will be much more than just another app store like the Apple App Store or Google Play. Facebook bots have the advantage over apps and browser applications that Messenger users can use all services directly via a single interface. Companies will not only communicate with customers in Messenger, but also sell their services and products directly via the bots. With the market power of 900 million Messenger users and Facebook's precise targeting options, a huge and completely new marketplace is growing here."

Shahab Hosseiny, CEO, MSO Digital

"Artificial intelligence via automated learning mechanisms of bots has been the focus of various technology companies for many years. Facebook Messenger now wants to address the mass market with the Messenger Bot Store. It aims to simplify communication with companies and make our lives more convenient. The possibilities for corresponding bots are almost unlimited. Facebook wants to become an always available, personal concierge. We are heading towards a time of even more intensive live communication with customers, whereby the company website or external landing pages for direct bookings or making contact will continue to lose importance. With Facebook Canvas pages, we have already taken a first step deeper into the Facebook ecosystem."

In order to position Eastern Switzerland as a "textile country" for tourism, the St.Gallen-Lake Constance Tourism has created two adventure tours in collaboration with Textilland Ostschweiz. Interested parties can experience the textile industry in an exciting way - on foot or by car. (more…)

EXPERIENCE To kick off spring, wanderungen.ch presents a selection of trails—from walks along rivers and lakeshores to the Way of St. James and through the vineyards. (more…)