Facebook is introducing a new business inbox in its main Messenger app for both iOS and Android, in an attempt to make it easier to manage business communications.
Currently, the most convenient and full-featured method for accessing a business page's messages is to use Facebook's Pages Manager app, but not everyone may want to install a separate app just for this purpose. Meanwhile, Facebook says 90% of business owners are already using Messenger to talk to friends and family. With the business inbox in the main Messenger app, users can quickly switch between their personal and business accounts, staying in touch with friends and responding to customers more easily within the same app.
Based on Facebook's announcement, the messaging capabilities won't be removed from the Pages Manager app, and the company says the new Messenger feature is a complement to the dedicated business app. That app also includes a more complete suite of features if you want to manage other aspects of a business page, so it still has its audience. Due to the more immediate nature of messaging, the goal of the business inbox in Messenger is to enable businesses to respond more quickly to customer questions or requests, without the need for a separate app.
The new business inbox is rolling out to the Messenger app on iOS right now, and it should come to the Android version over the coming weeks.
