Google has declared that the call history and chat functions in Google Business Profile will be discontinued.
The business will start the wind-down procedure on July 15, 2024, and by July 31, all functionalities will no longer be supported.
Businesses using these features received the news directly in the form of an email. Although there was no official statement issued online, TechRadar Pro has requested that Google provide additional details about the decision and the anticipated effects on users.
Call history and chat on Google Business Profile are working
While acknowledging the possible difficulties that may arise from its choice, Google stressed in its email that it is still committed to improving the resources available to help companies that utilize its goods and services.
“It’s important to us that Google remains a helpful partner as you manage your business, and we remain committed to this mission,” the email said in part.
Customers will not be able to initiate new chant conversations with businesses on the site as of July 15. Notifications of the approaching deprecation will be sent to existing chats. Both the call history and chat messages will be disabled as of July 31.
“Clients will still be able to find and contact your business via Google Search and Maps,” Google confirmed.
The company suggests that before the capabilities are permanently withdrawn, businesses utilize Google Takeout to download their call and chat history for record-keeping purposes.
Google also suggested that businesses “consider inviting their customers with any ongoing chat conversations to alternate chat channels” in another step under the “What do do next” category.
Google has never had the most popular service, but consumers who are compelled to switch to other businesses, such as Meta’s business chats on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, may end up relocating other activities to those businesses, which might have wider negative effects for Google.