
Author(s): SMEs Development Authority
Resource Type: Case studies
Countries: Oman
Keywords: Access to Information, E-Government, Public Sector Innovation, Inclusive Development, Social Media, Artificial Intelligence
Ask Raed
Source in Arabic: ENACT Case Study - Ask Raed, Oman
A new service channel was launched based on the "WhatsApp" application by Meta (formerly known as Facebook) to provide services to the public because of the widespread use of the "WhatsApp" application among various segments of society and age groups. The purpose is to facilitate access to government services, especially for older individuals who may have difficulty using mobile applications and websites.
To achieve this goal, the authority has developed a parallel system that relies on the "WhatsApp" application, under the name "Ra'id." This virtual persona interacts with speakers, provides services, sends electronic payment links, and receives the required documents. These documents are integrated directly into the government services system. In addition, the virtual persona offers services to obtain some official government documents by sending them directly to beneficiaries through the "WhatsApp" application.