WhatsApp Case Study

Identified Problem: Lack of Automatic User Data Backup.

Unlike other social media products, WhatsApp does not automatically backup its users data to a central server but rather stores it locally.

Using a scenario where a user changes his/her mobile device, the user tends to lose all their data, previous chats and media shared or received. User data is backed up locally for some people but for others there’s is no backup at all and this constitutes a problem when migrating to a new device or re-installing the app on a previous device. This results into users asking their contacts to resend previous messages (this can be very tiring).

WhatsApp is a go to app for communicating with people through messages, voice call and video call. It is very crucial to users that they are able to make reference to data previously shared or received, when the need arises. This can be difficult and sometimes unachievable with the current WhatsApp as user data is not stored/backed up centrally and can be lost at any time.

Solution:

Inclusion of a feature to automatically backup users data to a central server.

The backed up data should be available to the user once he/she logs in on a new device or re-installs the app.

Viability:

We considered older people who are less tech savvy and may not be able to setup a local backup for their data. Being part of the primary users of the app they should be able to get more out of it. The ability to refer back to previous messages, pictures and videos would be advantageous.

For instance, you get a message from your mum, asking you for a video you sent to her a few weeks or months back. Instead of having to send it back to her she could check her media and find the video there.

If both phones were stolen and there was no local backup, there would be no way of retrieving that video anymore.

With automatic central storage/backup there would be no need for users to ask their contacts to resend previous messages. They will be able to make reference to previous data and information when the need arises.