When people say the future is now, their eyes are firmly on AI technology. In business, efficiency is how you keep costs down to turn a profit. And that is why AI powered chatbots have become popular, with no sign of any slowdowns in the future.
More Than Potential
Traditional chatbots lacked the ingenuity of modern AI powered chatbots. That is why the new virtual agent is very much a respected employee in any organization. Instead of customers spamming random words to get past the braindead AI, they are now interacting to get their requests resolved. These chatbots are going above and beyond, and this is only the beginning.
24/7 Service
Every company doesn’t have the money or manpower to keep staff on the clock for an unlimited number of hours. With an AI powered chatbot, you can still handle the most common requests. Anything that is beyond the AI can be routed to an outbound phone call with a live agent during regular business hours. This automation gives you time to prepare so that the next day doesn’t boil over into an endless loop of requests.
High Customizability
The personalized experience of an AI powered chatbot separates it from the more traditional virtual assistants. Instead of defaulting to answers that have nothing to do with the original request, the AI pivots to offer alternative options at the customers request. For example, a customer that wants a white truck with low mileage will be disappointed if they are told it isn’t in stock. An AI powered chatbot can be set up with unlimited variables to keep the lead alive by offering similar alternatives. It can even be set up to connect the customer to a live agent to close the sale strong. This type of customizability gives a company plenty of options on how they set up their live agents and inventory.
Multilingual Support
There should be no barriers with online shopping – if your company is set up to accept sales in another country, then an AI powered chatbot comes strongly recommended. It is the easiest way to break down the communication barriers that often lead to lost sales. Multilingual chatbots can funnel customers to the correct agent to continue a conversation. And if the chatbot is set up correctly, they can even complete the sale all on their own! Whether it is general or advanced tasks, AI powered chatbots can handle any language in the world.
Consistency During Heavy Load Times
When a business is worldwide, peak times differ across the board. A company with limited resources will find it hard to keep up with the demand. AI powered chatbots are used as a buffer to prevent live agents from being spread too thin during heavy load times. This is important to not only prevent burnout, but to maintain customer retention. Plenty of customers will find the answers they need through a chatbot without the need to connect to a live agent. As your company becomes familiar with the peak times, they can schedule agents accordingly to not get caught off-guard.
Self Service
Self service options are becoming the norm for companies across the globe. It has been a success for large businesses like Wal-Mart, and online businesses like Amazon. Since a lot of customer types overlap between physical and online industries, it is vital to keep up with the change. Offering more self-service options with AI powered chatbots ensures that you are maximizing the time of the company and the consumer. No one likes waiting on hold, and sometimes website navigation lacks intuitiveness. All of this can be bypassed by not underestimating the convenience of self-service options. Every interaction counts, so don’t waste a customer’s loyalty by making answers hard to find.
The Leads Are Better
Good leads are a core part of what keeps the sales flowing. Without a good lead, closing a sale takes a rockstar of an employee. Since these types of employees don’t grow on trees, a company has to prioritize how the initial contact is handled. An AI powered chatbot can hit the most important parts of the first contact, and in many times faster than a regular agent. Customers are more willing to provide their contact information to a chatbot than a live agent – they view the chatbot as a necessary part of getting to a live agent. When a customer begins with a live agent instead of a chatbot, it’s possible that the conversation will get derailed before collecting vital contact information. In short, an AI chatbot is the difference between getting lead in information at the beginning of the first contact, or in the middle.
Omnichannel Support
What was once something you would only see on a business website has now become a way to connect brands to billions. Companies use AI powered chatbots to connect customers through email, messaging apps, phone and even social media. Instead of segmenting these conversations across multiple departments, they can be brought together with the help of omnichannel support. This is a seamless way to quickly handle customers across multiple platforms without taking them out of their current comfort zone. For admins that are handling live agents, they get the benefit of an easier way to place agents in the best position to succeed, in real time.
Data Collection
AI powered chatbots are the best way to collect customer data. This information can be used to improve your entire approach with customer service. Learn how to operate effectively in a short amount of time by tracking, collecting and then refining the data. In some cases, this can all be handled automatically by the AI powered chatbot. Its ability to learn can even go as far as picking up on the sentiment behind the words customers use! With the help of optional customer feedback, you can completely overhaul how your company handles consumer interactions.
Build Your Dream Team
Businesses have moved forward with AI powered chatbots, so don’t get left behind! Both small and large companies are always eyeing their bottom line. By using AI powered chatbots, you can cut costs while boosting your company in multiple ways.