Chatbots pop up in some strange and wonderful places in the world of business. While they’re primarily used for marketing and improving customer experience, there’s a variety of interesting ways that they can do this. There’s no set method for making a successful chatbot.
Nevertheless, there are successful trends when it comes to what works for your customers and your bottom line. Here are a few of the regular jobs that you might find a chatbot tasked with.
Product Suggestions
Much as with regular retail websites and cookies, chatbots can memorise what sort of customer prefers what item. The chatbot then tailors their conversation to an individual, personalised sales profile. Through asking about general customer tastes, more advanced chatbots can turn a vague palette of tastes such as a preference for a certain style, colour, or fabric into a workable list of items the user might wish to purchase.
Bookings
As online bookings are usually a straightforward process, they stick to a fixed script with strict criteria, so chatbots are commonly used as a more ‘natural’ interface to guide customers through the process. Gigs, airlines, cinemas, fast food chains, and restaurants worldwide all employ chatbots to book their venues and deliveries. As the customer’s bond with the chatbot develops, further suggestions can be marketed in the same vein.
Queries and Scheduling
What will the weather be like in my town tomorrow? What’s the traffic like? When did I schedule my latest appointment? Where’s the nearest restaurant? What’s the capital of Andorra? Virtual assistant chatbots for portable devices are set up to handle mundane concerns expressed in normal phrasing, personalising responses based on the information and events you’ve given them. As well as this, chatbots can integrate with online search engines such as Google to provide the answers to your more esoteric or obscure questions. Browsing and purchase history can be integrated, providing the user with a relatively seamless segue into marketing and sales.
Financial Services
Banks and online banking services such as PayPal are increasingly using chatbots as a way to handle transactions and give out banking advice. Chatbots can offer an all-in-one guide to stocks, accounts, money transfers, and integrate news bulletins from the wider web to give you a sophisticated overview of what to expect from your money.
They can even be made to give emergency prompts on money management and recovery, should an account fall into a low balance or outright debt. The customer can be informed of new offers, accounts, special deals, and pitfalls rapidly through flowing conversation.
Accessibility and Disability Support
Traditional input devices (such as QWERTY keyboards) have sometimes proven difficult for people with conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Arthritis, or Multiple Sclerosis to use. Chatbots with voice recognition are helping to alleviate the difficulties people with mobility and movement issues might face with an old-fashioned desktop computer. Delivery services also help mitigate any issues with travel.
Through targeting a wider audience than ever before, chatbots help to open up new markets and reach hard-to-find customers. Chatbots are also being developed to combat loneliness amongst disabled and elderly people, providing conversation and companionship to relieve isolation. Who knows what a more inclusive and user-friendly online world might lead on to? To find out what chatbots can achieve for your business, please call 0208 144 2000, or email info@brandoncross.co.uk.
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