Perhaps it sounds cheesy, but chatbots are revolutionizing customer service.
You can hardly find a simpler technology that is more efficient in engaging users and providing them with the service they need. A chatbot can handle interactions on websites, mobile apps, social media platforms, and many more.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Today, the majority of online businesses rely on chatbots to simplify customer service and improve user experience. In this post, you will learn:
- The basics of chatbot technology
- Important chatbot-related statistics
- Popular use cases
- Benefits of deploying chatbot technology
The Basics of Chatbot Technology
Chatbots are computer programs that can mimic human conversation. Their purpose is to communicate with clients and provide them with information or support. There are two main types of chatbots:
- Text-based chatbots: Also known as conversational bots, these bots use text to communicate with customers.
- Voice-based chatbots: These virtual assistants use voice recognition technology to interact with customers.
Both systems are based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies. They enable chatbots to understand human speech, interpret its meaning, and respond in a way that is similar to how a human would.
Important Chatbot-Related Statistics
The collection of chatbot-related stats and facts is gigantic. That’s because this technology is still in its early stages of deployment, so businesses are curious to explore its potential. But one thing we already know is that chatbots are extremely efficient. Let’s take a look:
- Chatbots can handle over 80% of customer interactions, reducing costs by up to 30%
- Almost 70% of global consumers had an interaction with a chatbot over the last 12 months
- According to the report, nearly 90% of consumers report having a neutral or positive customer experience with chatbots
- This tool can increase sales conversions in some industries by 70%
Bearing all these stats in mind, it’s no wonder that the size of the global chatbot market will surpass $1.25 billion by 2025.
Popular Chatbot Use Cases
Most people believe that chatbots serve only customer service purposes, but the truth is they have a lot of other applications too. There are many ways in which chatbots can be used to improve customer experience. Apart from customer support, the most popular use cases include the following:
1. Order tracking
Chatbots can help customers track their orders in real-time. This is especially helpful for eCommerce businesses that offer a large number of products. The technology simplifies the order-tracking process for both parties – merchants and shoppers.
2. Product research
Chatbots can help customers research products before they make a purchase. This is especially beneficial for first-time buyers who are not sure what product to buy. Conversational bots can provide information about products, such as their features, qualities, and specifications.
The best thing about it is that chatbots analyze behavioral data in real-time and offer recommendations accordingly. It means that each customer receives personalized product recommendations that suit their needs.
3. Travel planning
Chatbots play a big role in travel planning. They help customers book tickets, hotels, and other related services. In addition, chatbots can provide tourists with information about the places they are visiting.
4. Fraud prevention
Chatbots can help merchants prevent credit card fraud. They do this by verifying the legitimacy of customers and their credit cards. A typical chatbot has an early detection rate of fraudulent transactions that is up to 95% better than that of a fraud analyst.
It quickly pinpoints suspicious activities and stops them before they cause any damage. Instead of having an army of human employees to do this task, chatbots can automate the process and do it quickly and efficiently.
Benefits of Deploying Chatbot Technology
With so many use cases, it is clear that chatbots bring lots of practical benefits to modern organizations. We will point out only a handful, but we’re sure you will think of a few more as well.
Higher accuracy
Chatbots have an accuracy rate that is much higher than that of human agents. A chatbot will not make mistakes because it’s programmed to respond to customer inquiries in a specific way.
At the same time, these AI-powered programs don’t get tired. They can work around the clock without drawbacks. This eliminates the chances of customers getting irritated because of incorrect answers or slow response times.
Faster response time
Chatbots can respond to customer inquiries much faster than human employees. This is due to the fact that chatbots are powered by AI and NLP technologies, so they can react almost instantly. Besides that, they can handle a large number of customer inquiries simultaneously without getting overwhelmed.
Reduced customer support costs
As we already mentioned, chatbots are able to reduce customer support costs by up to 30% because they take over the vast majority of customer interactions. That way, your customer service reps can concentrate on difficult user inputs that require a human touch.
Besides that, chatbots help you to reduce costs because you don’t need to build large customer support teams. They eliminate the need for hiring too many human employees who are expensive and often require additional training.
Chatbots collect user data
Data collection is a very important benefit of chatbots because it allows businesses to learn more about their clients. The purpose of data accumulation and analysis is to improve customer experience, predict trends, and increase sales.
These inputs also serve as a way to personalize your services. You can use the data to create unique user profiles that influence the type of content you show them and the products you recommend. This is extremely important because 80% of customers are more likely to purchase a product or service from a brand that provides personalized experiences.
Improved customer experience
The bottom line is that chatbots provide a greatly improved customer experience. They do this by offering a personalized experience that is tailored to each individual’s needs. There are no irrelevant messages or content anymore because each interaction is based on real-time customer data.
In addition, chatbots are always available, which means customers don’t have to wait for a response. They can get help immediately and enjoy the benefits of super-fast customer service.
Conclusion
Chatbots represent a ground-breaking technology that changes the face of customer experience. They are making it faster, more accurate, and more personalized than ever before.
Organizations that don’t make use of this technology are at a disadvantage because their competitors will leave them in the dust. That’s why you should seriously think about finding the right chatbot system that can take your customer service to the next level.
Thanks for reading and don’t hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We would love to hear your opinion about this amazing technology!
