Chatbots have become increasingly popular in recent years, as businesses of all sizes look for more efficient ways to interact with their customers. From customer service chatbots that provide answers to FAQs and help customers find the right product or service, to sales chatbots that can take orders and offer personalized recommendations, chatbots are capable of a wide range of functions.
Depending on your business needs, there are several types of solutions available that will provide the customer with instant help. That is the aim, after all, of good customer service. Our customers will welcome immediate response times to not waste too much of their time waiting for answers about a product or service. This is what we would want for ourselves and so our customers deserve that kind of service too.
Below, we will explore the different varieties of chatbot technology available today and how they can be used to help different businesses.
Rule-Based Chatbot
The most common chatbot type is the rule-based chatbot. It is programmed to respond to specific commands and keywords pre-defined by its creator. Depending on the user’s input, it will provide answers from a predetermined list of responses.
Rule-based chatbots are best suited for customer service chatbots, as they can provide quick answers to FAQs and basic service tasks.
Many answers are going to be the standard ones that many customers are asking. We can have these standard answers programmed and ready to respond to those buying from us without delay.
Everyone likes a quick response and emails are now viewed by many as one of the slower ways of gaining a response compared to online messaging and, of course, the instant replies from chatbots that we have now come to expect.
Companies need to recognize just what methods of communication are attracting customers to their business regularly and with loyalty. If we make it easier then those who deal with us will appreciate it and reward us with an order.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Powered Chatbot
More advanced chatbots are powered by artificial intelligence (AI). They use natural language processing (NLP) to interpret user input and can respond in a more human-like way.
AI chatbots can provide more detailed answers to complex queries and can even handle conversations involving multiple turns.
This type tends to be used for sales chatbots, as they are capable of providing personalized recommendations and product suggestions. This is a step beyond the standard chatbot and something that become an even more useful tool.
Hybrid Chatbot
The third type of chatbot is the hybrid chatbot. As its name implies, this chatbot combines rule-based and AI chatbot technologies to provide users with a more powerful experience.
Hybrid chatbots are capable of understanding complex queries, but also can provide quick answers to basic inquiries. They can be used for both customer service and sales chatbots and are well-suited for businesses looking for an all-in-one chatbot solution.
If you are looking to cover all bases with your website then you will value a chatbot that achieves it all. But then, it can be good also to tailor them to the specific needs of your business.
The advantage of getting our chatbot choice right is that we please customers at the same time as our finance department. Customers have a more attentive service, while cost-wise we can free up staff hours for more complex tasks and often avoid paying overtime.
Conclusion
Chatbot technology has come a long way in recent years and there are now several types of solutions in this area available to businesses.
Depending on your business needs, you can choose from rule-based chatbots, AI chatbots, or hybrid chatbots – each offering its own unique set of features and capabilities.
With the right chatbot solution in place, businesses can streamline their customer experience and improve their bottom line.