advantages and disadvantages of using chatbots

It’s amazing how rapidly the world of technology can turn customer service on its ear.

Transformational tech is completely revolutionizing the online sales experience. There’s only one hitch: What you don’t know about this topic can mean the difference between success and failure.

If you operate an online store, you can’t risk being left behind. But while understanding the potential benefits is great, knowing how to prevent things turning ugly is paramount. Now is the time for improved chatbot education, because it’s not all as promising as the headlines imply.

Technically, there are only two kinds of chatbots: those that function as “virtual assistants” and those designed to live within messaging apps. The virtual assistants, like Siri and Cortana, use machine learning to interact more effectively. In contrast, chatbots in the messaging world are usually available from within Facebook Messenger, Slack, and WeChat. They simply follow pre-programmed rules.

Together, they’re projected to become a billion-dollar industry within 10 years, and that’s impressive. After all, we’re all in business to make money.

Enterprise Mobile Messaging

So this is just the beginning of the chatbot takeover — the technology is still in its infancy, and more is yet to come. That’s why it is essential to consider chatbots in three groups: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The good

People are perfectly okay with using chatbot services. In fact, 63 percent are willing to communicate this way with various businesses and brands. It’s an easy way to get quick answers to simple questions.

Thirty-three percent actually prefer to use chatbots for purchasing decisions. As chatbots become more common, this number will likely rise. (And since there are more than 30,000 chatbots on Facebook, you might’ve used one, too — and didn’t even know it.)

We know that 37 percent of people are willing to make purchases through chatbots. In the U.S., these consumers spend an average of $55 per purchase. Potential is even greater in the U.K., where people are willing to spend an average of $410 via chatbot. These consumers are also open to a chatbot’s sales recommendations and product advice.

It’s worth noting that nearly half of all millennials will accept the advice and recommendations offered to them by chatbots.

The bad

Though chatbots seem to be well-received, it’s not all a bed of roses. If the chatbot experience ends up being negative in the customer’s eyes, nearly three-quarters (73 percent) won’t use that chatbot again.

Companies with poorly designed chatbots could injure their own bottom line by driving people away. Most people admit they’re more frustrated by chatbots that can’t answer their questions than they are by human counterparts in the same situation.

This is why you should make no attempt to hide the fact that you’re using chatbots. Don’t try to blur the lines. A resounding 75 percent of people want to know when they are talking to a chatbot. Nearly half of them find it “disturbing” when a chatbot pretends to be human.

You don’t want to freak your customers out.

Besides, more than half the people surveyed say they can tell the difference, and they won’t look kindly on your efforts to fool them. (Reports suggest this won’t be the case by 2029, when chatbots are projected to be capable of meaningful conversations, with human-like language abilities. But that might not make the idea less creepy.)

The ugly

Chatbots are not fully autonomous yet, and this makes them a potential liability. They can improve based on the amount of data provided, but there’s a point of diminishing returns that simply cannot be ignored.

In fact, chatbots max out at about 85 percent efficiency. And when consumers feel like they are getting nowhere with the automated responses, they will be inclined to believe that your company is cold and indifferent.

This can seriously damage your brand.

The whole idea behind utilizing chatbots in the customer service arena is to streamline processes and remove friction. But if your chatbots aren’t capable of top-tier customer service, they are counter-productive. Don’t think of AI or chatbots as your be all end all. People still long for human interaction.

Remember that the chatbots you utilize are the “most literal digital personification of your presence and brand.” They leave an impression that will outlast that of your website or any of your brochures. When it’s all stripped away, a conversation is all that remains. If your chatbots aren’t up to par, they could cost you dearly.

There’s hope

We’re not saying that you shouldn’t use chatbots. The ability to maintain an ongoing relationship with your customers 24/7 has enormous value. Additionally, chatbots provide consumers with quick answers and convenience.

However, it’s essential to integrate human contact at necessary intervals to maintain customer satisfaction. Here are some simple things you can do to ensure that chatbots don’t make your company look disconnected from the people who keep you in business:

• Make sure all your phone numbers work
• Answer calls in three rings or less
• Hire a call center for 24/7 human access
• Be active on social media
• Respond quickly to posts and emails

Humans are conversational entities. When we feel that the conversation has fallen flat, or that our questions have not been answered, we get frustrated. Be sure you have the best chatbot APIs available before setting them loose on your customers.

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