5 reasons chatbots will revolutionize the way we do business

Over the past year, bots seem to have gained immense popularity among big tech companies. Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and most recently, Apple have all released plans for a bot-filled future. But why? What is the big deal about bots, and, more importantly, why should you use them?

1. They deliver higher user engagement

Bots are essentially computers that talk back to the user. As such, they give users an interactive experience. A bot can make users feel like they are working with an assistant to achieve their ends rather than manipulating a passive computer. Thus, users are more likely to find exactly what they want and are given a far better user experience. What brings users back to your platform if not good UX?

2. They are ‘mobile optimized’ right out of the box

For mobile-first markets, like India, engaging users on mobile requires the development and iteration of mobile-optimized UI’s on apps and websites. Bots, however, require none of this effort. Chat has been used for years on mobile and it is a tried and tested interface that works and is easy to implement.

3. There are no downloads required

In an increasingly crowded app market, it is hard to get new users to try your product, let alone stick to it. Even after a user has been on-boarded, there is a high chance that they will be forced to uninstall your app at some point because of storage space limitations. Bots completely circumvent this problem. Since bots live in a browser or a messenger, users can easily try out new services without the hassle of downloading an app.

4. They benefit from the WhatsApp effect

Your users are ready for chat. Because of the popularity of apps like WhatsApp and Facebook messenger, your consumers already feel at home with chat. Because of this, there is no friction associated with a transition away from apps and websites.

5. They have minimal cost with maximum returns

The best part about the bot phenomenon is that all of the above benefits come cheap. Bot platforms have done most of the legwork in creating the app infrastructure for you, so you don’t need to invest time and money into development. Maintenance is minimal. Most Importantly, there is no labor-intensive backend, because the whole process is automated. Offering users a personal and engaging experience has never been this cheap.