Using those chatbots for your business. Are They worth it?
Running a business requires you to be as productive as possible so overhead is lower and profits are higher. This is an obvious and basic fact of doing business.
However, not all business owners utilize the tools they could be to make that happen. One relatively new tool that is gaining in popularity, but not yet used by all businesses, is chatbots. Love em or hate em chatbots can help your bottom line. The dissatisfaction of these little guys however is that many people, especially our baby boomer population hate anything automated and feel disenfranchised from your business and want real people with real answers.
A chatbot is basically a computer program that can interact with humans over the internet. Their simulation of human language and behavior provides several benefits that can be used in your business.
One of the great benefits of using chatbots in your business is that they save time. For instance, when used on your website they can provide fast, automated answers to most questions. Their use prevents customers from waiting a day or longer to receive responses as they would have in the past. This allows your business to serve greater numbers of people while increasing productivity and decreasing costs.
Chatbot use can be cheaper than hiring more workers. Costs to have a chatbot built can range from 2K to 10K or more depending on the complexity needed.
While that may sound like a lot, once created you’ll probably save in the long run. One reason for this is that you don’t have to pay it vacation time, sick days, or contribute to its 401K. It won’t become injured on the job and require medical treatment either.
3. Provide Greater Customer Satisfaction
Another benefit of using chatbots in your business is that they give greater customer satisfaction. Chatbots don’t work 8-hour days and don’t need sleep which means they are always available.
Customers who pull up your website in the evening can ask questions and get answers right away. If they have product questions they may get the answers they need to complete sales. This can further increase your business profits.
Frustrated customers who don’t get quick answers, on the other hand, may leave your website and never return. Chatbots can eliminate that possible loss with higher customer retention rates.
4. Increase Your Customers To Increase Your Bottom Line
There is another benefit of using chatbots in your business. They may help you reach more people which can increase your customer base.
Since chatbots can be deployed in many styles of platforms, you can take advantage of that to help your business grow. Chatbots can answer multiple questions at the same time as well.
Unfortunately, humans handling customer service questions and other issues can make errors. They can forget things, transpose numbers, and make other types of mistakes.
Not so with chatbots. Based on the questions asked they will always give the right answers. This makes them a huge asset when used in your business.
6. Program Them To Lift Your Customer’s Spirits
An additional benefit of using chatbots in your business is that they add good humor. You never have to worry about a chatbot being in a bad mood. They will never turn away customers with an angry response, attitude, or glance.
They can be programed to have a bit of humor which can make them seem more humanlike. This puts customers at ease and makes their experience with your business more satisfying.
It’s important to make your business the best it can be to generate greater success and profits. As you can see, there are benefits of using chatbots in your business that can help that happen.
The downside of chatbots is that there are many customers who hat anything automated and will always demand a real person who can answer real questions. They don’t like call centers with those automated screening calls and they don’t like robot chat bots either. I get it. Hopefully however, certain bots will work for your business.
