The retail landscape is changing at an unprecedented pace, driven by rising customer expectations and the convenience of online shopping. In fact, according to estimates by the Infobip company, by 2040 it is expected that 95% of all purchases will be made online. To help retail and e-commerce brands stay ahead of this curve, an ambassador is a brand must: AI shopping assistants.
What is an AI shopping assistant?
Imagine a shopping assistant available 24 hours a day, able to simultaneously handle a wide range of customer requests and offer personalized, tailored advice. Additionally, this assistant continuously learns from every interaction, constantly refining its performance to deliver even better results. Many are aware that this is not a science fiction fantasy, but a reality in today’s world of AI-based assistants.
“AI shopping assistants use artificial intelligence to help customers with their purchases. Its goal is to improve the shopping experience by offering personalized advice, answering the most frequently asked questions and accelerating the decision-making process,” explains Janeth Rodríguez, Latin America Sales Manager at Infobip.
Let’s take the case of China. Hong Kong is a city known as a global shopping destination. There, the retail and e-commerce sectors are undergoing a major transformation, all thanks to artificial intelligence and cloud-based omnichannel solutions. In fact, 57% of organizations in Hong Kong use CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) and SaaS (Software as a Service) technologies in their operations.
“By integrating chatbot services into popular social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, businesses can improve customer service by providing convenience and conversational experience,” adds Rodríguez.
Why use an AI shopping assistant?
Integrating shopping assistants with artificial intelligence has emerged as a transformation strategy for companies looking to improve customer experience and streamline operations. Businesses can leverage these assistants for strategic purposes such as inventory optimization, cross-selling and upselling, and cost reduction.
Reduce costs and save time
Automating routine tasks with AI-powered shopping assistants can significantly reduce operational expenses and save time. This includes automating customer requests, order tracking, and basic troubleshooting.
Companies can optimize resources and assign human staff to more strategic and complex tasks.
Greater commitment
By understanding customer preferences and behavior, AI assistants can engage users in meaningful conversations, provide a more interactive and personalized experience, and make shopping more enjoyable and memorable.
Sale crossed out
An AI shopping assistant can easily suggest complementary products or upgrades based on the customer’s selections. This can help your business increase average transaction value by promoting additional items that align with customers’ needs and wants.
Inventory management
Artificial intelligence can help a business optimize inventory levels by analyzing historical data, forecasting demand and identifying trends. This ensures that optimal stock levels are maintained and reduces the likelihood of overstocking or stock-outs.
This combination of personalized interactions and data-driven insights creates a more competitive and customer-centric environment for a business.
“AI-powered shopping assistants, acting as brand ambassadors, enhance the customer experience by offering personalized recommendations, quick responses to questions and valuable guidance throughout the entire customer journey. This not only improves the customer experience, but also transforms business models, maximizes return on marketing investments and simplifies processes for companies and consumers,” concludes the Infobip executive.
