As marketers look into 2018, they see the conversational AI landscape is primed for increased consumer adoption. In fact, in a recent survey, nine out of ten people said they prefer messaging directly with a brand. This year, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Amazon all lean-in to messaging and conversation.
In 2018, the big four will make conversational AI the main gateway to communicate with the customer.
Consumers and brand marketers will see an uptick in the following areas:
We move beyond basic bots
Words like “chatbot”, “AI,” and “machine learning” are certainly trending at the moment. For a brand, embracing emerging trends and breakthrough technologies, like chatbots, is imperative, but so is aligning new innovations with a strategy that drives to the bottom line.
As a recent Forester report noted, “the honeymoon for enterprises naively celebrating the cure-all promises of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is over.” In 2018, more brands will put in the hard work and utilize chatbots as a powerful way to acquire new customers and personalize the experience for every person through the entire customer journey. Chatbots designed to segment and engage customers throughout the entire conversation will drive higher metrics than bots that do not personalize the conversation.
Facebook Messenger’s Customer Chat will become a game-changer for marketers
In November 2017, Facebook Messenger launched Customer Chat, a plugin that lets businesses have Facebook Messenger conversations right on their own website. With the release of Customer Chat, brands can take advantage of their websites and acquire new customers in the growing Messenger platform for free.
Facebook Messenger Customer Chat is an opportunity for marketers because when people leave a website, it allows them to view or continue their conversation with a brand on their phone, using the Messenger app. Messenger launched in 2008 as a no-frills chat functionality but matured into an end-to-end communications platform, while acquiring 1.3 billion users along the way. The adoption of what is now both website and mobile integration for Messenger paves the way for Facebook Messenger to continue its current reign as the leading enterprise chat platform.
Apple enters the enterprise
At their most recent Worldwide Developer’s Conference, Apple gave a sneak peek into Business Chat. Apple touts Business Chat as “a powerful new way for businesses to connect with customers directly from within Messages.” As Apple states on their developer site, “Business Chat connects businesses with their customers to answer questions, schedule appointments, make payments with Apple Pay, and more.”
Apple users will be able to message a business, using the Messages app, after seeing a call-to-action in Siri, Maps, Safari, and Spotlight.
The decision to bring customers and businesses closer together via one of its core apps mirrors moves by Facebook Messenger. These chats, however, are not iMessage Chatbots. Apple’s intent is to facilitate person-to-person interaction, through chat. Adding customer service features in iMessage increases the likelihood people will stay inside Apple more regularly instead of going to a brands website, or Messenger bot.
Instagram Chatbots?
Another huge 1:1 for marketers could exist beyond Facebook Messenger, Apple Business Chat, Google Assistant, and Alexa. In 2018, it would be a wise move for Instagram to roll out “Instagram Messaging.” Instagram’s consistent growth and steady introduction of new features have made the photo-and-video-sharing network a force for leading brands. By adding chatbots, Instagram could empower brands to move beyond hearts and into commerce, customer support, and increased consumer engagement.