In today’s modern society, where the average person is online more than they aren’t, it’s common for an everyday person to interact with an artificial intelligence chatbot or virtual assistant multiple times a month. 

Instead of utilizing an old-school method for gaining sales or leads, like having a customer fill out a form or meet with a sales representative, why not try out an AI virtual assistant for your business? 

This form of conversational marketing is a way to engage with customers as soon as they find your company. Whether a customer is on the phone speaking to a virtual assistant or asking questions through a virtual assistant on your website, artificial intelligence has become an integral part of the future of digital marketing.  

What Are AI Virtual Assistants  

Any software program that is created to implement the tasks of a human personal assistant, like managing schedules, handling travel arrangements, booking appointments, sending reminders, etc., can be classified as a virtual assistant. 

Virtual assistants were initially created with a strong focus on the user and are programmed to take inputs and perform various tasks through verbal or written commands. 

They were created with the ability to understand human speech and are supported by artificial neural networks. This enables them to even predict the intent of the user, no matter how random the question is.

AI virtual assistants are capable of learning the user’s preferences and habits with each and every interaction. Virtual assistants continue to evolve and get smarter as they gather more data every day. They are built on understanding natural language, recognizing faces, identifying objects, and communicating with other smart devices and technologies.

Virtual assistants are generally used in mobile devices with systems like Siri or Cortana as well as in purely virtual assistant systems like Alexa or Google Home. Virtual assistants can be used to control devices and handle a variety of simple tasks, like sending emails, making to-do lists, or searching the internet for answers. 

Why Virtual Assistants Are The Future Of Customer Service

Artificial intelligence virtual assistants add so many possibilities for the future of businesses, both big and small. Below are just some of the key reasons why AI virtual assistants are taking the world by storm.  

1. Pre-emptive Responses

The level of automation that AI virtual assistants provide is a level not possible by any human agent, but in the near future, virtual assistants will become even more effective. Soon, virtual assistants will be able to predict what your customers want by observing how they interact with your brand. 

With a base understanding of how your customers behave and what they want, AI virtual assistants will be better able to answer questions and provide relevant information.  

2. 24/7 Customer Service 

When customer service is automated, as it always is when it comes to AI virtual assistants, it isn’t restrained by business hours, time zones, or holidays. This allows companies to be able to provide 24/7 support every single day of the year without fail. This kind of availability and responsiveness has been shown to greatly increase customer satisfaction and trust. 

3. The Success Of Messaging Apps

Since 2015, the success of social messaging apps has grown exponentially. Beyond the base function of communicating with friends and family, apps like Facebook Messenger can even be used to communicate with brands. 

Messaging services are an exciting new space where brands are able to communicate with their customer base through AI virtual assistants. In fact, the airline, clothing, and tourism industries are already routinely utilizing this platform. Customers can purchase airline tickets, book hotels, and even receive fashion tips all through virtual assistants present in messaging apps. 

4. Demand For Self Service

The majority of Millennial and Gen Z consumers are more inclined to self-service or online interaction over in-person services. They would rather find the answer through FAQs or be able to interact with a virtual assistant to solve most of their issues rather than speak with someone in person or over the phone. 

AI virtual assistants also cut down on negative interactions that one on one interactions can sometimes cause. Younger consumers are much less likely to complain about an interaction with an artificial intelligence virtual assistant unless they feel like the software doesn’t answer their questions at all.

5. Unrivaled Personalization

Any organization that collects customer information can combine machine learning, big data, and artificial intelligence to provide unparalleled levels of personalization. This level of personalization can range from displaying past purchases product recommendations to customized displays based on customer preferences. 

This level of personalization can significantly improve customer experience and satisfaction, which in turn improves conversion rates and drives repeat purchases. Artificial intelligence can also provide human agents with this information so that they can better assist customers both online and offline. 

6. Quicker All-Around

As previously mentioned, AI virtual assistants have a much quicker response rate than any human agent. This quick turnaround rate is something that always goes over well with customers. This speed doesn’t only apply to response time, though; it also applies to the productivity of your staff. 

Human agents often struggle to keep up with the high volume of questions that come in every day, but with real-time data provided by the virtual assistant, they can be more productive than ever. 

The world of digital marketing and conversational marketing is constantly changing and evolving. Today, companies can offer customers a more personalized experience and quicker response than ever before. 

This level of artificial intelligence enriches not only the customer experience but also the level of insights that companies have on their customer base. Now more than ever is the time for your business to look into integrating an AI virtual assistant.
Shift Refresh is a US-based digital marketing agency that helps businesses smash their competition and emerge as a leader in their respective industries. We are ready to help your business not only grow but thrive. To learn more, call us at 1-888-467-3249 or visit our website https://www.shiftrefresh.com/