Have you ever noticed that tiny conversation box that pops up on the side whenever you visit a website? Well if you do a quick search, almost every website would have this option—all thanks to the growth of Artificial Intelligence. Since the blooming of the AI industry, the horizon of business communication has dramatically increased, paving the way for almost 80% of businesses to use chatbots in one way or another. 

With that one question remains! Do chatbots have enough benefits that make ROI on Chatbots worthwhile? To better understand this question, let's look at what chatbots are. And if you are looking to build an Enterprise Bot or if you are a chatbot enthusiast then keep on reading. 

What are Chatbots?

A chatbot is a program that imitates human conversation, especially over the internet. They are typically used to answer common questions, communicate with users, and perform specific tasks they are programmed to do. They gather and process information collected from the user while interacting with the user to increase the level of personalization. 

Chatbots have found their way into numerous industries offering innovative solutions for improved efficiency and productivity. Deploying chatbots for your brand can also streamline processes.

Although we might think all Chatbots work with Artificial Intelligence, the truth is not all chatbots are equipped with AI. Modern chatbots use conversational AI techniques like Natural Language Processing aka NLP to understand users’ questions and automate responses to them. 

The First Chatbot

Did you know that the first chatbot dates back to the 1966? 

In 1966, Joseph Weizenbaum, an MIT professor created the first chatbot ‘Eliza’, named after the Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion. Being a psychotherapist, he created the chatbot to interact with his patients. A user would type a message using a typewriter connected to the mainframe. And the psychotherapist would reply to the question. 

Unlike the famous ChatGPT we use now, Eliza software was relatively simple, it would analyze the question and the applied set of rules to generate a plausible answer. As for ChatGPT, it uses ‘a large language model’ a mathematical program that is trained to predict the next string of characters, words, or sentences in a sequence. But it's not just the large language model that distinguishes between the chatGPT and Eliza, but also the tone of conversation as well. 

Types of Chatbot

When it comes to the types of chatbots, there are several types of chatbots, each designed for different industries and purposes. Here are a few examples:

Virtual Assistants for HR Management

Chatbots are revolutionizing the industry of human resources by simplifying tasks such as employee onboarding, leave requests, and benefits inquiries. These HR management bots can streamline HR processes, save time, and ensure a seamless experience for the employees.

Customer Support Excellence with AI

Chatbots are a valuable tool for handling routine queries and providing instant information retrieval. By handling simple queries, chatbots allow human agents to focus on more complex issues that require their expertise. Thus improving response times and increases customer satisfaction. With the help of chatbots, companies can provide 24/7 support and ensure that customers receive the help they need when they need it.

E-commerce Personalization

E-commerce chatbots leverage machine learning algorithms to analyze customer preferences and provide personalized product recommendations. These bots enhance the shopping experience by understanding and adapting to individual needs.

Financial Advisory Bots

The finance advisory chatbots provide quick and accurate financial analysis that assists users in managing their finances, tracking expenses, and making informed financial decisions. 

Automating IT Support

The IT support chatbots streamline support services automate routine IT requests, troubleshoot technical issues, and guide users through problem-solving steps. 

Streamlining Procurement Processes

Simplifying procurement processes by automating tasks such as purchase order creation, vendor communication, and inventory management. These bots contribute to increased accuracy and reduced manual efforts. 

Enhancing marketing Efforts

Marketing chatbots can assist businesses in lead generation, customer engagement, and campaign management. These automated marketing processes allow the team to focus on strategy and creativity. 

Step to Build an Enterprise Bot

In a world ruled by technology, brands are constantly seeking innovative ways to improve their efficiency, and customer experience and streamline operations. With the advent of ChatGPT, chatbots have become increasingly popular, and more and more industries are using them to automate processes, provide instant support, and increase overall productivity. Here are five simple steps to help you build an enterprise bot.

Define objectives and use cases

To create an enterprise bot, the first step is to define its purpose and objectives clearly. This will identify the specific use cases and tasks that the bot should address. Doing so will help the bot to better understand its audience and their needs.

Select a bot development platform

The next crucial step is to select an appropriate bot development platform that aligns with your technology stack and preferences. Some popular options include the Microsoft Bot Framework, Dialogflow, and Rasa. It's important to consider the ease of integration with your existing systems and the scalability of the chosen platform when making your decision.

Design conversational flow

The next step in creating a chatbot involves designing a conversational flowchart. This flowchart outlines how the chatbot will communicate with users by mapping out the user's intentions, objects within their input, and dialogue structures. It is important to anticipate and plan for handling common user queries and potential errors when crafting a conversational flowchart.

Develop and test the bot

In order to implement the bot’s functionality, use the chosen development platform and programming language. It is important to test the bot thoroughly for various scenarios, including positive and negative user inputs. Additionally, usability testing with a small group of users should be considered to gather feedback.

Integrate with enterprise systems and deploy

To successfully integrate an enterprise bot, it is important to connect it to relevant systems such as CRM, ERP, or databases. This can be achieved by implementing secure authentication and authorization mechanisms. The bot should then be deployed in the desired environment, whether that is on-premises or in the cloud.

It is important to remember that ongoing monitoring, user feedback, and iterative improvements are crucial for the long-term success of the bot.

Top 10 Chatbots in the Market

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  IBM Watson Assistant for Customer Support

IBM Watson Assistant is a powerful chatbot platform that excels in handling customer support queries. With its natural language processing capabilities, Watson Assistant understands and responds to user inquiries, reducing the workload on customer service teams. Its ability to learn and adapt over time ensures continuous improvement in customer interactions.

• Microsoft Power Virtual Agents for Workflow Automation

Microsoft's Power Virtual Agents empowers businesses to create chatbots without the need for extensive coding knowledge. These chatbots can be integrated seamlessly with Microsoft 365 applications, automating workflows and improving collaboration within teams. From managing approvals to handling data requests, Power Virtual Agents streamline various business processes.

• Salesforce Einstein Bots for Sales Automation

Salesforce Einstein Bots leverage artificial intelligence to automate sales processes and enhance customer engagement. These bots can qualify leads, provide product recommendations, and even assist in closing deals. By automating routine tasks, sales teams can focus on building meaningful relationships with clients.

• Google's Dialogflow for Multichannel Interactions

Dialogflow, a product of Google Cloud, enables businesses to create chatbots that can interact across multiple channels, including websites, mobile apps, and messaging platforms. This versatility makes it an excellent choice for companies looking to provide a consistent and efficient user experience across various touchpoints.

• ChatGPT for Natural Language Understanding

OpenAI's ChatGPT is a language model that excels in natural language understanding. Businesses can leverage ChatGPT to build chatbots that engage in dynamic and context-aware conversations. This can significantly enhance user interactions, making the chatbot experience more conversational and personalized.

• Amazon Lex for Voice-Enabled Chatbots

Amazon Lex, part of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) ecosystem, focuses on voice-enabled chatbots. By integrating with Amazon Polly for text-to-speech conversion, Lex enables businesses to create voice-driven interfaces for their applications. This is particularly beneficial in scenarios where hands-free interactions are essential.

• Chatbots in HR by SAP SuccessFactors

SAP SuccessFactors integrates chatbots into its Human Resources Management System (HRMS), automating HR-related tasks. Chatbots can handle employee inquiries, assist in the onboarding process, and provide information on policies and benefits. This not only increases productivity but also elevates the overall experience of the employees.

• Healthcare Chatbots for Appointment Scheduling

Healthcare providers are adopting chatbots to streamline appointment scheduling processes. Patients can interact with chatbots to check availability, book appointments, and receive reminders. This not only reduces the administrative burden on healthcare staff but also improves patient satisfaction through efficient service.

• Chatbots in E-Commerce for Personalized Recommendations

E-commerce businesses are leveraging chatbots to enhance the shopping experience. These chatbots analyze user preferences, purchase history, and browsing behavior to provide personalized product recommendations. By automating this process, businesses can drive sales and improve customer satisfaction.

• Chatbots in Financial Services for Account Management

Financial institutions are using chatbots to automate account management tasks. Customers can inquire about balances, transfer funds, and receive personalized financial advice through chatbot interactions. This improves accessibility and allows customers to manage their finances conveniently.

Conclusion 

The integration of chatbots in enterprise automation is transforming the way businesses operate. Whether it's improving customer support, streamlining workflows, or enhancing user experiences, chatbots have proven to be valuable assets across various industries. As technology continues to advance, the role of chatbots in enterprise automation is likely to expand, offering even more innovative solutions for businesses seeking efficiency and excellence.