5 Key Ways A Chatbot App Boosts Online Sales

In my previous posts about chatbots (and another one, about Google’s chatbots), I discussed the beginning of a revolution which is now peaking, here’s more on the how you too can use a chatbot app to help your eCommerce business and its sales

5 Key Ways A Chatbot App Boosts Online Sales

If you use Slack and you like tacos, you’re in luck: tacobot has them delivered! How can you use a chatbot app for your business? Keep reading to learn more.

Did you know 4 out of 5 companies plan to integrate chatbots into their business strategies by 2020?

Chatbots weren’t initially designed for use on eCommerce sites. However, there are several reasons why so many businesses are buying into the technology. For one, experts project that chatbots will reduce business costs by over $8 billion per year by 2022.

Here’s a quick look at 5 ways a chatbot app can benefit your online business. Keep reading to find out why you should consider taking advantage of this growing tech trend!

1. Make Ordering Easier

More than 1 in 3 smartphone owners use messaging apps. But flipping between apps to place an order while chatting isn’t always convenient. Thankfully, it’s possible to address this issue with chatbots.

For example, Taco Bell introduced its Slack integrated chatbot dubbed “TacoBot” in 2016. With this bot, customers can use the Slack interface to order while continuing to work.

Simply put, bots allow your customers to buy from you without leaving their favorite apps. This saves them both time and grief. Meanwhile, your store becomes more accessible as a result.

2. Seamlessly Suggest Products

How you suggest products to customers affects their overall customer experience. Bombarding customers with endless suggestions can sometimes come off as spammy.

However, H&M’s Kik bot offers a way to avoid this problem. The bot puts together outfits based on a clothing item the customer may already own.

Rather than seeming like a pushy salesman, H&M’s bot comes off as a personal stylist. It provides customers with a personalized experience while introducing them to new products.

3. Increase Customer Engagement

Online retailers are always looking for methods to improve customer engagement. After all, engaged customers make almost twice as many purchases. But few businesses realize that a chatbot app can work wonders in this department.

For example, Trolli, a candy brand, uses 3 chatbots to boost engagement. These bots offer anything from games to giveaways to memes. Best of all, a brief personality test determines which bot is ideal for you.

4. Make Returns Easier

Studies show customers return 30% of eCommerce purchases. Normally, customers send back clothing and expensive goods more often than other items. That said, chatbots can simplify the return process.

You can use a bot to update customers on their delivery status. Once they receive the item, customers can use the bot to set up a return within the app itself. Additionally, they can also leave their complaints.

5. Provide Support Around the Clock

When it comes to retaining customers, investing in customer support is critical. Research shows that nearly 70% of customers ditch brands due to perceived indifference. Skimping on this aspect of your business will affect long-term sales.

A unique way to bolster your support is to integrate your chatbot app with the shopping cart on your site. This allows customers to ask questions while they’re in buying mode. As a result, your cart abandonment rate might take a steep plunge.

Using a Chatbot App for Your Business

Chatbots are quickly becoming commonplace in the business world. The chatbot market is set to grow from $703.3 million to $3.172 billion between 2016 and 2021.

It’s important to decide whether a bot is a worthwhile investment for your business.

However, keep in mind that online retailers benefit the most from this technology. You can use these apps to do everything from educating customers to updating them on their delivery status.

Let us know how you feel about this trend in the comment section below. Also, feel free to contact us today if you need eCommerce consulting!