Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been all over the internet for the past few years, but it’s been especially present since the emergence of ChatGPT in 2022. You’re likely here because you’ve heard of people using AI for lead qualification. But is this application here to revolutionize how we qualify leads or is it just a passing fad?
AI in the News
Of course, AI was not born without hiccups. There are countless stories of AI going off the rails, but here are some recent ones that were obvious OOPS’s…
Chevy Mishap
You may have heard stories such as a mischievous trickster who conned a GM dealership chatbot into agreeing to sell him a $76,000 Chevy Tahoe for a dollar. Stories like this drive many businesses away from using AI. Even those who do continue to use AI to communicate with their customers are doing so cautiously. AI can be challenging to control, leading to occasional mishaps that have, over time, fueled skepticism about their viability.
Air Canada Litigation
Another story is that of Air Canada who also had a chatbot on their website. A customer came to Air Canada’s website and asked about their policy relating to bereavement discounts. This chatbot confirmed that the customer could apply for a discount for their trip they already took to attend a funeral despite this not being true. Air Canada’s real policy directly contradicts this. Air Canada tried to claim that they should not be held liable for this mix-up, but they were squashed in court.
The Rough Edges
Listen, AI is impressive, but we also have to address some limitations. With companies like Air Canada and Chevy struggling to manage AI, you know it’s going to be difficult for most other businesses as well. AI is complex and, unlike normal software, it cannot be fully controlled. To make things worse, the more complex you try to make your AI, the more likely it is that your system will make missteps like these we mentioned 😳
In addition to the control challenge, there’s a controversy around the use of AI communication altogether. Some customers may feel detached when communicating with an AI bot instead of a human. And even when a customer is notified that they are communicating with an AI, they may feel slighted. They may miss the emotional connection, the empathy, and the off-script responses that human customer service representatives provide.
AI Lead Qualification: The Good AI Can Do
Even with these mistakes, we need to look at the beneficial aspects of AI for business. For starters, AI-enabled bots interact with customers promptly, delivering instantaneous responses. No more waiting on hold or getting lost in the heap of customer complaints. This swiftness enhances customer experience, which, in turn, builds customer loyalty when the AI is well-trained.
AI bots are also skillful at performing simple, repetitive tasks, such as product recommendations, booking appointments, or answering FAQs – tasks that can be tedious for humans but are crucial for business operations. Furthermore, AI lead qualification bots are cost-effective. Compared to maintaining a team of customer service professionals handling the high volume of inquiries, using AI substantially lowers costs. The technology is basically like having a tireless team of professionals working 24/7 without requiring pays, holidays or coffee breaks.
So… AI Lead Qualification: Here to Stay?
Despite the hiccups, the era of AI lead qualification is not coming to an end anytime soon. Companies like CloseBot are actively reinventing AI by creating AI bots that can be controlled with a higher degree of accuracy. Chevy and Air Canada likely wouldn’t have encountered their issues had they used a dynamic instruction system like CloseBot to manage their AI.
CloseBot has mastered the art of making bots that exhibit human-like responses, making the conversation less machine-like and more personal. The AI can break up larger outbound messages into multiple smaller messages like a human would. You can tell the bot to make typo mistakes on purpose and correct the mistakes with another following message (again to make it more humanlike). We have achieved a level of conversation sophistication that can convince customers they’re interacting with a human rather than a bot. And even if they know they are speaking with a bot, the human nature of the conversation will be a breath of fresh air compared to other AI systems they may have interacted with. This will be a testament to your business and will build trust.
Conclusion
In the current hustle and bustle of the business world, efficiency is key. The value of AI in lead qualification lies in its ability to streamline operations, save costs, and improve customer interactions. While not without flaws, the potential benefits of AI implementation in lead qualification outweigh the drawbacks.
AI is not just a trend. It’s an evolving technology showing promising potential in transforming the way businesses operate. AI Lead qualification bots, with their intelligent algorithms, sophisticated interactions and cost-saving operations, are here to stay. This technology will likely become an integral part of the lead generation and customer service sphere, transforming it from the traditional human-based interactions to more dynamic, interactive, and efficient communications facilitated by AI.
So, hold on tight to your business’s steering wheel, as AI lead qualification bots drive us into the future of business communication. One can only imagine the possibilities that lie ahead as we work towards blending technology and human touch in perfect harmony.
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