Chatbots and language assistants: hype or reality?
by Nils Boeffel | March 6, 2017
"Hello, how can I help you?"
[This article appeared in Internet World Business 04-17 in German. Read the complete article as a PDF or Online.]
"Language assistants offer a more direct interface between information and the customer than phone, websites or apps."
Hype or already more? Chatbots and language assistants are set to change retail and service. Retailers are still experimenting with the possibilities – and experiences are lacking.
"Hello," H&M messages via text on the teen-popular chat platform Kik, "Feeling like some styles?" What follows is a dialog of image and text messages.
Interested users narrow down their taste in several steps and based on presented images, and then receive an offer from the H&M shop. If they don't like it, H&M's digital chatter tries again. First impression: the chat is fun.