Introduction
Did you know that 90%1 of consumers feel that businesses should use chatbots? But choosing the right chatbot could be a herculean task. Why ? Each type of chatbot comes with its own sets of functionality. Worry not, this blog will help you understand the different types of chatbot out there and how they’re used across various industries! Not only this, by the end of this blog you’ll also be able to decide which type of chatbot fits right for your business.
Menu/Button-Based Chatbots
First up, let’s start with menu/button-based chatbots. Have you ever interacted with a chatbot that presented you with a set of options or buttons to choose from? That’s a menu/button-based chatbot !
These types of chatbot are great for getting quick answers and completing simple tasks. They offer a menu of options to guide you through the conversation.
How They Work
Do you remember when you’re on a website looking for customer support? Instead of waiting for an email response or calling a helpline, you click on a chatbot icon. The chatbot greets you with, “Hi there! How can I assist you today?” and present you with options like “Track Order,” “Product Information,” or “Return Policy.” You simply click on the relevant button, and the chatbot provides you with the information you need. It’s fast, efficient, and incredibly user-friendly.
In a nutshell, menu based chatbots are like picking answers from a menu. You see options, like buttons or a list, and choose what you need. The chatbot then gives you information or helps you do something based on your choice.
Use Cases and Applications
Menu/button-based chatbots are commonly utilized for a variety of tasks:
1. Customer Support: These chatbots help you navigate support options through a series of buttons. For example, you might press a button to check the status of an order, find troubleshooting steps for a product, or connect with a live agent.
2. Order Processing: In e-commerce, menu-based chatbots can guide you through placing an order. You can select categories like “Electronics” or “Clothing” and then choose specific items to add to their cart, review their order, and proceed to checkout. These chatbots make it so easy. Easy like a piece of cake.
3. Appointment Scheduling: These chatbots simplify booking appointments by offering date and time options. For instance, you can select a service like “Dental Checkup” and then choose from available dates and times to book an appointment.
4. FAQ Inquiries: Menu-based chatbots provide quick answers to almost all your frequently asked questions. You can click buttons like “Shipping Information,” “Return Policy,” or “Account Settings” to get instant answers without typing out your questions.
So, the next time you encounter one, give it a go and see how it simplifies your interaction.
Linguistic Based (Rule-Based) Chatbots
Linguistic-based chatbots are also known as rule-based chatbots. More often than not, these chatbots work on ‘if-then’ algorithms. These rely on a specific set of keywords and phrases to understand your query and generate responses likewise.
Think of them like a really helpful FAQ section that can have a conversation!
Here’s how they work:
Rule-based chatbots use pattern matching to identify keywords and phrases in your inputs and a rule engine with predefined rules to determine the correct response.
For example, if you ask “What are your store hours?”The chatbot looks for keywords like “store hours” to give you the right information. They follow a decision tree, like a flowchart, to find the most appropriate response. For instance, if you ask about product availability, the bot might first check if the product is in stock, then provide details about shipping options if available.
So, when you interact with these chatbots, they use pattern matching, a rule engine, and a decision tree to provide precise and helpful answers.
Use cases and applications of linguistic-based chatbots:
Linguistic-based chatbots are versatile tools with several practical applications:
Information Retrieval: Just by recognizing keywords in your queries, they can fetch details about products, services, or any other relevant information stored in their system. You can ask questions like “What are your services?” or “Which doctors are available today?” and receive accurate responses within an instant.
Appointment Scheduling: Linguistic-based chatbots can assist you with scheduling appointments efficiently. By understanding phrases like “I need to book a check-up for next week,” the bot can check the calendar for available slots and confirm appointments according to predefined rules.
So now you know that linguistic-based chatbots provide a reliable solution for automating routine tasks and provide quick answers. Not just this, they also enhance customer service and operational efficiency in various business contexts.
Keyword Recognition-Based Chatbots
Keyword recognition-based chatbots operate by identifying specific keywords or phrases in your input to generate responses.They work like virtual detectives, scanning your messages for keywords that trigger appropriate actions or responses.
This approach allows them to swiftly address common queries and provide accurate information based on the identified keywords.
Here’s how Keyword Recognition-Based Chatbots work:
So let’s say you input the message “What time do you open on Friday?”, the chatbot starts scanning for the keywords “time,” “open,” and “Friday.” Recognizing these key terms, it provides the relevant information about the operating hours on Friday.
Use Cases and Applications of Keyword Recognition-Based Chatbots
Keyword recognition-based chatbots can be incredibly useful in a variety of ways.
Customer Support: Since chatbots are fantastic at quickly handling common customer questions 34% of consumers find chatbots really useful. For instance, if you ask the chatbot about returning a defective item, the bot detects keywords like “return,” “defective,” or “exchange,” and offers instructions on initiating a return process or contacting customer service for further assistance.
Information Retrieval: Many businesses rely on these types of chatbot to get specific information or resources for users. Whether it’s product details, company policies, or troubleshooting guides, these chatbots deliver accurate info fast, making the user experience much smoother.
Interactive Marketing: A keyword recognition-based chatbot can also be used for interactive marketing campaigns. For instance, a fashion brand deploys them. By recognizing keywords related to fashion preferences or style choices, such as “summer dresses” or “casual wear,” the chatbot can personalize recommendations and promotions accordingly. For instance, it can suggest new arrivals or offer personalized discounts based on user interests, enhancing engagement and increasing conversion rates.
Overall, keyword recognition-based chatbots make customer support more efficient, improve how easily information can be accessed, and make marketing efforts more engaging.
Machine Learning Chatbots
Machine learning chatbots are a whole new level of awesome. They use the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to understand and respond to user queries. With machine learning chatbots, you won’t feel like you’re chatting to a chatbot after a while because these can recall your past convo and anticipate your next move.
Unlike rule-based or keyword recognition-based chatbots that stick to predefined rules or patterns, these chatbots are dynamic learners. They continuously learn from user interactions, getting better and better at answering questions.
Here’s how they work:
- Machine learning chatbots need a large amount of training data, such as past conversations, to learn from. And they use natural language processing (NLP) to understand user inputs. They do this by analyzing sentence structures and keywords. Then, they recognize user intent to determine what the user wants to achieve. Finally, they generate appropriate responses either through predefined templates or by creating new ones using machine learning algorithms.
Machine learning chatbots have many uses in different industries:
Customer Support: These types of chatbot excel in handling customer inquiries, providing detailed product information, and assisting with common issues. They offer quick resolutions and can learn from each interaction to improve response accuracy and efficiency over time.
E-commerce: In e-commerce, machine learning chatbots can help customers find products by understanding preferences and suggesting items based on past behavior or current interests.
Healthcare: Machine learning chatbots are increasingly utilized in healthcare settings. They can perform tasks such as scheduling appointments, answering basic medical queries, and offering general health advice.
Finance: Within the financial sector, chatbots assist users with various financial tasks. They can check account balances, facilitate money transfers, provide investment suggestions based on user profiles, and even offer personalized financial advice.
Hybrid Model Chatbots
Hybrid model chatbots are a fusion of different chatbot types. These integrate both rule-based and machine learning elements. This approach harnesses the strengths of both techniques to create chatbots that are advanced and adaptable.
These types of chatbot rely on machine learning algorithms to learn from user interactions and enhance their responses over time. This adaptive capability allows them to handle more complex and varied queries as they accumulate knowledge.
How They Operate:
Hybrid model chatbots start analyzing user input using rule-based algorithms to identify patterns and predefined rules. If the input matches a known pattern or fits within predefined rules, the chatbot delivers an appropriate response based on those guidelines.
However, when faced with input that doesn’t align with pre-established rules, the chatbot applies machine learning techniques to interpret the user’s intent and generate a suitable response.
Applications:
Hybrid model chatbots are versatile and effective because they combine rule-based systems with machine learning. Here are some examples:
Customer Service
Imagine you contact a company’s support team to ask about their return policy. The chatbot quickly provides the return policy details from its pre-programmed responses. If you ask a more complex question, like how to return a product bought overseas, the chatbot uses machine learning to understand and find the best answer.
E-commerce
You visit an online store and want recommendations for a new laptop. The chatbot can immediately suggest popular models based on your browsing history and preferences. If you ask a detailed question about the laptop’s compatibility with specific software, the chatbot uses its learning capabilities to provide a relevant answer.
Healthcare
If you’re using a health app to get information about managing diabetes, these types of chatbot can offer basic tips and guidelines from a preset database. If you ask about the latest research on diabetes treatments, the chatbot can search through recent studies and provide a more nuanced response.
Travel Booking
Let’s say you’re planning a vacation and need help booking flights and hotels. The chatbot can show you a list of available flights and hotels based on your criteria. If you ask for recommendations on activities in a specific city, the chatbot uses its learning algorithm to suggest popular tourist spots and local experiences.
In summary, hybrid chatbots are effective because they can handle straightforward tasks quickly and adapt to more complicated inquiries. This balance makes them a powerful tool in various fields, enhancing user experience and satisfaction.
Voice Bots
Voice bots are a fascinating type of chatbots that engages users through spoken language rather than text-based communication. They utilize advanced voice recognition technology to comprehend and respond to users’ voice commands, providing a seamless and intuitive user experience. Here’s a detailed look at how voice bots operate and their diverse applications:
Here’s how they work:
Voice bots use automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology to convert audio input into text format. After this, natural language processing (NLP) algorithms analyze the text to discern the user’s intent and extract pertinent information. Finally, text-to-speech (TTS) technology converts the bot’s responses back into spoken language for the user, and completes the interaction cycle.
Applications and Use Cases:
Voice bots find practical applications across various industries, including:
Customer Service: They effectively manage customer inquiries, deliver support, and offer personalized recommendations, enhancing customer satisfaction.
Virtual Assistants: Popular voice-activated virtual assistants such as Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant leverage voice bot technology to execute tasks like setting reminders, playing music, or providing weather updates.
Healthcare: Voice bots assist patients by scheduling appointments, issuing medication reminders, or answering general health-related queries, thereby improving healthcare accessibility.
Smart Homes: Integrated into smart home devices, these types of chatbot enable users to control connected appliances like lights or thermostats through simple voice commands, enhancing convenience.
Automotive: In-car voice bots facilitate hands-free interaction with infotainment systems, allowing drivers to make calls, send messages, or navigate routes safely while driving.
Chatbot builder
As the demand for chatbots rises, so does the need for user-friendly platforms that can enable businesses to create their own chatbots without requiring coding expertise.
Chatbot builder with its no-code solutions offer a variety of features and capabilities designed to simplify the process of building and deploying chatbots for various purposes.
Here’s a breakdown of what you should know about this platform:
No Coding Required: Chatbot builder eliminates the need for coding knowledge, making it accessible for individuals with limited technical skills to create their own chatbots.
Drag-and-Drop Interface: This platform typically features a user-friendly interface where users can design chatbot workflows by simply dragging and dropping elements onto a canvas.
Pre-Built Templates: Chatbot Builder provides pre-built templates that can be personalized to meet specific business needs. These templates serve as starting points, offering a framework for quickly and efficiently creating chatbots.
Integration Capabilities: Chatbot Builder includes integration capabilities, allowing users to connect their chatbots with other tools or platforms such as CRM systems, customer support software, or social media platforms.
Analytics and Reporting: Chatbot Builder offers analytics and reporting features that provide insights into the chatbot’s performance, user interactions, and other metrics. This data helps businesses identify areas for improvement and optimize the chatbot’s effectiveness.
Continuous Improvement: This platform supports ongoing refinement and enhancement of chatbots over time. Users can analyze user feedback, identify pain points, and make adjustments to enhance the overall user experience.
Chatbot Builder provides a convenient solution for businesses seeking to leverage the benefits of chatbots without the need for extensive development resources or technical expertise. Chatbot Builder offers robust features such as drag-and-drop interfaces, customizable templates, and seamless integrations across various industries.
Conclusion
When choosing a chatbot, it’s essential to consider your business’s specific needs and the capabilities of different chatbot types. Each type of chatbot has its strengths and weaknesses, so selecting the right one can significantly impact the effectiveness of your chatbot solution.
Remember, choosing the right type of chatbot is key to maximizing its benefits for your business!
