Are Bots The Future Of Sales?

Bots, while still a somewhat controversial topic, are essential in allowing businesses to more easily adapt to these ever-changing conditions within a market, as well as to further collect and interpret relevant data in a way that is effective for businesses.

But, is it beyond a shadow of a doubt that bots are the future of sales? Mostly anyone will tell you ‘yes’. But that doesn’t mean the answer is as simple as a three-letter word. Let’s break down what bots are, how they can help you augment your sales, and why so many believe they are the future of sales.

What Are Bots?

To put it simply: bots are merely a rule-based piece of application software. This software is programmed to seamlessly carry out repetitive tasks. Once certain instructions are written into this software, it can complete said tasks with such ease that it creates the illusion that the application software is incredibly complex.

We mentioned earlier that the need for information and communication is growing in the most aggressive manner imaginable. The beauty in implementing bots comes in because of the number of tasks they can perform, and the rate at which these tasks are executed.

Chatbots

Chatbots are the latest AI technology to be gaining traction. Chatbots are, in essence, software designed specifically to filter keywords and interpret user text. This is made possible as the software interprets said text and keywords against a database of information. The chatbot can then respond to users in a way that mimics natural language, making for as seamless an exchange one can hope to achieve through texting a robot.

The Need for Speed

Consider also that communication is at an all-time high (and getting higher still), allowing for longer and more powerful relationships with customers. This coupled with staggering ease of access means the expectations of consumers will rise to meet this convenience. In other words, business development leaders and sales leaders will need to meet these expectations as they continue to rise.

According to Customer Think, 67% of consumers expect businesses to respond to them within a 24-hour window. This was reported in 2017. One can only assume that this percentage is likely to grow if technology and the ways in which technology influences businesses continues along its current trajectory. And, unless there is a sudden and unprovoked nuclear apocalypse lurking around the corner, rest assured that it will.

What’s more, in 2017, Chatbots Magazine reported that more than 50% of businesses still take five days or longer to respond to leads, meaning that those who use chatbots definitely had a customer service edge to them.

Why the craze?

Why is it predicted that by 2020, 80% of businesses will want to get in on all this bot action?

Well, it’s simple – bots deliver results. If you take a look at the strides Facebook has made implementing bots via messaging platforms, it is safe to assume that most people don’t care if they are talking to a bot, so long as their issue is being resolved. According to Forbes, Tommy Hilfiger has seen an 87% return rate on customers, through utilizing bots.

The Caveat?

We mentioned earlier that almost everyone agrees on bots, in some way, being the future of sales. However, there are things sales teams, and leaders should keep in mind when dealing with customers, regardless of robots taking over sales in the near future or not.

For one, robots don’t buy your services… people do. That said, closing deals will tend to require something of a ‘human touch’, depending on the service you are selling.

Consider also that markets are always evolving, and customers’ needs will continue to shift. Sometimes these changes can’t be fixed or addressed by a piece of software no matter how cleverly written. You are dealing with human beings, after all.

Read more on some of the ways only humans can cater to prospects and customers here.

Conclusion

On one side of the fence, you have business leaders screaming ‘bots are the answers to all our prayers’. On the other side, business leaders are throwing bots under the bus. But perhaps the answer lies somewhere in between. With the speed of communication and the need for information growing at alarming rates, it is impossible to ignore bots (and chatbots) and the positive effects they can have on your business. That said, it is also important to understand there are certain human touches that need to be included often times when, for instance, closing a deal.

A chatbot might help you direct a prospect to a particular page on your website with no issues. But a chatbot can hardly consult with a prospect, all the while soothing pain points with a profusion of charisma.

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