Business owners are increasingly exploring how they could bring artificial intelligence (AI) into workflows.

One area of particular interest is customer satisfaction. AI can reduce or eliminate the friction people encounter before buying things. It can also minimize issues that could frustrate customers and cause them to look elsewhere to meet their needs.

Keep Shelves Full

If people arrive at stores intending to buy specific things and find those items out of stock, they will feel frustrated and may leave without buying anything. Such events harm customer satisfaction and can reduce a retailer’s profits. However, some use AI to prevent empty shelves.

Many options are image-based tools that can scan shelf spaces to look for sold-out and low-stock items, thereby boosting customer satisfaction. AI can also detect other abnormalities, such as products in the wrong places or outdated pricing information. In fact, experts expect spending on AI technologies will double to $300 billion globally by 2026. 

Some AI-based tools also track when products arrive in the stockroom but are not yet on shelves. Such information can guide conversations between sales floor workers and customers, particularly if shoppers want to know how long they will need to wait for a restock.

Resolve Customers’ Issues

Artificial intelligence has also become part of many call centers. Some advanced products can detect when customers are getting more frustrated and provide agents with prompts to sound more empathetic or otherwise soothe callers. However, some managers use technology to reduce workers’ agency. That is often problematic because even the most advanced AI tools typically cannot match what experienced employees have learned through all their real-life experiences.

What is the best way to apply this technology to improve customer satisfaction? Tech team learn from the best Artificial Intelligence course and use AI tools to work well on handling quick, non-complex queries. For example, a person might use a chatbot to track a package or reorder something they have previously bought.

Regarding solving issues, customer-facing artificial intelligence products are most appropriate for directing users to agents with relevant knowledge, speeding the overall resolution. Additionally, many chatbots prompt customers to select their issue from a list of several provided options. After it processes the response, it may provide links to relevant help documentation pages. Then, the person could find the necessary assistance without engaging with an agent.

Increase Product Enjoyment

Although online shopping offers many conveniences, some people get overwhelmed by the vast assortment of choices. E-commerce sites often have AI working in the background to guide people toward the most appropriate items. Chatbots that understand questions and provide recommendations are conversational AI examples increasingly deployed to assist shoppers. A customer might see specific items based on what they have previously purchased or how much they typically spend at the online store during each visit.

Other AI products use a common cross-selling technique, showing people items that complement what is already in their carts. Many of them are products individuals will likely need to purchase eventually. However, if artificial intelligence can convince people to buy them now, those shoppers feel more satisfied because they will maximize their overall enjoyment of the item.

Consider an example where you need to buy a new tent and are browsing the options on an e-commerce site. In an attempt to raise customer satisfaction, AI might also recommend purchasing a sleeping bag and camping pad, pointing out many other shoppers have done the same. You might decide that is a good idea, especially since you have never owned a camping pad and your bag is several years old.

AI-powered product prompts can also increase customer confidence. Maybe you always intended to buy a sleeping bag and pad with your tent but felt uncertain due to all the brands, options, and features. Artificial intelligence can display the top-rated accessories, helping you feel you are making a good decision by going with those options.

Help Customers Visualize Outcomes

Many people in customer-facing roles know the importance of presenting products or services to reduce individuals’ pain points and help them anticipate better possibilities. That is why sales-based online content often poses a problem and positions an item or company as the solution. People feeling swamped while trying to fit house cleaning into all their other responsibilities can easily imagine how much hiring someone to handle the tidying up would ease the burden.

Similarly, stores such as IKEA have elaborate setups mimicking a home’s rooms. People can lie down on beds or sit at desks before deciding to buy them. The in-store displays also help shoppers see the enticing results of combining several of a brand’s products. Since these efforts get people excited, they can also increase customer satisfaction. AI can do the same when enterprises invest in interactive tools.

In one instance, Walmart is working on a room-redecorating tool that combines generative AI and augmented reality. Once someone uploads a picture of the space they want to redo, the technology will capture images of everything in the room. People can also specify their budgets. Next, the AI places items in the room, showing users the potential results. As people check out the results, they can tell the AI which things they like and want to buy.

Increase Personalization And Relevance

Marketing professionals know the challenges of making items relevant to multiple demographic groups. Although high school students and retirees buy some of the same products, their reasons for doing so may differ drastically. Fortunately, AI can process huge quantities of information, finding the patterns that lead to greater relevance for anyone involved. Dive into the power of AI Avatar for enhanced insights and personalized experiences.

Organizations in the education industry often take this approach to customize a student’s learning content. Once the algorithms gauge the concepts someone already knows well, the program may adapt to target the more difficult topics.

When marketers use email for outreach, they may rely on AI to group prospects based on purchase history, previous interactions with a website, and other factors. That approach can result in consumers receiving messages that are most likely to cause positive reactions.

When someone receives a highly relevant message, they are more likely to feel valued and believe the company understands their needs. Imagine receiving an email from a health insurer advertising discounts on premiums for older adults when you are in your 20s — you would probably delete it quickly and probably feel a little annoyed. However, when content matches your preferences, goals, and needs, you will feel it is worth your time and want to check it out.

Conclusion

Raising customer satisfaction requires a comprehensive plan and a willingness to put in ongoing effort. However, these examples show how artificial intelligence can be a worthwhile tool for brands of all sizes and types.