Should You Build an AI Chatbot for Your Business

By now, you’ve already heard about how AI chatbots can help small business owners boost sales, increase customer retention, improve user experience and much more. But are you still not sure whether you need to build your own chatbot or whether purchasing one from a third-party solution makes more sense. After all, how can a chatbot platform help your business if it isn’t able to seamlessly integrate with your e-commerce site?

However, with impressive, highly customizable AI chatbot platforms entering the arena every day with capabilities that are perfectly matched to the needs of numerous businesses across virtually all industries, it doesn’t hurt to look at chatbot pricing and see if an existing platform can offer the solutions you seek.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when deciding whether to buy an existing AI chatbot platform or build your own:

Is the problem I’m trying to solve unique to my business?

Depending on the product or service you sell online, the answer very well may be yes. Business owners with an incredibly niche offering may find that they are unable to find an existing chatbot platform that truly meets their needs.

However, if you are looking for a solution to a problem faced by many, if not all e-commerce businesses, such as increasing sales engagement, answering customer queries or providing customer service support, a third-party AI chatbot platform should more than cover your needs.

Can I afford this solution?

AI chatbot platforms are available in a broad range of price points, meaning that it is entirely possible to find one that fits your budget. By keeping your main objectives for having a chatbot in mind and researching chatbot pricing, you can certainly find one that is just right for you.

The same can’t always be said about building your own AI chatbot platform, which more often than not involves hiring someone who specializes in building them—resulting in a price tag that may be significantly higher than a chatbot you could have bought from a third-party vendor. Of course, there’s always the DIY route which could save you a bundle, but if you don’t have a solid background in computer programming, the results could fall far short of your expectations.

Are there available providers who can solve my problem?

Once again, unless you have an extremely specific need to be met with your AI chatbot, the answer is a resounding yes. Chatbots are exceptional solutions for common problems faced by e-commerce retailers, such as the need for 24/7 customer support or the desire for enhanced user experience. Finding a chatbot to handle these tasks efficiently is not going to be difficult. Just be sure to research third-party solutions thoroughly and pay attention to chatbot pricing and capabilities before making your final decision.

Whether you choose to build your own AI chatbot or buy an existing platform from a third-party vendor, adding this solution to your website can help you improve your conversion rate and increase customer retention. It’s time to join the wave of the future and put an AI chatbot to work for your small business!