Take flight! 3 reasons to use an FAQ chatbot in your agency

With this in mind, we’re examining the value of FAQ chatbots in the travel industry. What are the real-world benefits of implementing chatbots? How can chatbots improve user experience? Will it make a discernible difference to your bottom line? 

Chatbot FAQs: AI or Scripted

If you’re asking the question “What is an FAQ Chatbot?” then you’re probably ready to automate some of the repetitive daily questions that your live agents and staff deal with.

Either AI or scripted chatbots can be used as FAQ Chatbots, although scripted bots are more common in marketing and customer support. These allow for straightforward automated conversations with customers, responding to frequently asked questions with a predefined answer based on the scripts they are programmed with. 

For example:

• What is your refund policy?
• How can I cancel my booking?
• What are your opening times?

A chatbot powered by artificial intelligence can answer more complex questions based on the format and information within your business.

If the FAQ chatbot cannot resolve a customer's query to their satisfaction, it will escalate the issue to a human agent for a live chat or a call. 

Exploring conversational AI is an exciting and cost-effective way to grow your organisation.

Real-World Benefits of FAQ Chatbots

Today’s technology has clearly shown us that manual tasks are a mug's game. If a machine can do something faster and more accurately than a human, then it makes sense to run with it. 

Therefore, your travel agency, hotel, or restaurant can use an FAQ chatbot to automate answers to some of its recurring questions. Customer service teams can spend an enormous amount of time and energy on these types of questions, which often involve repetitive, copy-and-paste responses that are better handled by automated software. When you take these mind-numbing tasks away from your people, you allow them to focus on giving their best in areas where they can make a real difference. You give them the time and the mental capacity to offer patient, diligent service, which is sadly lacking in our modern-day environment.

Businesses using FAQ chatbots aim to take the stress out of travel, offer enhanced experiences within hospitality, and assist customers in making smart decisions in record time, even when they're in a foreign place.

The Role of Chatbots in Customer Experience

Customer experience can make or break a business; this fact is clear. In fact, studies show that businesses that offer excellent customer service can outperform their competitors by 80 percent. 

This means that organisations must determine what their customers want and then do everything they can to support these requirements. 

Customers benefit from FAQ chatbots because they can quickly get the information they need without scrolling endlessly through FAQs or “holding the line”. This is a real plus in a world of short attention spans and instant gratification. 

Additionally, you can offer 24/7 service without increasing your staffing overheads by allowing customers to self-serve. So much of our lives happen on our mobile phones today, which often means that customers seek help at ridiculous hours - but your trusty FAQ chatbot will be there to assist even when live agents are unavailable.

Did you know that a surprising number of people prefer to access answers to their questions without human interaction? A customer may need assistance during inconvenient times or unsuitable locations, making quick and accurate automated services the best option. 

Chatbots Succeed in Boosting Your Bottom Line

Aside from faster turnaround times and happier customers, can FAQ Chatbots succeed in financially impacting your travel and leisure business? The data answers with a resounding Yes!

Edward, the Edwardian Hotel’s AI Chatbot, highlights some of the incredible financial benefits this smart software brings. Since its implementation, Edward has assisted guests with various topics such as upgrades, room service, hotel packages, departure times and more - approximately 1200 topics, in fact! This super-fast, hyper-personalised service has resulted in increased room service sales between 10 - 50 percent, and has managed enough queries to save the hotel's team around 95 working days. 

The developers of Rose, the resident Chatbot for luxury Las Vegas hotel, Cosmopolitan, took a slightly different road. This flirty and friendly chatbot was designed with a fascinating backstory and a huge personality, dubbed the Cosmopolitan Mischief Maker. Hotel management found that guests who interact with her spend over 37 percent more than those who don’t. 

These are exciting numbers, we’re sure you’ll agree!

Getting Started with Your Chatbot

Do you think an FAQ Chatbot can help you grow and future-proof your business? Based on the information you’ve just read, it makes sense. 

Whether you’d prefer a scripted chatbot or an AI chatbot, you can build it with the user-friendly software offered by CM.com. Make a start today and automate your conversations with an intelligent, personalised bot (without the need for coding) based on your team’s unique insights and easy-to-use templates.