Has it ever happened to you that you open a messenger chat or a website, and a dialogue box appears with the aim of starting a conversation? Many of you might have indulged with them and are happy with it. But have you ever wondered what it is and why it appears?
These are AI chatbots integrated into the website to engage visitors effectively and improve the conversion rate. Businesses are more inclined towards AI chatbot implementation because of its wide array of benefits. According to Forbes, 57% of companies believe that AI chatbots generate more return on investment (ROI).
But will merely having an AI chatbot do the trick for your business? No, you require the expertise of a leading custom AI chatbot development company to get your hands on an intelligent chatbot tailored to your unique needs. However, choosing an ideal AI chatbot development partner may be overwhelming due to the number of companies available.
This article will provide you with in-depth information about how you can hire an AI chatbot development company by following some simple steps.
8 Steps to Choose the Best AI Chatbot Development Company
If you are confused about how to start your AI chatbot partner search or how to choose the right chatbot development company, don’t worry. Follow these easy steps to hire a robust AI chatbot development company to increase customer engagement.
1. Define Business Goals & Audience
Every business is unique in terms of what it wants to achieve. You must have no doubts in your mind about AI chatbot development. You should have clear answers to what you want to accomplish with an AI chatbot solution, whether you want to increase customer engagement, drive customers through the sales funnel, or any other purpose.
Once you have a clear vision of what challenge you want to address with an AI chatbot, you must identify your targeted audience. Is it for the internal team, or is it for the website visitors? It will help you know the functionality and features of your chatbot.
You should also consider which platforms are suitable for deploying your AI chatbot. Should it be on social media handles or your website? You can make the decision depending on your audiences’ preferred channels.
2. Research AI Chatbot Development Companies
Conduct thorough research to determine which companies offer AI chatbot development services. You don’t need to rush the process. Take your time, as it will decide the future of your project.
You can use Google to search for keywords like AI chatbot development companies or AI chatbot development service providers. Alternatively, you can consider B2B reviewing platforms like Clutch and filter your searches according to your requirements, including budget, service needed, and organization place.
Another crucial way is to research social media handles. You should visit platforms like FaceBook, Linkedin, and others to search companies and get insights into their culture and environment. After this point, you will have many service providers on your list.
3. Evaluate their Expertise & Experience
Now that you have a list of companies to choose the best AI chatbot development company, you must evaluate their experience and expertise. One way to do so is by visiting their websites. Their website will give you insights into their experience and AI chatbot development expertise.
You can check their portfolio to know whether they have successfully delivered any project similar to yours. You can take this one step further to check whether they have successfully implemented AI chatbots in your business niche. You must also consider factors like whether they prioritize user experience and deliver scalable chatbot solutions.
4. Assess Chatbot Development Frameworks
Assessing chatbot development tools and frameworks is the most pivotal step to choosing the right chatbot development organization. Why? It will help you determine whether the frameworks or technologies they are using are modern and scalable.
Scalability matters a lot. Suppose your organization is making progress leaps and bounds. You need an AI chatbot solution that scales up with the growing organizational needs. Understandably, no one wants to invest repeatedly in chatbot development.
Moreover, chatbot development frameworks are crucial in assessing whether the AI chatbot will integrate smoothly with existing systems.
5. Client Testimonials & Reviews
Client Testimonials are another way of determining whether the shortlisted companies are worth considering. They provide insights about how the company has treated its past clients and their opinions after working with an AI chatbot development company. Moreover, they will help you understand the company’s reliability and credibility.
One way is to visit their websites. Their website will surely have a section for client reviews and testimonials. If you don’t find the section, you can check platforms like G2, Capterra, and Clutch. Another way is to contact the AI chatbot development organization for their references.
6. Openness to Communication
Don’t miss out on this essential step. Many businesses make the mistake of choosing the company with the most hype. The hype doesn’t indicate anything except the marketing of the company. You must consider whether they are open to communication and support transparency.
These factors will play a crucial role in the success of your project. When an AI chatbot development company keeps its clients aware of everything happening in the project and is open to communication, it saves itself and the client the necessary time and costs.
The client can provide timely suggestions and feedback to help the development team make the necessary changes.
7. Chatbot Development Cost & Timeline
Considering chatbot development costs is necessary before moving on. You must set a budget according to the complexity of AI chatbot features and functionality. Having a clear budget in mind will help you further shortlist companies.
We believe that the budget must be flexible and should not be the only deciding factor as the companies with more experience and expertise will go a little heavy on your pocket. You must ask the shortlisted development companies for their quotes. Moreover, consider the timeline of when they will develop and deploy chatbots on your preferred channels.
8. Post-Deployment Support
Merely developing an AI chatbot is not what you need. You must ask AI chatbot development companies about their post-development support and maintenance. Ongoing support is necessary for your AI chatbot to work optimally.
Take an example: if you live in a house, won’t it need renovation and upgrading after some years? Cracks will appear within the walls, and the paint will start to fade. The same is the case with AI chatbots.
Over time, they become less effective and need maintenance. With the advancement in technology, they also require upgradation to meet the expectations of your targeted audience.
Conclusion
AI chatbots are becoming essential for the growth of organizations. They enhance customer engagement, resolve their queries, and play a significant role in driving conversions. Businesses have realized their potential and are looking for an esteemed AI chatbot development company to leverage their expertise in developing modern AI chatbots.
However, finding a reliable company is tough, especially when you don’t know where to begin. Therefore, we have mentioned a step-by-step guide to help businesses hire a chatbot development company that will add value.