Some companies successfully outsource live chat in combination with a purpose-built chatbot for their business. While this is the ideal hybrid model, not all firms have the time or funds to build a bot from scratch.
Fortunately, WordPress offers a wide range of useful plugins for businesses. Today these include chatbots that handle client interactions 24/7. While they’re simpler than purpose-built applications, they may prove worth considering.
Read on for a round-up of the most popular plugins and what functions they can handle.
WP-Chatbot
Contents
WP-Chatbot uses native web chat or Facebook Messenger to speak to visitors to your site. It integrates into your website and Facebook business page with ease, and you can read any messages you receive in a central inbox.
The app is useful for answering simple client questions and generating leads.
The Pros
- One-click installation
- Centralized inbox
- Live chat
- Integrates with Facebook and Facebook Messenger
- Free package
The Cons
Some users complain that the app “takes over” your Messenger account. Others find that it could work better.
Tawk to Live Chat
Tawk.to is a free live chat plugin that includes a chatbot feature. It makes it easy to automate the answers to repetitive questions that clients ask. It is a simple bot, but it works well enough. The big upside is that it is completely free with no limits.
The Pros
- Easy to use
- Free
- Offers live chat for simple questions
The Cons
You get what you pay for, and the lack of features might frustrate some users.
Intercom
Intercom is a popular chatbot plugin that provides real-time support and helps businesses build relationships with their customers. It offers a variety of features, including chatbots, automated messages, and a knowledge base.
The Pros
- Advanced features
- Pay for what you use
- Outstanding support
- Reasonable starter packages
The Cons
There are no free packages with Intercom, but that is to be expected with a bot with these advanced features.
Acobot Live Chat & Contact Form
Acobot is a free chatbot plugin that can be integrated with your WordPress website. It uses artificial intelligence to provide automated support to your customers and helps to reduce the workload of your customer support team.
The company gives you a 15-day trial and thereafter charges you 0.60% of sales you make with the software. You also pay $9 a month as your service fee. It’s an innovative pricing model that means you don’t pay unless you make a sale.
The Pros
- Unusual pricing model based on a percentage of sales
- Good features
- Easy to set up and use
The Cons
The pricing can add up quickly if you have a sudden upsurge in sales. The bot itself could also use some improvements. It’s okay as is, but there is more it should be doing.
Alternate Support
While these plugins are good starter options, they are not a substitute for human support. Therefore, businesses should consider using a blend of bots and live consultants. This may mean having to outsource customer chat service if you do not have the capacity within your organization.
Conclusion
With recent successes in generative AI, we can expect a plethora of AI tools to come to the market. While these are useful, it’s worth noting that there is no substitute for the personal touch. It’s also worth noting that the customization options with these bots are limited,so they are more of a stopgap measure than a permanent solution.
Still, they are a useful way for companies to access technology that may otherwise be out of their reach. As long as you carefully research the available options, you should find one that is a good match for your needs.