A Roadmap For Using AI In e-Commerce

Need to bring AI into your e-commerce customer care strategy this year? Here's our tried and tested roadmap for implementing artificial intelligence.

Hi, I’m Jack, CEO at Gnatta. The marketing team recently asked me to contribute to their content plan – who’s doing who’s job, here? – and after a brief consideration it occurred to me that there was a topic I was interested in.

The same topic everyone is interested in, right now. Artificial intelligence. Today’s angle? Blending strategy with a touch of panache to help e-commerce businesses implement AI in their customer service operations.

Creating a strong business plan – a roadmap for success – is going to be critical in bringing that AI strategy to fruition. Here’s how I’d go about it.

roadmap

Identify the Repetitive Drudgery:

Let’s imagine you’re in charge of an e-commerce brand, which means juggling a myriad of customer inquiries, from order status checks to return requests and product inquiries. These common, repetitive inquiries often flood your customer service inbox, consuming valuable time and resources. Imagine your agents spending hours each day answering the same questions, like a broken record stuck on repeat. It’s clear that these mundane tasks are prime candidates for automation, freeing up your team to focus on more complex customer needs and delivering a superior service experience.

Dabble in Automation:

Now that we’ve identified the pain points, let’s ease into the world of automation. Start by implementing basic chatbots on your e-commerce website. These virtual assistants can greet customers, answer frequently asked questions, and provide assistance with common tasks like tracking orders or initiating returns. Picture a customer landing on your website and immediately engaging with a chatbot to inquire about shipping times – it’s like having a 24/7 support agent at their fingertips. By automating these routine interactions, you streamline the customer journey and improve operational efficiency.

Elevate with Conversational AI:

As your customers become accustomed to the convenience of chatbots, it’s time to level up with conversational AI. Imagine a scenario where a customer, let’s call her Sarah, reaches out with a query about product recommendations for an upcoming event. Instead of sifting through pages of options, Sarah engages with a virtual assistant powered by AI. This AI buddy analyzes her past purchases, style preferences, and event details to suggest the perfect ensemble – all within seconds. It’s like having a personal shopper right in the palm of her hand. By harnessing the power of conversational AI, you elevate the customer experience to new heights, delivering tailored recommendations and personalized assistance that resonate with your audience.

Fine-Tune Your AI Arsenal:

With your AI squad gaining traction, it’s crucial to fine-tune their capabilities. For instance, you notice that your chatbot struggles with nuanced inquiries about product specifications. By providing targeted feedback and refining its training data, you enhance its ability to handle such queries with precision. Similarly, your conversational AI may require adjustments to better understand customer intents and deliver more accurate responses. Through continuous iteration and refinement, you ensure that your AI arsenal remains sharp and effective, providing seamless support to your customers at every touchpoint.

Unleash the Power of LLMs:

Now, let’s talk about levelling up with LLMs – large language models – like ChatGPT. Imagine a scenario where a customer, John, encounters a technical issue with his order. Instead of generic troubleshooting steps, John engages with an AI-powered support agent that not only understands his problem but also provides tailored solutions based on his order history and preferences. Talk about a seamless customer experience! LLMs excel at understanding natural language and generating contextually relevant responses, allowing you to deliver hyper-personalized support that delights your customers. Whether it’s resolving complex issues or providing product recommendations, LLMs empower your customer service team to exceed expectations and build lasting relationships with your audience.

 

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Does it work?

We’ve helped many clients implement successful AI strategies – but one size never fits all. Do you think it can be as simple as this roadmap? Tell us what you think – and maybe inspire the next thought leadership article from Team Gnatta!

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