Guide to building vs. buying an AI Agent for customer service
This guide will help you assess the build vs buy question from 5 main angles so you can make a confident, informed decision.
Learn MoreIn today’s world, we’re more connected than ever. When communicating with a friend, we may send them a social media reel, receive a message back via text, and then pick up the phone to continue the conversation.
When it comes to customer service, we’re seeing similar trends. People want to connect with businesses on every channel available — and they want to be remembered when they do. It’s the omnichannel experience customers expect, and it’s up to companies to make it happen.
How exactly? Simply put, AI.
Since traditional omnichannel strategies often fall short, AI is how you transform omnichannel customer service in 2024 — delivering seamless, personalized experiences that impress customers and drive loyalty.
It’s time to find out why AI is the ultimate wingman for your omnichannel customer service strategy.
Remember the days when "omnichannel" meant having a website, a phone number, and maybe a Facebook page? Those quaint times are long gone. Today's consumers are digital natives, bouncing between channels faster than you can say "customer satisfaction."
And they expect brands to keep up, delivering consistent, personalized experiences whether they're tweeting, texting, or talking to a live chat at 3AM.
Problem is, traditional customer support models rely heavily on human agents. An effective omnichannel approach is next to impossible — you’d need hundreds of support agents to offer real-time and personalized responses across all channels. You can try, but it will likely lead to pain points, including long wait times, inconsistent experiences, and frustrated customers.
Then there’s chatbots , a step in the right direction, but often too rigid and limited to handle complex queries.
AI agents on the other hand — we're talking sophisticated algorithms that can understand context, learn from interactions, and improve over time — is the omnichannel secret weapon. It’s helping businesses transform their omnichannel strategies from a jumbled mess of disconnected touchpoints into a symphony of seamless interactions.
One of AI's (many) superpowers is its ability to unify data across channels, creating a single, coherent view of each customer. No more siloed information or repetitive conversations.
We've entered the era of AI agents, and it's a whole new ballgame. These intelligent systems combine the best of both worlds — the efficiency of automation with the nuanced reasoning capabilities of human agents.
An AI agent can instantly access a customer's full profile, regardless of where previous interactions took place, and they can handle a vast array of queries across multiple channels, learning and improving with each interaction.
Here's where things get really exciting. AI doesn't just unify channels, it supercharges them with hyper-personalization. By analyzing vast amounts of data, the AI agent can tailor each interaction to the individual customer, taking into account their preferences, purchase history, and even their current mood (yes, sentiment analysis is that good now).
Imagine a customer’s browsing your website for running shoes. They abandon their cart, but later reach out on Facebook Messenger with a question. The AI agent pulls up their browsing history, and not only answers their question but also offers a personalized discount on the shoes they were considering.
That's the kind of seamless, personalized experience that turns casual browsers into loyal brand advocates. AI makes this level of personalization possible at scale, across all channels.
One of the most powerful aspects of using AI omnichannel customer service is its ability to learn and improve over time. Unlike static systems, AI platforms continuously analyze interactions, identify patterns, and refine their responses.
This means that your omnichannel strategy becomes smarter with every customer interaction. The AI learns which responses are most effective, which channels customers prefer for different types of queries, and even predicts potential issues before they arise.
For example, an AI system might notice a spike in support tickets related to a particular product feature. It can automatically notify the support team and request more information about how to handle these inquiries, or even suggest improvements to the process or product itself. This kind of adaptive intelligence is what separates good omnichannel experiences from truly great ones.
The benefits for end-users are immense. No more waiting on hold for simple questions. No more lost context between interactions. Instead, they get instant, personalized support that adapts to their needs and preferences.
91% of consumers are more likely to shop with brands that recognize, remember, and provide them with relevant offers and recommendations.
- Coniq
More specifically, going omnichannel will provide a customer experience that’s:
For businesses, the advantages are equally compelling. AI omnichannel solutions dramatically reduce costs, increase efficiency, and free up human agents to focus on complex, high-value interactions. Plus, the insights gained from AI analysis can drive improvements across the entire organization, from product development to marketing strategies.
Now, you might be thinking, "This all sounds great, but implementing AI omnichannel customer service must be a massive undertaking, right?" Here's the good news: with the right AI agent , it's surprisingly straightforward.
Modern AI platforms are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing systems, requiring minimal disruption to your current operations. They can often be up and running in a matter of weeks — days in some cases. And because they're self-learning, they continuously improve without requiring constant tweaking and maintenance.
The key is choosing a platform that offers true omnichannel capabilities, robust AI features, and the flexibility to adapt to your specific business needs. Look for solutions that provide:
AI is not just enhancing omnichannel customer service, it's completely redefining what's possible.
By unifying data across channels, delivering personalized experiences at scale, and continuously learning and improving, AI is enabling businesses to create truly seamless customer experiences.
The benefits are clear: happier customers, more efficient operations, and a competitive edge in an increasingly crowded marketplace. As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more innovative applications in the omnichannel space.
For businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve, embracing AI omnichannel customer service isn't just an option — it's a necessity. The future of customer service is here, and it's powered by artificial intelligence. Are you ready to make the leap?
Explore what capabilities AI agent platforms need to unlock the omnichannel experiences customers crave.
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