It's the dawn of the chatbots as the artificial intelligence continues to be integrated into many of our favorite apps and messaging platforms. These computer programs can converse with users and complete human tasks via messages, replacing the need for customers to call 1-800 numbers to get a question answered or a problem resolved.
The AI software programs are being used to do everything from providing information like the news or the weather, to completing tasks like booking hotel rooms and even dishing out beauty tips.
Now, if you happen to have run out of gift ideas, this chatbot will help you out. Maybe your next favorite shopping companion, this bot will give you suggestions in a quest to help you find the perfect gift.
The Gift Bot API is developed by Columbus, Ohio-based gifting startup Jifiti. The startup has launched products since 2013, including a white label gift registry that is used by IKEA.
Jifiti's Gift Bot API is already available on multiple platforms, including Kik, Telegram and Slack, and now, the company announced on Tuesday its launch for Facebook Messenger.
Facebook previously announced in April the launch of Bot for Messenger, allowing companies to create their own chatbots for the messaging app to engage with users.
Jifiti's Gift Bot allows users to send and receive relevant gifts based on the company's content and bot recommendations. Retailers can either use the API to create a new bot for their company or use it to monetize on a preexisting bot.
Retailers add products to the API, and Jifiti's algorithms will automatically separate them by category and suggest specific options when talking to the shopper.
For the sender and recipient of a gift, this chatbot provides a personalized experience. Say you see on Facebook that it's your close friend's birthday. You can then message Jifiti to find the perfect gift for your friend.
The chatbot will ask for information, including the recipient's name, their gender, how old they are, how much you are willing to spend and the occasion. It then brings up suggestions from merchants that are partnered with the company, which includes retailers like Sephora, Best Buy, Game Stop and Amazon.
After finding the gift to buy, the chatbot asks for the recipient's email address, where they will be able to access the gift online as an eGift or accept the item to be shipped directly to them.
If the item is sent as an eGift, the recipient will then be able to choose their correct size if it is a piece of clothing by clicking on the link provided in the email. They also have the choice of using the virtual gift card for another item.
This chatbot API makes it even easier to shop online without having to visit and browse through multiple sites. Also, with conversational language, the chatbot makes users feel like they are chatting with their own personal assistant.
Retailers can request early access to the API to integrate chatbots on Facebook Messenger and other platforms by visiting Jifiti's website.
Source: Tech Crunch
