Salsita launches an AI-powered 3D product configurator to meet the demands of an increasingly online-based economy. In today's competitive market, every eCommerce store is looking for the best solution to enhance customer experiences, acquisition, and - perhaps most importantly - retention. The company has incorporated conversational UI technology into its configurator to offer customers not only engaging but immersive shopping experiences.

The number of online shoppers has reached 2.71 billion this year and is projected to increase to 2.77 billion next year. Employing modern tech solutions such as conversational UI to create an interactive and seamless online shopping experience can position brands for success in the tech-driven world of eCommerce.

What is conversational UI?

A conversational user interface (CUI) allows customers to interact with a computer in a more natural language. This technology can enhance the online shopping experience by adapting to the customer's needs, making it more interactive and immersive. Unlike automated chatbots, especially rule-based ones, which have limited understanding and lack the empathy to respond to human emotions, the interface can provide customers with more intelligent, human-like responses.

Conversational UI Transforms the Product Customization Experience

Conversational UI extends beyond traditional chatbots. Matthew Gertner, Founder and CEO of Salsita, explains that the interface of their 3D product configurator enables users to "express their queries in their own words," eliminating the need to master a complex user interface. This approach removes common obstacles to mass personalization by using an AI assistant to simplify complex design tasks into direct conversations, making configuration user-friendly, even for first-time users.

With conversational UI, clients can provide the exact specifications they are looking for in a product. Gertner stated, "People are used to interacting with other people, not with machines. The tech needed an update to navigate the nuances of natural language." 3D product configurators were designed to imitate the shopping experience of talking to a human sales rep, paving the way for a more positive customer experience and better prospects for customer retention.

Revolutionizing User Interaction through AI and Conversational UI

Brands are continuously searching for new and more effective ways to sell customized products online. A product configurator allows users to modify a product based on their ideas so that the final customized product meets their expectations.

However, traditional configurators contain numerous features that few would describe as intuitive. This makes them tedious and challenging for users to navigate. Gertner identified the difficulties users encountered in the traditional method and recognized the potential of integrating conversational UI to transform the interaction, resulting in the development of the conversational configurator.

Conversational UI facilitates a more efficient shopping experience for consumers, enabling brands to connect with people in a more personal and meaningful manner. By leveraging its capabilities, Salsita empowers online shoppers to design their ideal products through conversation.

The 3D product configurator can eliminate the endless back-and-forth between users and sales representatives to achieve their desired product. The ability to engage in conversational configuration removes the hassle of sifting through lengthy product descriptions and FAQs, as it can provide direct answers to users. What Gertner describes as sifting through a 'Sea of Thumbnails,' users can grow fatigued with the process of filtering to find their desired specifications, but conversational UI eliminates this hassle by providing ideal product recommendations through a quick chat. Gertner delves more into current use and theorizes the potential way forward for CUI and how it will continue to be a major player in the evolving business landscape in his LinkedIn newsletter, Conversialize.

Salsita's Conversational Configurator Improves Customer Satisfaction and Engagement

Customers now expect more from brands as they seek interaction and connection with them. Statistics show that 68% of prospective customers leave due to perceived indifference. Building a good relationship starts with a good first impression but continues with positive and efficient interactions.

With the conversational configurator, Salsita has designed a solution for brands to improve customer satisfaction and overall engagement on the platform. This has proven particularly successful in part due to the real-time guidance and personalized assistance of CUI. The integration of more personalized interactions can reduce the frequency of abandoned products or shopping carts.

The conversational UI engages the customer with targeted questions to craft their ideal custom product in real-time. This approach helps brands create a more human, approachable experience for online shoppers, which can lead to higher customer engagement and revenue. The technology helps consumers feel confident and assured that the product they are investing in meets their personal list of criteria and can make the difference between simply 'adding to cart' and 'completing the purchase.'

"The conversational configurator simplifies the configuration process by turning it into a natural conversation," explained Matthew Gertner. This tool has already been successfully integrated by several clients, such as the high-end kitchen manufacturer L'Atelier Paris Haute Design. The CUI created by Salsita helps users design their kitchens according to their preferences and needs. Plus the interactive elements make for a fun and engaging experience, which in turn keeps prospective customer eyes 'on them' so to speak.

Salsita conducts extensive company and product data research so that it may design each solution as a company-specific configurator, enabling the conversational interface to give real-time recommendations and answers. The chatbot is pre-trained on the configurator's details, allowing it to provide accurate and relevant responses customized by brand.

Conclusion

As the retail market, especially eCommerce, rapidly embraces AI solutions into their business models, investing in technological advancements helps build confidence with investors. It assures them that businesses are not only keeping up with the changing landscape but also staying ahead of the curve in enhancing the consumer experience. It's not enough to have a chatbot anymore. Companies are being challenged to offer more customization in a digital and overcrowded market. With solutions like Salsita's 3D CUI configurator, brands are able to leave a deeper imprint on their online audience.

Salsita pushes the boundaries of eCommerce technology by integrating conversational AI across various product categories. Their growing team specializes in creating sophisticated 3D product configurators with integrated AI technology and a genuine conversational user interface.

Developed to meet the demands of an increasingly online economy, Salsita's conversational configurator redefines the landscape of direct-to-consumer eCommerce, allowing shoppers to design and customize their own products through human-like interactions. By combining conversational UI with product configuration, the shopping experience for online customers becomes more efficient, personal, and enjoyable.