A Facebook Messenger Bot is a program designed to utilize artificial intelligence (machine learning) to interact with others on the social network. In simple terms, a bot is software designed to execute various automated tasks without actually having to understand or comprehend what they're being told. In other words, this new form of automation is similar to a robot that can perform specific actions without actually being taught how. Bots can be used by individuals or businesses for various purposes. However, one aspect about Messenger Bots is that they do not have a very good vocabulary and they generally only accept a small number of commands before they stop working.
This is why it's important for businesses and individuals to work with businesses that offer Facebook Messenger Bot services. There are several different types of these programs that businesses can purchase and use. Some examples include:
In the previous example, the bot was a webhook script. A webhook is a small script that can be placed on a website so that a user can have easy access to it when they connect to the internet. The Facebook Messenger Bot uses the webhook as a way to automate a variety of different interactions with the social network. For instance, the bot would use the webhook to set up a conversation and then save the user's message so that it can be viewed by the recipient if the user so chooses.
This form of automated messaging has many advantages over traditional customer service representatives that work off of voice broadcast systems. Voice broadcast systems generally require agents to record their voice, then they have to transcribe what they've just said into text. Users generally find this very difficult to listen to and then type into their computer. The other major disadvantage of using this method is that it can take up a lot of time for agents to properly deliver messages. Messenger Bot allows agents to directly talk to customers so that their messages get to their recipients almost immediately.
Another advantage of using this form of messaging is that a business doesn't have to pay anything to use the software or hire someone to manage it. There are a variety of different software programs that allow businesses to create their own software programs that work just like they do with customer service agents. Messenger Bot is one of these programs. Messenger Bot also provides a webhook that allows businesses to connect to their Facebook account. This allows users to chat through the Messenger Bot in Facebook chat rooms, groups, and events.
The primary disadvantage of using conversational customer service programs such as Messenger Bot is that many people feel that they aren't receiving personalized service. If the customer service representative isn't talking to the person, it can make the interaction quite poor. The user may feel that the agent isn't listening or isn't giving them much attention. If this is a problem, the user may end up canceling the service or leaving the company because of the poor service.
With all of the positive feedback from Facebook users, it's easy to see how Messenger Bot has made an impact on businesses. Facebook is already a huge site and making communication easier for customers has helped increase traffic for websites. The bot store allows businesses to reach out to a new and different group of potential customers. The ability to interact with customers is much better than having customers call an 800 number or write down a number on a piece of paper. Having a form online that allows a business to speak to potential customers has improved interactions between businesses and their customers.
The success of the Facebook messenger bot has made it easy for smaller businesses to compete with larger companies. Smaller companies may not have the marketing budget to launch big campaigns, but they can still make their businesses seem more personal to potential customers by using Messenger Bots. The bots are also helping customer service representatives that need to make contact with a potential customer without actually leaving their desk.