Super. Revolutionary. Groundbreaking.

Leading The Way With AI Chatbots

That Creative Agency
Written by
That Creative Agency
Published on
25 August 2024

Summary

The use of AI Chatbots in New Zealand has risen dramatically over the past few years. More and more businesses, especially larger ones, are using them as standard practice. The primary use of these chatbots is for customer service purposes, providing inquirers with all of the necessary information they need to know. Artificial Intelligence is quickly becoming a common feature in these bots. AI is far more efficient and, if trained properly, can instantaneously answer any questions. 

The creative agency industry is one industry where AI chatbots have yet to be used. No creative agency website actively uses an AI chatbot. Instead, the industry-standard feature is an FAQ page, a contact page, and/or a ‘Services’ page explaining exactly what the agency provides. This whitepaper will examine the use of AI customer service chatbots, their benefits, and how they answer a key issue prospective clients will usually have

Office setting

As mentioned in the executive summary, AI customer service chatbots are slowly but surely becoming more common on company websites. As of August 2024, there are several sectors where these chatbots are utilised more and more. Research from NZTech shows that banking, insurance, and telecommunications are among the industries where AI chatbots are becoming prevalent. “The banks, insurance companies, Spark, Vodafone, energy companies and councils all have chatbots to deal with people’s inquiries” (NZTech, 2022). What is noticeable about these sectors is that they are all dominated by larger businesses/entities. Because of their size, many, if not all of them have the resources necessary to implement an AI chatbot effectively on their website. As a result, these companies can save time and money with a cost-effective resource that not only cuts out work needed by humans but raises productivity levels within that organisation.

Problem Definition:

Branding and marketing is a vital contributor to the financial viability of small and medium businesses. Often, however, day-to-day operations take precedence, leading to the focus of the SME owner being put on that instead. This leads to the marketing side of the business being neglected, which means a key opportunity to promote it gets missed. Consequently, whatever chance there was to increase a small business’ potential customer base (thus resulting in higher revenue) no longer happens. According to a study carried out by Constant Contact for SMEs across both New Zealand and Australia, “Marketing is the most likely activity ANZ SMBs will delay undertaking, with 13 per cent saying they always procrastinate on marketing tasks - the highest among all polled regions - and 46 per cent saying they “regularly” procrastinate. Fifty-nine per cent of local SMBs always or regularly procrastinate; the most among polled regions.” (Constant Contact, 2024)

For an SME with no idea who has never done any marketing before, it can be hard to know where to start. That is where creative agencies come in. “Creative agencies develop and implement imaginative solutions to help businesses increase brand awareness, better showcase products or services, and, ultimately, increase profits. These agencies may assist in branding, design, advertising and public relations.” (De Santiago, 2024) The various services these agencies provide can be immensely beneficial to SMEs and the needs they have. 

Creative agencies can help SMEs in a variety of ways. Some of these include the following:

  1. “Conducting market research
  2. Developing a marketing strategy
  3. Creating and executing advertising campaigns
  4. Providing public relations services
  5. Managing social media
  6. Developing a website
  7. Managing email marketing campaigns
  8. Managing offline marketing campaigns” (WOO Agency, 2023)

 

As already stated in the executive summary, it’s industry standard for creative agencies to provide a services or packages page. Being presented with all of that information has the potential to be overwhelming. An SME may not even know which service or package best suits its needs. That’s where an AI customer service chatbot comes in to help. 

Weekly newsletter
No spam. Just the latest releases and tips, interesting articles, and exclusive interviews in your inbox every week.
Read about our privacy policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Man working at desk

High Level Solution

At That Creative Agency, we have developed an AI-powered customer service chatbot named Emily. Integrated into our company website, Emily instantly answers prospective clients’ queries, such as what services the agency provides and what package suits them. Our new AI chatbot will be trained to answer prospective clients’ customer service inquiries. This will be done by providing relevant information (such as from our website’s FAQ section). Once Emily’s training is complete, we also intend to incorporate it into our agency’s onboarding process so it can answer specific questions by recommending specific packages that fit the needs of potential SME clients based on the questions asked. An AI chatbot can be classified as a disruptive innovation solution within the wider SME creative agency industry in New Zealand. No creative agency in New Zealand currently uses an AI customer service chatbot, regardless of the size or type of business they serve. Implementing one makes That Creative Agency a leader, providing a competitive advantage. 

Where Should I Fly?
Resend my booking confirmation
Check my Airpoints Dollars™ balance” (Air New Zealand, 2024)

The other well-known company that is implementing a unique AI-powered chatbot is Simplicity, which manages KiwiSaver funds and investments. Their bot, named Artie, provides customers with information about Simplicity’s services, just like Emily does for That Creative Agency. “Artie will appear on both our KiwiSaver and Investment funds websites and will answer questions online. Questions that cannot be immediately answered will be handled by our customer service team.” (Simplicity, 2018) These bots provide customers several benefits, giving these businesses a competitive advantage. Those benefits are exactly outlined in the dedicated section below.    

Solution Detail:

Emily, our AI-powered customer service chatbot, represents a groundbreaking shift in the way creative agencies interact with potential clients. In a market saturated with traditional approaches to customer engagement, Emily stands out as a cutting-edge solution tailored to meet the unique needs of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Header image

Why Choose Emily?

 

  • Tailored Interactions: Unlike static FAQ pages or generic service descriptions, Emily provides a dynamic and interactive experience. She is designed to understand and respond to individual client needs, offering personalised recommendations based on specific inquiries. This level of customisation ensures that clients receive the most relevant information, making the decision-making process easier and more efficient.

 

  • 24/7 Availability: In the fast-paced business world, potential clients seek information outside traditional working hours. Emily’s 24/7 availability ensures that TCA is always accessible, providing instant responses to queries at any time of day. This constant availability enhances customer satisfaction and increases the likelihood of converting inquiries into active projects.

 

  • Streamlined Onboarding: One of Emily’s standout features is her ability to guide clients through onboarding. By asking targeted questions, Emily can identify the most suitable services or packages for a client’s specific needs, simplifying what can often be a complex and overwhelming decision. This streamlined process saves the client time and helps TCA ensure that each project starts on the right foot.

 

  • Data-Driven Insights: Emily is not just a tool for client engagement but also a powerful data collection instrument. Every interaction with Emily provides valuable insights into client preferences and behaviour. TCA can leverage this data to refine service offerings, optimise marketing strategies, and improve overall client satisfaction. Emily’s continuous feedback loop ensures that TCA stays ahead of market trends and client expectations.

 

  • Competitive Advantage: In an industry where innovation is key, Emily positions TCA as a leader in adopting AI technology. By being the first creative agency in New Zealand to implement an AI-powered chatbot, TCA sets itself apart from competitors, offering a level of service that others in the market cannot match. 

 

This unique selling point attracts new clients and reinforces TCA’s reputation as a forward-thinking and client-centric agency. Emily is more than just a chatbot; she embodies TCA’s commitment to innovation, client satisfaction, and operational excellence. By choosing Emily, clients are not just selecting a service—they are partnering with an agency that prioritises their needs and is dedicated to delivering exceptional results through the latest technological advancements.

Business Benefits

Effectively and properly implementing an AI customer service chatbot can bring a range of benefits to a company that does just that. The four biggest benefits are explained below: 

 

  • Higher Availability: One of the key benefits is having 24/7 availability. Customers who view a creative agency’s website at any point may have questions or want specific information. Seeking that out, customers will want to inquire about it. Having a human agent ready to answer is costly and time-consuming compared to having an AI bot ready to go. “AI chatbots enable businesses to reply to customer inquiries instantly, even during after-hours. This real-time engagement and 24/7 availability enhance customer service significantly, eventually increasing customer satisfaction.” (iMonitor, 2024) An AI chatbot helps companies cater to their target market or audience beyond business hours.   

 

  • Lower Business Costs: For a business themselves, this is likely the biggest benefit that AI customer chatbot brings. By lowering costs in overall business processes, a company can invest in other areas to further boost productivity. This is achieved via automating tasks and not needing human resources to be available 24/7. On top of that, “the efficiency these AI tools offer can be a huge bonus. AI chatbots can handle multiple human conversations simultaneously and process data and provide services like product recommendations just as quickly as a customer service representative can.” (Donnelly, 2023) In doing so, a business can serve even more customers in their target market than they would just have a team of human customer service agents. 

 

  • Better Engagement & Conversion: AI chatbots can gather extraordinary data based on customer q  queries. The data gathered by the chatbot can then be used to enhance further specific initiatives to boost customer satisfaction, including the actual chatbot itself. “Through methodically assessing this data, businesses uncover patterns and themes, offering a veritable roadmap to elevating their offerings and crafting genuinely consumer-centric strategies.” (Selvaraj, 2023) This allows a business to constantly evolve by improving those strategies based on customer feedback and responding to newly identified trends. Thus, chatbots allow a business to be continuously aligned with the voices of its consumers. 

 

  • Better UX: A high-quality user experience helps customers return to a company. A website or service with good UX makes this possible. “AI chatbots can analyse user behaviour and preferences to deliver personalised interactions. By understanding individual user profiles, chatbots can tailor their responses and recommendations, providing each user a personalised and relevant experience.” (Capaldi, n/a) This is how chatbots can create a better experience. Personalising responses creates a unique, one-of-a-kind encounter by making it more engaging. Thus, users come away from it with a far better experience than they would have had. 
  •  

These are just some of how adopting an AI customer service chatbot can benefit a business. 

Meeting

Initial feedback consideration

Before furthering the development of Emily beyond being an initial prototype, we first had our research and user-testing participants take part in a survey to understand their previous experiences using AI chatbots. All respondents fit our target market. The majority of users had previously used one. However, their overall experiences were quite mixed, with positive and negative experiences. Respondents highly valued getting instant messages, personalised responses, and accurate information based on their inquiries. It was also noted that what could be improved the most were long response times, inaccurate info and lack of personalisation. Having an AI customer service bot also did not significantly impact user behaviour and retention. 



Respondents showed a positive inclination towards a company adopting an AI-powered chatbot. Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok were seen as the most effective platforms for promoting them. Interactive posts and stories were the type of content that best-encouraged interaction with an AI bit. This type of chatbot is mostly viewed in a positive light. At the same time, some see it as robotic/impersonal, meaning that more emphasis should be put on personalisation as Emily is further developed. An easy-to-use interface was recommended to encourage users to interact with a chatbot like Emily. Respondents also highlighted the importance of consistent and regular contact during the customer experience. They also showed a positive attitude towards receiving automatic updates during the onboarding process. Those who took the survey said they would expect to receive key info and information about the next steps during a project, too. Clear communication should also be an area of focus as users saw more detailed information, personalisation, and the ability to contact a human agent, which was flagged as the best way for businesses to improve their automated communication processes.


A second survey was also conducted after having participants do some user testing of our chatbot. Overall, Emily was viewed positively in answering more basic questions because of its efficiency and navigation. Most found that it responded well to its questions and provided good quality information for the most part. Several improvements could still be made, including improving the chatbot’s personalisation, making it more human-like in its interactions and enhancing Emily’s capability to handle more complex inquiries. Respondents also highlighted the need for potential prompts about how to phrase questions and add the ability to contact a human instantly. 

CONCLUSION

An AI customer service chatbot can be a powerful tool for a business in any sector. It can be available 24/7 to answer any questions and provide unique experiences for each user, helping boost customer satisfaction while lowering business costs and increasing productivity. For prospective SME clients looking for information or help, Emily is the solution that can provide the answers they seek.

That Creative Agency is helping lead the way in the New Zealand creative agency industry, where we align our business values with predicted innovation arch. We remain committed to refining our AI customer service to provide better services and information for potential clients and smooth the onboarding process. Are you looking for an SME-focused creative agency to help your business but unsure where to start?

REFRENCES

An AI customer service chatbot can be a powerful tool for a business in any sector. It can be available 24/7 to answer any questions and provide unique experiences for each user, helping boost customer satisfaction while lowering business costs and increasing productivity. For prospective SME clients looking for information or help, Emily is the solution that can provide the answers they seek. That Creative Agency is helping lead the way in the New Zealand creative agency industry, where we align our business values with predicted innovation arch. We remain committed to refining our AI customer service to provide better services and information for potential clients and smooth the onboarding process. Are you looking for an SME-focused creative agency to help your business but unsure where to start? Test Emily today and get all the information you need!   ReferencesAir New Zealand. (2024). Say ‘kia ora’ to Oscar! - Digital experience - Experience | Air New Zealand. Air NZ. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/oscar-chatbot-virtual-assistantCapaldi, D. (2024, August 13). How AI Chatbots Boost User Experience (UX). https://www.dante-ai.com/. https://www.dante-ai.com/article/how-ai-chatbots-boost-user-experience-uxConstant Contact & PR Wire. (2024, May 01). A study finds that 83% of Australian and New Zealand SMBs are concerned about economic conditions. https://prwire.com.au. https://prwire.com.au/pr/115487/study-finds-83-per-cent-of-australia-and-new-zealand-smbs-concerned-about-economic-conditionsDe Santiago, E. (2024, April 18). What Is a Creative Agency? (Plus How To Work for One). Indeed. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-is-a-creative-agencyDonnelly, I. (2023, November 13). AI-Powered Chatbots: The Benefits and Essential Features. Bloomreach. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://www.bloomreach.com/en/blog/ai-powered-chatbots-the-benefits-and-essential-featuresGuide, s., & Selvaraj, S. (2023, October 18). Benefits of AI Chatbots for Businesses & Customers. Yellow.ai. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://yellow.ai/blog/benefits-of-chatbots/iMonitor. (2024). How AI-Powered Chatbots Revolutionise Customer Service. iMonitor. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://www.imonitor.net/blog-posts/how-ai-powered-chatbots-revolutionise-customer-serviceNZTech. (2022, June 15). Chatbots are taking over big NZ business inquiries. NZTech. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://nztech.org.nz/2022/06/15/chatbots-taking-over-big-nz-business-inquiries/Simplicity. (2018, March 16). Simplicity takes the first steps towards Artificial Intelligence with the new chatbot Artie. Simplicity. Kiwi. https://simplicity.kiwi/learn/updates/simplicity-takes-first-steps-towards-artificial-intelligence-with-new-chatbot-artieWOO Agency. (2023, January 23). How Marketing Agency’s Can Help SMEs. LinkedIn. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-marketing-agencys-can-help-smes-windowofopportunity