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Transforming transactions into lasting relationships – AI as CX binding force

2024/09/20 16:34 pm | Reading Time: 2: 00

By Ramakrishnan Jonnagadla, Senior Vice President, Engineering Management, Ascendion

Customer Experience (CX) encompasses the overall perception and emotions a customer experiences while interacting with a company, its products, and services across all touchpoints and channels. It’s essential to create “joy” in every micro-moment a customer spends with the brand, from initial awareness to purchase, usage, and post-purchase support. AI is revolutionizing this landscape, infusing magical moments throughout the value chain to enhance the experience and deepen customer satisfaction.

In the pre-purchase phase, customers are often overwhelmed by a vast array of options. With limited attention spans, capturing and retaining their interest is crucial for the brand. The key to success lies in making the brand easily discoverable, quickly offering compelling options that persuade them to explore further and ultimately make a purchase. AI, particularly Generative AI, can be the game-changer that propels this journey.

AI delivers hyper-targeted ads and personalized content, making it easier for customers to discover products or services that align with their preferences and interests. Once a potential customer engages, AI-driven product recommendations take the lead, offering tailored suggestions based on digital footprint, simplifying the decision-making process. AI-driven chatbots elevate this experience by providing instant, personalized responses and adapting to the user’s needs. For instance, if a customer asks for a laptop ideal for accounting, the AI chatbot quickly narrows down the options, recommending models that meet the specific needs, eliminating the tedious process of manual filtering.

Beyond recommendations, AI also dynamically adjusts how content is presented, based on a user’s digital fingerprint, such as browsing history. Imagine landing on a webpage where AI has already guessed one’s profession and needs, tailoring the hero banner and offers. This level of autonomous AI decision-making is the cutting edge of CX today, transforming what was once science fiction into a powerful reality.

However, AI cannot replace human touch. While AI handles personalization and automation, human experts step in when customers need deeper insights, reassurance, or a nuanced solution. After receiving AI-generated suggestions, customers might still seek advice from a knowledgeable sales representative who can offer additional context or address specific concerns. This combination of AI efficiency and human empathy creates a seamless yet warm experience, ensuring customers feel supported and understood.

A customer’s journey truly begins after the purchase is made. It is the brands’ responsibility to ensure the customer feels not just satisfied but emotionally connected, fostering loyalty and trust. AI-powered onboarding processes make first interactions seamless and engaging by tailoring tutorials and user guides to individual preferences. AI also anticipates potential issues, reaching out with solutions before customers even realize there’s a problem, boosting satisfaction and loyalty.

When customers reach out for help, AI enhances the contact center experience, providing support agents with detailed customer histories and analytics to offer personalized, informed assistance. AI also identifies when customers might be losing interest, prompting re-engagement through personalized offers or content. The experience is further amplified by encouraging satisfied customers to share their stories and reviews, turning them into organic brand advocates.

The power of AI binds all the features together to enhance the customer journey and strengthens the emotional bond between the customer and the brand thereby transforming transactions into lasting relationships.

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