AI

AI in customer service: 7 real-life use cases and practical benefits

November 25, 2024
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by
Menno Zevenbergen
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8
mins read

AI is developing at a rapid pace. For many customer support teams, it has already become second nature to work with AI, and it's transforming more than just efficiency. For modern teams, AI is redefining how they connect with customers by blending speed and personalization. From chatbots to predictive insights, AI empowers customer support teams to deliver smarter, more meaningful interactions. Curious to learn about the best use cases for success right now? Here's everything you need to know.

In short: Here’s how customer support teams use AI today

Don’t have time to read the full article? We’ve got you covered. Here’s a quick summary of everything you need to know. AI is transforming customer service with tools like AI-powered chatbots, predictive analytics, and multilingual support—but that’s just the beginning. The possibilities are truly endless.

Sounds almost too good to be true, right? While automation offers undeniable benefits, such as 24/7 availability, reduced wait times, and scalable solutions, it’s essential to strike a balance between efficiency and empathy. Here are seven ways businesses are using AI today to achieve that balance:

  • AI-powered chatbots: Deliver instant, human-like responses to customer inquiries.
  • Virtual assistants: Provide personalized, brand-consistent solutions in real time.
  • Predictive analysis: Anticipate customer needs and proactively resolve issues.
  • Sentiment analysis: Understand customer emotions to tailor empathetic responses.
  • Automated ticket management: Prioritize and route issues efficiently.
  • AI-driven knowledge management: Empower customers with accurate self-service options.
  • Multilingual support: Break language barriers to deliver global, localized service.

If you want to successfully implement AI, you need to address challenges like data privacy, security, and maintaining a human touch. Want to know more about the topic? Then read on for all the details. 

The pros and cons of automation and AI in customer service

Automation and AI go hand-in-hand, making customer service automation a no-brainer. It offers numerous benefits, such as handling high volumes of inquiries simultaneously, reducing wait times, and ensuring customers receive prompt responses. Plus, it allows your business to operate 24/7, even when human agents are off the clock.

This round-the-clock availability is vital in a global market where customers expect immediate assistance, regardless of time zones. But, there are a few downsides. Automation may struggle with complex cases or nuanced inquiries, and there’s always the risk of losing the personal touch that many customers still value.

Striking a balance between efficiency and empathy is crucial. While AI and automation can handle the bulk of inquiries, human agents should be ready to step in when needed. Now, let’s explore how AI is being applied in customer service, how it supports automation, and the biggest benefits it offers.

7 ways to use AI in customer service to improve support

More businesses are embracing AI, particularly in customer service and support. When implemented effectively, the benefits far outweigh the challenges. Let’s dive into the key use cases of AI in customer support today.

1. AI-powered chatbots

Imagine chatting with a system that feels just like talking to a human. Today’s chatbots are impressively conversational, capable of understanding customer queries and even picking up on underlying emotions. They provide instant responses, meeting the modern customer’s demand for immediacy.

With huge amounts of information at their disposal, chatbots deliver consistent and highly accurate answers. They are an ideal solution for e-commerce brands, offering quick responses to questions about product details or "Where is my order?" (WISMO) inquiries.

2. Virtual assistants 

Beyond chatbots, AI-driven virtual agents take customer support to the next level. Think of them as personalized helpers—they remember past interactions and provide tailored responses based on historical data. Their multitasking capabilities ensure user queries are resolved efficiently, delivering a smooth and satisfying support experience.

Advanced digital coworkers, like those created by Neople, analyze company data in real-time to offer personalized solutions that cater to each customer’s unique needs, all while maintaining your brand’s distinct voice. The best part? Your human team stays in control, with the ability to review and refine responses before they’re sent.

Virtual assistants excel in handling personalized and complex interactions, seamlessly humanizing automated responses. In fact, your customers likely won’t notice the difference between engaging with a human or a virtual assistant.

3. Predictive analysis for personalization

By analyzing past behaviors and preferences, AI can anticipate customer needs and desires. This capability is particularly valuable in e-commerce, enabling proactive support. It can even predict potential issues with a product or service and offer solutions before the problem escalates.

This forward-thinking approach not only boosts customer satisfaction by resolving concerns early but also fosters trust and loyalty through personalized, proactive service.

4. Sentiment analysis for customer insights

Customer feedback is invaluable, but sifting through every comment or review can be incredibly time-consuming. That’s where sentiment analysis comes in. By analyzing customer feedback, AI can gauge the overall mood of your customer base.

AI also helps interpret customer emotions during interactions by analyzing tone, word choice, and context. By identifying whether a customer feels satisfied, frustrated, or confused, support teams can adjust their responses in real-time to deliver a more empathetic and personalized experience.

5. Automated ticket management

Gone are the days of manually sorting and prioritizing support tickets. Today, AI can instantly identify which issues require urgent attention and which can wait, ensuring customers receive timely assistance.

AI streamlines the process of categorizing, prioritizing, and routing customer inquiries. By handling repetitive tasks with speed and precision, it ensures that issues are efficiently directed to the right teams without delay.

6. AI-driven knowledge management

Self-service has become a buzzword in customer service, and AI might have been the reason. By powering up-to-date knowledge bases, AI enables customers to find solutions independently, saving time and resources for everyone involved.

Using intelligent search and adaptive learning, AI delivers accurate and relevant information, reducing the need for human intervention. For businesses, this translates to lower operational costs and more efficient use of customer service agents.

7. Multilingual support

AI empowers customer support teams to deliver service in multiple languages, breaking down communication barriers. Through advanced natural language processing, AI solutions can accurately understand, translate, and respond in various languages while preserving context.

This capability enables teams to support customers worldwide, providing consistent and localized experiences. With AI handling multilingual queries, support agents can focus on more complex tasks, ensuring every customer feels understood—no matter where they are or what language they speak.

Addressing the challenges in AI-driven customer service

While AI is transforming customer service, it also brings challenges that need to be addressed to maximize its benefits.

Data privacy and security concerns

AI systems rely heavily on customer data to deliver personalized and efficient support, making compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR and CCPA essential. Mishandling sensitive information can result in legal consequences and erode customer trust, underscoring the importance of transparency in data collection, storage, and use.

Businesses should implement robust security measures, such as encryption and regular audits, to protect customer data. Clear communication about how data is used and offering customers control over their information helps build trust and loyalty. AI should not only be powerful but also responsible.

Balancing automation and the human touch

AI interactions should seamlessly reflect your company’s tone, style, and values, ensuring a consistent brand experience across all touchpoints. Achieving this requires extensive training of AI systems using real examples of your company’s communication style.

But, training alone isn’t enough. Continuous monitoring and refinement are essential to keep up with rising customer expectations and brand strategies. Without proper oversight, AI responses can deviate from the intended voice or introduce inconsistencies, potentially confusing or alienating customers.

Neople take into account a brand's unique brand identity, and can be given a set of instructions on how to react in different situations. They can learn from old interactions and human teams can moderate their answers and adjust when needed.

The future of AI in customer service

The future of AI in customer service holds even greater potential, fueled by advancements in generative AI, real-time voice assistants, and sophisticated predictive analytics. One thing is clear: AI’s role will continue to evolve. It’s time for the next era of customer support.

Voice assistants and natural language processing

In the future, customers may interact with support systems as naturally as they would with a friend. Voice assistants, powered by advanced natural language processing, could offer instant responses to spoken queries, making customer support even more seamless and intuitive.

AI-driven predictive support

As AI continues to evolve, it may soon proactively identify and resolve issues, often before customers even realize there’s a problem.

To stay ahead, you must embrace these trends by investing in adaptable AI systems and upskilling teams to collaborate effectively with AI. By preparing for this next wave of innovation, companies can deliver smarter, faster, and more empathetic customer service, standing out in an increasingly competitive market.

Collaborate with Neople to streamline support operations and improve customer service

While AI is transforming customer service, finding the right balance is crucial. AI is here to streamline operations and personalize customer interactions, but it should never replace the human touch. After all, manual and repetitive tasks, coupled with juggling multiple platforms and tools, have turned support—once a people-focused role—into busy yet unfulfilling work.

It’s time for a change! Imagine a future where people and technology collaborate seamlessly, making work more meaningful and bringing more joy to the job. That’s the promise of Neople, your favorite digital coworker.

Here’s what working with Neople will help you achieve: 

  • Activate efficiency: Support agents save 30-50% of their time with Neople backing up their responses.
  • Optimize talent: Onboarding support agents and CX team members is twice as fast with Neople.
  • Boost results: With Neople onboard, customer satisfaction (CSAT) improves by an average of 10%.

Ready to change customer service forever for the better? Book a free demo, in just 30 minutes we’ll show you how your Neople would work together with your team.

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