How to Use Free SMS AI Chatbot Services for Customer Support
An SMS AI Chatbot is becoming essential for Businesses and customers increasingly communicating via text messaging. Customers may be more inclined to contact your organization if it offers social media messaging or SMS as a communication channel because it’s quicker than email and more convenient than a phone.
What is an SMS AI Chatbot?
Like online chatbots, SMS chatbots automatically and without human intervention send and receive messages containing phone numbers. . Using preset rules or advanced AI algorithms, it may process user inputs, send and receive messages automatically, and respond.
SMS chatbots, like online chat chatbots, send and receive messages with phone numbers automatically and without human assistance. SMS is a more convenient choice because it connects directly to the user’s phone’s messaging app, removing the need for users to download an app or visit a website.
Types of AI chatbots for SMS
The two main AI SMS chatbot types are prebuilt options and custom-built setups. The ideal option will rely on your company’s resources and objectives because each type comes with its own set of advantages and challenges
Pre-built chatbots:
These come pre-assembled and are simple to use right away. They are programmed to perform simple duties and can learn enough about your company to respond to client messages independently, even after hours.
Custom-built chatbot:
You can build your chatbot if you want a personalized one that meets your unique requirements and price range. You must combine various tools and services to create a bot that performs precisely what you want. Although this allows you greater control, setting it up and maintaining it requires some technical know-how.
The Benefits of Using SMS AI Chatbot for Your Bussiness
24/7 Availability for Global Customers:
Chatbots never take a nap. With 24/7 chatbot help, your clients can obtain timely responses to their questions whenever they want, no matter where they are. Even when your business, product, or team is stressed, AI chatbots will withstand the traffic and provide prompt responses to consumers.
Sales are increased by polite reminders:
With features like replenishment notifications and abandoned basket follow-ups, an SMS chatbot may gently encourage clients to finish purchases, keeping your business at the forefront of their minds without becoming intrusive. Customers frequently value a useful heads-up over a pushy sales pitch, and these prompt, timely reminders can increase conversion rates and boost sales.
Details and Help with FAQs:
Chatbots are particularly good at giving consumers immediate information and helping them find answers to commonly asked questions (FAQs) in text messages.
SMS bots can reduce the need for manual customer assistance by providing users with accurate and pertinent information in response to their requests by integrating a knowledge base and leveraging natural language processing (NLP) capabilities.
Data-based understanding:
From consumer interactions, chatbots gather useful information including preferences and comments. By better understanding consumer behavior, these insights assist firms in making well-informed decisions and developing tailored marketing campaigns.
Multi-channel integration
Including an AI chatbot in your platform or product allows you to connect with customers through various digital channels. Whether your clients prefer Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp Business, multi-channel chatbot deployment allows you to engage with your audience with no effort. Because chatbots use pre-programmed commands and data, they will assist your consumers with the same degree of precision.
How SMS AI Chatbots Work for Customer Support
Typically, SMS chatbots adhere to preset scripts that specify exactly what they should say in response to a customer’s query. Natural language processing (NLP) and artificial intelligence (AI) are the engines behind some of the more sophisticated SMS bots.
SMS bots can now comprehend text, or language, in a comparable way to humans thanks to AI and NLP. This implies that kids can think for themselves not only what someone is saying but also how to react to it. Therefore, an can mimic human-like dialogues so that the user believes they are texting a real
SMS chatbots respond to consumer inquiries with prompt, straightforward responses. The customer’s request, instruction, or demand can even trigger them to automatically ask follow-up questions or perform a certain action.
How to Set Up a Free SMS Chatbot for Your Business
Step 1: Create an account on Social Intents (free trial available).
Once you’ve registered, you’ll have access to the resources required to build and maintain your SMS chatbot.
Step 2: Make an account on Twilio or log in if you already have one.
Sending and receiving text messages via your chatbot is made possible by Twilio, which you must first create an account with.
You can create a free account on Twilio’s website if you don’t already have one.
Step 3:Get the phone number for Twilio.
After signing into your Twilio account, select Phone Numbers from the sidebar and select Manage > Purchase a Number.
Step 4: Make a Twilio Messaging Service
Go to Messaging > Services in your Twilio Dashboard, then choose Create Messaging Service.
To use the service, enter your Twilio number:
- Choose the Sender Pool link after creating the Messaging Service.
- Choose as the Sender the phone number you bought above.
Once your campaign has been registered, finish the A2P 10DLC compliance. Entering your brand information, a succinct explanation of your intended use of the number, sample messages (such as order updates), and opt-in/opt-out keywords for user preferences are all part of this process.
Step 5: Create an account on Social Intents and set up SMS integration.
If it’s your first time, go to Social Intents and create an account.
Choose the Connect button under SMS Integration after first accessing the Integrations section of your Social Intents dashboard.
You can locate these on your Account Dashboard.
Enter the required information after scrolling down to SMS Settings:
Number for Twilio SMS: Enter the phone number you bought from Twilio.
Send Inbound Data to the Chat App: Select the chat application to which you wish to forward incoming messages.
ID for a Twilio account: Put in the ID for your Twilio account. This is available here.
Token for Twilio Auth: Put in your Auth Token for Twilio.
URL for the Twilio Webhook: Once you have set up the aforementioned settings, this URL will appear on the Client Settings page. For the following step, copy this URL.
Step 6: Set up the messaging service.
You must configure your Twilio messaging service to ensure that your SMS chatbot reacts appropriately.
In your Twilio account, go to Phone Numbers > Manage > Active Numbers and choose the SMS-capable number you created.
“Webhook, TwiML Bin, Function, Studio Flow, Proxy Service” should be selected under Configure with.
After copying the Twilio Webhook URL from your Social Intents Client Settings, locate A Message Comes In in the Webhook area at the bottom of the page and paste it there.
Remember to save your modifications to activate the setting.
Step 7:Test Your AI Chatbot for Inbound SMS
Once your setup is finished, you may begin experimenting with your new SMS chatbot. Your AI chatbot should reply with the data you trained it on when you just text the number you configured.
Verify the Answer:
Ensure that your configuration responds to the incoming SMS and treats it as intended.
Legal and Ethical Considerations of Using AI in Customer Support
AI-driven customer service raises a variety of ethical questions, from privacy concerns to possible prejudice in generative AI systems. Generative AI decision-making transparency, accountability, and justice are critical as AI systems handle more sensitive customer data and make decisions that have a big influence on users’ lives.
Conclusion: Harnessing AI for a Smarter Customer Support Experience
AI chatbots are transforming customer service by giving consumers faster, more effective, and more individualized care while lowering company expenses and personnel needs.
Among the many advantages they offer, SMS AI chatbots can help cut down on customer wait times, personalize customer experiences, obtain data-driven insights, and enable businesses to be available around the clock.
