Best Ecommerce Chatbots for Your Online Store in 2024

Are your customers leaving your online store without buying? Tired of losing sales because you can’t answer customer questions fast enough? Or maybe you’re spending too much time answering the same questions over and over?

You’re not alone. But here’s the good news: ecommerce chatbots can solve these problems while you sleep. They can answer customer questions instantly, help shoppers find products, and even boost your sales. In this guide, we’ll show you the best chatbots that can transform your online store in 2024.

What is an Ecommerce Chatbot?

An ecommerce chatbot is a software tool designed to simulate human conversations and interactions. These chatbots are specifically tailored for online shopping and can:

• Answer customer inquiries
• Help with order placement
• Automate sales processes
• Provide support after purchases
• Connect customers with live agents

Interactions with ecommerce chatbots follow predefined conditions and events related to the customer journey.

By offering immediate and automated assistance, ecommerce chatbots allow your support team to concentrate on more complex customer issues.

For example, if you buy a pair of jeans from an online clothing store and want to return them, you might be unsure how to begin the return process. By accessing the store’s ecommerce chatbot, you can quickly find help.

The chatbot immediately presents several options, including a choice for returns. When you select the “start a return” option, the chatbot guides you through the entire process.

This scenario illustrates just one of the many ways AI chatbots can enhance customer support in ecommerce.

How to Use an Ecommerce Chatbot

Chatbots have become game-changers for online stores struggling with customer service and sales. When shoppers have to wait hours for answers to simple questions, they often abandon their purchase – taking their money elsewhere. Our data shows that businesses using chatbots have seen:

• 300% increase in online ordering
• 30% boost in qualified leads
• 42% reduction in customer service costs
• 67% faster response times

Here’s how to make chatbots work effectively for your store:

1. Answer Customer Inquiries

Research shows that 81% of customers prefer solving problems themselves before contacting support. An ecommerce chatbot makes this possible without straining your budget.

Your chatbot can:

• Answer FAQs within seconds
• Provide product information 24/7
• Share shipping and return policies
• Help with sizing and product selection
• Offer instant price and availability checks

2. Help with Order Placement

Studies reveal that 75% of shoppers abandon carts when they can’t find quick help. Smart chatbots can transform browsers into buyers by:

• Guiding customers through checkout
• Offering real-time shipping calculations
• Explaining payment options
• Providing order summaries
• Sharing discount codes at crucial moments
• Saving abandoned carts

3. Automate Sales Processes

Businesses report saving 40-60% on operational costs through automation. Your chatbot can:

• Process routine orders automatically
• Update inventory in real-time
• Send order confirmations
• Handle basic customer queries
• Qualify leads before human intervention
• Schedule appointments or consultations

4. Provide Support After Purchases

89% of customers buy again after a positive post-purchase experience. Chatbots excel at:

• Tracking order status
• Sending delivery updates
• Sharing product care instructions
• Handling return requests
• Collecting feedback
• Recommending related products

5. Connect Customers with Live Agents

While chatbots handle 80% of routine questions, 86% of customers want easy access to human agents when needed. Your chatbot should:

• Recognize complex issues requiring human intervention
• Transfer conversations smoothly to live agents
• Share conversation history with agents
• Maintain 24/7 availability
• Route priority customers to specialized teams
• Collect initial information before transfer

The 6 Best Ecommerce Chatbots for 2024

1. SalesTown

SalesTown Chatbot is a powerful tool designed to enhance customer engagement and streamline communication for businesses. With its no-code flow builder, users can effortlessly create customized chatbot experiences using a simple drag-and-drop interface. This allows for easy automation of interactions across various platforms, including websites, social media, and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Messenger.

Main Features:

Effortless Chat Automation with No-Code Chatbot Flow Builder

• Easily create a chatbot using a simple drag-and-drop tool to automate chats from top lead generation platforms.
• Start your flow with text, lists, media, carousels, and more. You can ask questions, create forms, set triggers, and send WhatsApp messages, emails, and SMS.

Personalize All Conversations with Live Chat and Omni Channel Inbox

• Manage and monitor all bots, agents, and live chats, including assigned and transferred conversations.
• Access detailed logs and contact info for smooth chat management, giving you visibility into past and current chats.
• Allow support teams to monitor live chats in real time for quick responses and ongoing customer engagement.

Omni Channel Chatbot: Connect Across Multiple Channels

• Connects with websites, social media, and messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram, ensuring a consistent experience.
• Allows seamless communication wherever customers interact.

Comprehensive Dashboard with Reports & Analytics at a Glance

• Offers a complete overview of chatbot performance, including deployment, engagement, agent performance, chat volume, and response times.
• Filter metrics by channel, date, and user for detailed analysis.
• Track chatbot interactions, customer behaviors, and conversation outcomes to gain insights.
• Use real-time data to find areas for improvement, optimize flows, and enhance processes, boosting customer satisfaction through informed decisions.

Sign up for a free 14-day trial – no credit card required!

2. ChatBot

ChatBot transforms the customer journey by speeding up response times, enhancing customer satisfaction, and lowering costs without depending on platforms like:

• OpenAI
• Google Bard
• Bing AI

With an in-house e-commerce chatbot platform, businesses can set up easily without coding, avoid third-party dependencies, and provide quick, accurate responses.

ChatBot integrates effortlessly with Shopify, allowing you to showcase products, minimize search times, and check order statuses, among many other features.

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Key Features:

• Visual Drag-and-Drop Builder: Create your e-commerce chatbot stories easily without any coding skills.
• In-Platform Testing: Test your chatbot within the platform before going live on your store to ensure it works perfectly.
• Brand Customization: Launch an AI chatbot that matches your brand’s style in just a few clicks using the free chat widget.
• Prebuilt Templates: Quickly launch, customize, and reuse chatbot stories with ready-to-go templates.
• Real-Time Analytics: Monitor customer interactions and see which stories resonate most with your audience through detailed reports.
• Data Collection: Gather information via the chatbot to create personalized customer experiences.
• Integration with Messaging Platforms: Seamlessly connect ChatBot to existing messaging platforms like Messenger, LiveChat, Slack, and Shopify.
• Open API: Develop custom solutions tailored to your e-commerce needs, powered by ChatBot.

ChatBot covers all customer touchpoints, using AI to resolve 80% of inquiries efficiently.

3. HubSpot Chatbot Builder

HubSpot provides a user-friendly chatbot builder that can be used on both websites and Facebook Messenger.

In addition to engaging with customers, HubSpot’s chatbots can direct inquiries to live agents, qualify leads, and initiate personalized email campaigns as soon as a prospect completes a conversion.

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Features

• Integrate with your CRM to send personalized messages based on your contact list details.
• Ability to retrieve information from your knowledge base or public URLs, such as product pages.
• A no-code editor that allows for creating rule-based chat flows.
• Automatically gather lead information and add it to your database.
• Customers can choose from various pre-defined responses.

Pros

• Seamless transition from bot to live agent.
• No coding skills needed.
• Rapid deployment process.

Cons

• Additional features require HubSpot’s paid plans.
• Limited to use on websites and Facebook Messenger.
• Few chat flow templates are provided.

4. Chatfuel

Chatfuel specializes in creating e-commerce chatbots for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Brands can easily connect Chatfuel to their websites by integrating Messenger. Here are some of its key features:

• User-Friendly Design: Chatfuel offers a drag-and-drop builder, making it simple to create a chatbot without any coding skills.
• Ready-Made Templates: Access over 30 free templates to kickstart your chatbot creation process.
• Automated Customer Engagement: Direct messages and ads can automatically funnel customers into your communication channels.
• Built-in CRM: Chatfuel includes a CRM system to help you segment and qualify your leads effectively.
• Seamless Integrations: The platform works well with Shopify, Google Sheets, Zapier, and other tools.

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Pros:

• High Uptime: Chatfuel boasts a 99.99% uptime guarantee.
• Responsive Support: Enjoy 24/7 support with response times of just 5 minutes.
• Powerful Integrations: Connect with ChatGPT, Google Sheets, Stripe, and Zapier for enhanced functionality.
• Customer Re-engagement: Utilize chat history to reconnect with customers.

Cons:

• Dependency on Third-Party Services: The integration with ChatGPT means that the WhatsApp features are dependent on another service provider.
• Slow Feature Updates: Some features and integrations may take longer to release compared to other e-commerce chatbot platforms that have offered them for years.

5. Tidio

Tidio is an AI chatbot designed to enhance customer support by combining automated responses with human assistance. This e-commerce chatbot utilizes Lyro AI, enabling conversations that feel more natural and human-like.

Tidio not only addresses customer inquiries and resolves issues but also tracks visitor activity on your site. This capability allows you to offer personalized deals based on individual behaviors.

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Key Features:

• Pre-Made Templates: Access numerous templates to get started quickly.
• Custom Greetings: Set up personalized greetings for both new and returning customers.
• Multichannel Management: Handle all chats from live chat, Messenger, WhatsApp, email, and Instagram within Tidio.
• Visual Chat Builder: Create chat flows easily without needing coding skills.
• Data Integration: Send information to your other platforms using e-commerce chatbots.
• Analytics Dashboard: Monitor important metrics to assess performance.
• Order Management: Efficiently manage orders and support ticketing.

Pros:

• Easy installation process.
• The visual builder makes it user-friendly for those without coding knowledge.
• Includes a feature to transfer chats from bot to human agents when needed.

Cons:

• Lacks support for arithmetic calculations.
• Limited features for assigning chats to specific agents.
• Some users may find the template navigation a bit complicated.

Solving Customer Queries for Ecommerce Businesses

Implementing a chatbot solution is just the first step. To maximize its effectiveness, consider these best practices:

1. Define Clear Objectives

Before implementing a chatbot, establish clear goals:

• What types of queries should it handle?
• What level of automation do you need?
• How will you measure success?

2. Choose the Right Platform

Consider factors such as:

• Your budget
• Required features
• Integration needs
• Scalability requirements
• Support quality

3. Plan Your Conversation Flows

Develop clear, logical conversation paths that:

• Address common customer queries
• Provide helpful responses
• Know when to escalate to human agents
• Maintain a consistent brand voice

4. Regular Monitoring and Optimization

Continuously improve your chatbot by:

• Analyzing chat logs
• Updating responses
• Adding new features
• Optimizing conversation flows
• Gathering customer feedback

5. Integration with Other Systems

Ensure your chatbot works seamlessly with:

• Your ecommerce platform
• CRM system
• Inventory management
• Order processing
• Customer support tools

Conclusion

Ecommerce chatbots have become an essential tool for online businesses looking to improve customer service, increase sales, and reduce operational costs. The key to success lies in choosing the right solution for your specific needs and implementing it effectively.

When selecting a chatbot platform, consider your business size, budget, technical requirements, and growth plans. Start with basic features and gradually expand as you learn what works best for your customers. Remember that the goal is not just to automate customer service but to enhance the overall shopping experience.

As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more sophisticated chatbot solutions in the future. Staying informed about new developments and regularly updating your chatbot strategy will help ensure your ecommerce business remains competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Whether you choose Salestown, ChatBot, HubSpot, Chatfuel, Tidio, or another solution, the most important factor is how well it serves your customers and supports your business goals. Take time to evaluate your options, plan your implementation carefully, and monitor results to ensure you’re getting the most value from your chatbot investment.

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