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Artificial intelligence has disrupted multiple areas of manufacturing operations. And, conversational AI is creating a buzz by aiding manufacturers in functions where employees usually have to waste a lot of time.
Conversational AI is a sub-category of AI or Artificial Intelligence that combines various learning technologies such as- Natural Language Processing (NLP), Natural Language Understanding (NLU), Predictive Intelligence, Machine Learning (ML), and more.
With smart implementation of conversational AI for manufacturing, organizations can attain multi-disciplinary automation.
In this guide, we’ll discuss:
Which processes you can automate with Conversational AI
Which interaction channels to integrate
Which technology systems to integrate
4 Applications of AI Chatbots for Manufacturing
With these applications, you can build a strong base of AI-powered operations in manufacturing.
1. Enable conversational commerce
Using an AI-powered manufacturing chatbot, you can remove all the transactional frictions by offering an interactive approach.
Assign AI where tasks become a burden for your employees. For example, a vendor can directly interact with an AI-powered virtual assistant to place a bulk order instead of calling your manufacturing executive. That way, employees have to manage a lesser number of calls, while customers get to save time when doing business with your company.
2. Enhance maintenance efficiency
When running a manufacturing plant, you have to maintain accurate environmental conditions. For instance, if environmental temperatures change even a little bit, then your operational efficiency goes down drastically.
Using AI in manufacturing, you can sync all your technology platforms to help employees with the automated analysis of all equipment metrics. Employees can request an AI Assistant for different types of information/data and receive immediate and accurate responses.
You can say that AI-powered virtual assistants serve as companions for employees throughout the ongoing process of maintaining a manufacturing plant. Staff members can gain entire knowledge of plant conditions on their smartphones with AI-enabled interactions.
3. Balanced inventory management
As a manufacturer, you must know the importance of maintaining an accurate balance of demand and supply. You can’t go overboard with stocking, as it would result in a lot of wastage. Also, you can’t afford to lose business due to not having enough stock in the inventory.
This crucial balance becomes easier to achieve with the assistance of an AI-powered manufacturing chatbot. Integrated across all platforms, AI can retrieve comparative data associated with demand and supply. Managers can use that data to understand future requirements and conduct inventory planning accordingly.
4. Automate order management
Conversational AI for manufacturing industry adds personalization and automation to the order management process. AI bots can take over various tasks and communicate with customers regarding:
Order placement
Payment invoices
Payment reminders
Order tracking
Order return
Order cancelation
And more!
In the presence of an AI assistant, customers receive on-time alerts and updates related to delivery, payment dues, product availability, and more. This level of personalization in automation increases customer experience while saving employees from indulging in repetitive conversations with customers. A variety of other challenges also get resolved such as:
Queries coming in high volumes
Errors occurred due to manual processes
Difficulties in managing bulk orders
Facing issues in inventory planning
With these and other challenges resolved, you can scale up order processes and gain a better understanding of customer demands through real-time data capturing. As a result, orders get processed swiftly without any delays or mistakes in delivery.
6 Interaction Channels You Should Integrate with Conversational AI
Customers don’t use a single channel to send queries, inquiries, and requests. They use multiple channels and expect consistency in conversations with your business. That consistency is possible when you have an omnichannel conversational AI platform integrated across all digital channels.
Here are the six most valuable interaction channels where you should integrate an AI chatbot for manufacturing conversations:
Company Website/Apps: Integrate an AI bot on your website or app to enable instant conversations, answer questions, give information, and capture leads.
WhatsApp Business API: Obtain your Verified Business Account on WhatsApp and enable instant 24*7 conversations with customers using AI chatbot integration.
Facebook Messenger: Integrate the same bot with your Facebook Messenger to deliver consistent communication.
Social Media Ads: Integrate AI-powered WhatsApp chatbots for click-to-WhatsApp ad campaigns on Instagram and Facebook.
Google Ads: Run conversational ads on Google with AI chatbot integration.
Devices with Voice AI: Let customers interact with your business using their voice-enabled gadgets using voice AI.
At ORAI, we help manufacturers get their WhatsApp Business API and Omnichannel integration of our Conversational AI platform. Click here to get started!
4 Technology Systems You Should Integrate with Conversational AI
As manufacturers, you need well-connected technology systems, which is achievable with seamless integration of conversational AI across all legacy systems.
ERP: Let an AI-powered chatbot handle the complex processes of adding, removing, and updating information in your ERP system such as SAP.
CRM: Automatically collect customer-related data such as lead quality and send instant lead alerts to your sales reps.
OMS: Enable real-time, automated management of supplies, orders, available stock, and required materials using AI intelligence.
Service Desk: Prioritize critical incidents and requests, plus, automate repetitive requests and queries with smart virtual agents.
Are You Ready for Conversational AI in Manufacturing?!
Disruption of AI in manufacturing is inevitable. So, it would be best for you to attain a competitive edge by deploying AI and scale up operations. ORAI is an award-winning conversational AI platform you can trust for smooth adoption. We will help you right from strategizing and implementing to maintaining AI chatbot for manufacturing.
Swapnil Jain
CEO-ORAI Robotics
Stay in contact with ORAI