Learn how virtual assistants can create a better guest experience via your website, and SMS.
How long would you wait on hold before hanging up?
If you’re like 60% of people, you will hang up and go elsewhere if you’re waiting on hold for one minute.
And that’s only for the people who still prefer to call. Most of your guests are looking for a digital-first experience, opting to book online or via text if the service is available and easy to use. In fact, 89% of consumers say they prefer texting with businesses over any other mode of communication.
Today’s guests want to use self-serve options to make product purchases, get answers to their questions, and book appointments, and if you’re not providing that experience, they will find it with one of your competitors.
Avoid hang-ups, no-shows, missed booking opportunities, and more, all while providing a cutting-edge digital experience that customers are looking for with AI virtual assistants.
Virtual assistants like SmartBot provide an efficient and personalized experience for your guests on your website and via SMS, saving you time and resources by automating processes for you.
AI virtual assistants can:
Answer questions promptly and effectively
Help navigate guests through your site
Assist guests with managing bookings
Turn missed calls into appointments 24/7
Make add-on suggestions and upsell
Before we share the top 5 benefits of AI virtual assistants for salons and spas, and how they can improve your guest experience, let’s back it up....
What is an AI virtual assistant?
AI virtual assistants are designed to understand natural language and context, allowing for dynamic and interactive conversations with guests. They leverage machine learning algorithms and natural language processing to understand user intent and engage in human-like, personalized conversations.
Beyond simply answering FAQs, AI virtual assistants can perform complex tasks like scheduling appointments, recognizing and driving the next best action, and even integrating with other applications and devices to provide a truly personalized experience for guests.
Top benefits of AI virtual assistants for spas and salons
As a spa and salon business owner, if you don’t have a customer experience strategy that includes AI virtual assistants, you’re missing out on the opportunity to be there for your guests 24/7 and resolve their issues in real time.
Here’s how AI assistants like SmartBot can simplify your salon or spa business operations and make a positive impact on your guests, and your staff.
1. Easy online booking
Your guests want to book their appointment when they want, as quickly as possible. AI virtual assistants make booking efficient and effective by connecting your guest with the right provider, at the right time, from the convenience of their mobile phone or computer, 24/7 - and with SmartBot’s deep integration with Zenoti, booking is seamless with real-time service catalog and schedule sync.
2. Missed call management
Whether a guest calls outside of your business hours, when your receptionist is busy with another guest, or when you’re short staffed on the busiest day of the week, an SMS bot like SmartBot will initiate a text conversation instantly when a call is missed, ensuring you never lose out on a potential booking.
3. Fast answers to FAQs
Even the most well laid out knowledge base or FAQ section has its flaws. Information about your location, memberships, and more can get lost on your site, making it hard for your guests to find the information they need.
4. Free-up time for front desk staff
Respond to requests and manage appointments instantly around the clock, so your front desk staff can focus on making your in-store guests feel special.
5. Relationship building
Use virtual assistants to auto-respond to inquiries and communicate with your guests in real time. This creates a positive experience and builds brand loyalty. Over 60% of customers want to purchase from companies that can meet their needs in real-time.
Improve your guest experience, save your front desk staff time, and improve your business efficiency with SmartBot, an AI virtual assistant built exclusively for salons and spas.
Reach out to sales@simplified.io today to book a demo.
Editor's Note: This post was originally published in August 2021 and has been revamped and updated on June 1 2023,