Hospitality Meets High Tech: Choosing AI-Solution for Your Chatbot Needs.

The recent advancements in AI have made developing chatbots that use LLMs (like ChatGPT) and machine learning possible for a much wider range of people at significantly lower costs.

You no longer need as large of a team to develop these products. Which has brought forth both new third-party tech startups (like AI-Solution ) and businesses that wish to develop these new products internally.?

In this week's edition of Serving the Industry, I’ll explain the advantage of outsourcing development for both hotel F&B and independent restaurateurs.

I’ll delve into why restaurateurs want to develop products internally, and explore the following 8 reasons outsourcing to a vendor such as AI-Solution and opting for OctoBot is the better option:

-???????????? Lower cost

-???????????? Experienced maintenance team

-???????????? Faster implementation

-???????????? Continuous updates

-???????????? Data Security

-???????????? Reduced risk

-???????????? A focus on core competencies

-???????????? A stronger feedback loop

From Outdated to Outperforming: Why Restaurants Consider In-House Chatbot Tech.

"Relying on external tech vendors for quick changes is often futile".

Hospitality's Hurdle: Overcoming Outdated Tech with Caution.

Industry veterans understand the temptation to create in-house chatbots, given the frustration with cumbersome, outdated software by tech vendors unfamiliar with our sector's unique challenges. Dealing with uncooperative POS systems and reservation platforms is time-consuming, and while crafting a user-friendly solution internally seems promising, there are compelling reasons to reconsider, which we'll explore shortly.

Faster Fixes, Better Business: In-House Chatbots for Agile Operations

Restaurant operations demand agility, especially when last-minute changes, like holiday reservation policies, require immediate updates to your chatbot to avoid customer confusion. Relying on external tech vendors for quick changes is often futile, prompting many to consider the autonomy of in-house development to avoid vulnerability and ensure responsiveness.

Think You're Ready to Build Your Own Chatbot? Read This First.

"Being able to modify things quickly is a must. Not just a bonus or a feature."

I’ve just seemingly encouraged you to go and build your own chatbot. Honestly, if you want to dip your toes in the very vast ocean of resources and AI available to build a chatbot yourself, have at it! However, there’s many things to consider before doing so.

Let’s start by refuting the two arguments I mentioned previously.

1 – A history of disappointing software.

As a food and beverage coordinator, I had to use a myriad of platforms daily for menus, extrapolating sales data, and handling reservations. Not one of them had a pleasant interface. And I’ve lost count the number of times I had issues with the software. Sometimes even resulting in catastrophic consequences. That’s why I know that building a platform yourself and being certain of it working well before implementing it can be a good idea. However, I’ve been in your place. AI-Solution’s platforms are built specifically for you. With only the necessary features and intuitive user interfaces, we build headache-free software specifically for the restaurant industry.

2 – The nature of the industry.

Being able to modify things quickly is a must. Not just a bonus or a feature. The whole use of the software relies on this. Most tech vendors have yet to create chatbots that can be modified as quickly as you need them to be.

With our simple intuitive design, you can modify your chatbots knowledge base in seconds.

Chatbots at the Speed of Now: Why Outsourcing Trumps In-House

Here are some other advantages you might not have considered when choosing between developing internally and outsourcing.

Lower cost

• Due to experience in implementing and onboarding chatbots, we can provide a much quicker transition which translates to lower costs.

Experienced maintenance team

• An experienced maintenance team means quicker iterations and a lowered risk of bugs. We'll make sure your chatbot is up and running so you can focus on your other tasks.

Faster Implementation

• To quote Patrick Bet-David: “Speed kills, the competition”. At AI-Solution , we already have a model pre-trained on the answer template for a restaurant that received over 1000 calls and 500 emails per week. In a matter of minutes, we can configure the chatbot to your restaurants branding and needs.Remember, an external team dedicated to AI development is likely to deploy solutions faster than an in-house team, which might be juggling multiple responsibilities. Why burden your marketing team with extra development?

Continuous Updates

• As AI and machine learning technologies evolve, AI-Solution can keep the chatbot updated with the latest algorithms and best practices, ensuring it remains cutting-edge.

Data Security

• AI-Solution has tools to secure data privacy and comply with relevant regulations. In-house development might not always have the same level of rigorous data protection measures. Furthermore, using one of the many modifiable bot-building platforms places your data and your customers data in the hand of strangers.

Reduced Risk

• Building a chatbot in-house can lead to a product that doesn’t perform as expected, it’s both a financial and operational setback. By outsourcing to AI-Solution , you can reduce the risk of project failure.

Focus on Core Competencies

• Focus on what you do best - providing exemplary service and culinary experiences to their guests - and leave the tech development to the experts at AI-Solution .

Feedback Loop

• Working with multiple clients, we can gain insights from diverse deployments and use that collective knowledge to improve and refine the chatbot offerings further. At a much quicker pace than a chatbot installed on only one website.

The Added Edge: Supplementary Benefits of the Right Chatbot Solution

Never Lost in Translation:

OctoBot speaks your customer's language. Most bot-building platforms don’t provide multi-lingual solutions, even with the integration of LLM APIs. OctoBot is fluent in every commonly spoken language.

Take Control: The Risk of Relying on Third-Party Servers for Your Chatbot

Chatbots built with bot builders will be hosted on this third party’s server, which you have no control over. If for any reason the server is down, or the provider simply stops providing its service you’ll be stuck with an obsolete chatbot on your website.

Checking Out: Why Check-In with Outsourced AI Chatbots

In wrapping up this week’s article, it’s clear that while the allure of internal development for restaurant-specific AI chatbots has its appeal. The case for outsourcing to specialized vendors like AI-Solution is compelling. The considerations of cost, expertise, and efficiency are paramount, especially in the fast-paced environment of hotel and luxury dining services.

By partnering with AI-Solution , restaurant owners and hotel F&B, marketing and sales directors can all enjoy the tailored sophistication of AI-powered software without the burdens and risks of in-house development. AI-Solution's deep understanding of the industry’s needs and the intricate demands of service excellence offers a seamless integration of technology that speaks the language of hospitality.

In a sector where every second counts and guest satisfaction are the currency of success, leaving the tech to the specialists not only makes sense—it’s an investment in delivering an unmatched dining experience. As you reflect on the 8 reasons to outsource, remember that your focus should always remain on what diners see, taste, and feel. Let AI-Solution handle the rest, ensuring that the only thing you need to worry about is the next innovation in delighting your guests.

Ready to see how AI-Solution can transform your restaurant's technology experience? Contact us today for a personalized demo and find out what AI can serve up for you. Our team is ready to enhance your guests' dining experience, one digital interaction at a time.

In our next issue of “Serving the Industry,” we will continue to bring the latest AI trends to the table, garnishing our insights with practical advice to help you stay ahead. Until then, may your decisions be as informed and forward-thinking as the dishes you serve.

Article written by: Louis-Gabriel Lafontaine-Hebert

Co-founder, AI-Solution

04/11/2023