Pushing up productivity with conversational interfaces

As I outlined in part one, technology is transforming working life, making it possible for workers to be more effective, more engaged and more productive. But companies that think they’re making life easier by bringing in new systems and tools are often simply inconveniencing their workers. I spoke recently with Tim Deeson, CEO of GreenShoot Labs, and we discussed how chatbot and conversational interface technology is an area where tech is successfully connecting different parts of the chain to create a more streamlined process for employees.

For example, researchers found use of conversational interfaces in finance reduced consumers’ confusion and guided them to more suitable product choices. They found systems which use natural language processing (NLP) and decision trees allow consumers to undertake transactions more easily, by translating from customer’s words into banking transaction categories - which regular customers are often unaware of. 

People are exposed to more information than ever; it’s estimated the average person sees 5000 unique messages every day. While this is often described as ‘information overload’ the truth is it’s more a case of ‘filter failure’.

Conversational interfaces can help, by identifying and highlighting the most relevant and useful information any individual needs. Advances in processing power make it possible to hypertarget for increased relevance - boosting engagement and ensuring employees get what they need, when they need it.

Bots have huge potential to streamline the digital workplace, improve the user experience and boost productivity, by acting as a bridge between systems designed for (and by) IT and those designed for humans. And in doing so, they create the potential for large organisations to improve productivity, and boost engagement, all while improving the user experience at the same time.