Why Chatbots Increase (Not Decrease) the Number of Customer Service Jobs
I work for a company that sells a chatbot platform.
It's been about six months since I started, and pretty much every day, I hear about a different chatbot on the market. It's a crowded space, with lots of noise and competition.
I also hear, almost daily, how chatbots, AI and automation in CX will eliminate countless jobs, as adoption grows in the coming years.
I've spent a lot of time thinking about this. I get it - I understand why people are sounding alarms. But I don't believe we are on the cusp of massive layoffs and unemployment. In fact, based on the experiences of customers at Ada, I'm seeing a very different trend - one filled with opportunity and headcount growth.
When done right - chatbots are leading to a strategic reorganization of the customer service department, and new jobs (arguably better, more engaging jobs) are being created to support an automation-first strategy.
Ada customers are calling it the ACX (Automated Customer Experience) department.
The banking industry saw a similar trend with the introduction of ATM machines. While folks were convinced bank tellers were going to be fired in droves, the opposite was true - this new, automated, labor-saving technology actually created more jobs. You can read about it here. And it wasn't just with banking and ATMs. The same is true of cashiers and the introduction of the cash register; paralegals and the introduction of electronic discovery software. And in all cases - the quality of work being done was improved and new jobs were created.
Along these lines, Ada customers are moving support resources into ACX roles to manage chatbots, build custom flows and ensure that an automation-first strategy is effectively deflecting the majority of inquiries.
In an ACX department, those handling support inquiries are freed to address the most mission-critical and meaningful interactions. Customer wait times are diminished, CSAT scores increase, customer churn is reduced and employee engagement soars. And here's the best news - with the money being saved and new revenue being generated, companies are doubling down on their ACX investment and hiring more people.
An automation-first approach throws customer service on its head. With the right chatbot platform underpinning your customer journey, CX is no longer a cost centre, but a source of revenue. Which means more opportunity and yes - more jobs.
So I would urge the alarmists to put down their bells. Make thoughtful decisions about how to leverage chatbot technology and structure teams for success. And consider that this represents an opportunity to drive efficiency, cost savings, new revenue and yes...more jobs.
For more information on the Automated Customer Experience Department and the best practices of Ada customers, feel free to reach out or comment below.
RVP @ Salesforce | GTM Enthusiast | Startup Advisor
5 年Great read, Ruth!
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
5 年Excellent article, Ruth. So informative.? I too have been hearing all the concern about how this technology is going to negatively impact jobs, but you did a great job of cutting right to the core and providing the facts to dispel those fears.? Great read!
Director, AI, Cloud, & Security Learning Lab @ Microsoft
5 年Great article Ruth! I see the same in the broader public cloud market. IT folks see the automation, new tools, servers that can’t be touched, and begin worrying about jobs. As you so eloquently put, the opposite is true! With improved ops, access to new technology like machine learning, etc. IT can pivot and focus more on innovative solutions that add additional value to the business. Profit centers get additional headcount to create more value!
Founder, Revive Agent | Helps B2B GTM teams convert leads to qualified meetings across voice, text, web and email with AI Assistants
5 年Very much agree. The more value people generate with their work, the high the quantity and quality of that work.? For customer service agents, examples of higher value work would be solving complex problems, enabling better experiences through educating people on the product, and finding the right level/mix of services.? There's only so much a business can afford (in terms of quantity and quality of people) when the role is filled with lower value tasks like answering simple questions (FAQs) or performing basic account based actions (think password resets).