Businessworld|August 22, 2016

Flavour of the day or here to stay, businesses are jumping in head-first into conversational commerce.

Article Reader

WHETHER YOU’RE looking for a movie on Netflix, playing Pokemon Go, ordering flowers, checking in for a flight, or getting divorced in Europe — there’s a bot for that. There are even bots for Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton.

In Silicon Valley bots have become a favourite topic and all over the world, companies are jumping head-first on to the botwagon.

There’s enough head-spinning hype to make one down right skeptical. And it doesn’t help that not enough people have even experienced a bot yet.

While some snidely say business are getting their bots together just to be in the news and not be left behind, it’s obvious to many that conversational commerce, which once started out with real humans, will be the way forward as artificial intelligence and natural language processing advance and combine and come out of their research labs. What more endorsement does one need than from Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Satya Nadella who say bots are the next apps.

India is as much bot country as anywhere else. Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Sons Ltd. certainly believes in them. In May this year, he invested an undisclosed sum in Niki.ai, an artificial intelligence startup, set up by four IIT Kharagpur Alumni founders to ‘revolutionise conversational commerce’. Sachin Jaiswal, one of the founders, is quick to point out that Niki.ai was started in 2015, ahead of the bot craze. Niki.ai is an app that uses natural language processing and machine learning technologies in a platform that has a chat interface for connecting customers with businesses. “We thought that things like recharging a mobile phone, takes so many taps and clicks...” says Jaiswal. “With a bot all you need to do is just tell it what you want.” With Niki.ai, one can book a cab, order food, pay mobile bills, and even get your laundry picked up.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 22, 2016 من Businessworld.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 22, 2016 من Businessworld.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من BUSINESSWORLD مشاهدة الكل
Gauging Trumponomics For India
BW Businessworld

Gauging Trumponomics For India

Despite some shortto mediumterm headwinds in trade and immigration, the broader Indo-US vision of counterbalancing China’s influence is expected to ensure continued cooperation under Trump 2.0

time-read
2 mins  |
November 16, 2024
Reflections on Consciousness and Creation
BW Businessworld

Reflections on Consciousness and Creation

Indian-American DEEPAK CHOPRA on the nature of the universe, the digital fabric of existence, and the power of a conscious mind

time-read
2 mins  |
November 16, 2024
MORE TAKE TO DRIVING IN STYLE
BW Businessworld

MORE TAKE TO DRIVING IN STYLE

High-end luxury vehicles are no longer part of a niche market, but a rapidly expanding segment of automobile sales, driven by changing consumer preferences, rising disposable incomes and better infrastructure

time-read
4 mins  |
November 16, 2024
India's Growing Affinity for Swiss Watches: A Luxury on the Rise
BW Businessworld

India's Growing Affinity for Swiss Watches: A Luxury on the Rise

NDIA'S ROBUST ECONOMIC growth, projected to exceed 6 per cent in 2024 and 2025, is fostering a rising demand for aspirational products. As disposable incomes increase, particularly among the expanding middle class, luxury goods such as Swiss-made watches are gaining popularity.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 16, 2024
An ENRiching Outlook
BW Businessworld

An ENRiching Outlook

KPMG's latest report shows energy CEOs being optimistic about the sector's outlook. ANISH DE, Global Head, ENRC, KPMG speaks to BW Businessworld's Arjun Yadav on what's driving this confidence

time-read
2 mins  |
November 16, 2024
Paving the Path to a Sustainable Future
BW Businessworld

Paving the Path to a Sustainable Future

Salesforce's ESG journey has made an impact beyond the company. SUNYA NORMAN, SVP of ESG Strategy and Engagement at Salesforce, shares more on how the tech giant integrates sustainability into its core operations, supporting global goals while empowering employees

time-read
2 mins  |
November 16, 2024
LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AT XIAOMI INDIA
BW Businessworld

LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AT XIAOMI INDIA

Xiaomi India is experiencing a leadership evolution, beginning with Muralikrishnan B's departure as President by the end of 2024. This change underscores Xiaomi's shift towards nurturing local talent amidst dynamic global shifts. The story tracks key transitions from Manu Kumar Jain's leadership to Muralikrishnan B's impactful tenure, along with recent strategic hires, highlighting Xiaomi's alignment towards market adaptability and consumer focus

time-read
3 mins  |
November 16, 2024
WEAVING SUSTAINABILITY
BW Businessworld

WEAVING SUSTAINABILITY

Once a modest home textile manufacturer, Jindal Worldwide has evolved into a vertically integrated textile powerhouse, spanning critical segments of the yarn and fabric value chain

time-read
1 min  |
November 16, 2024
FORCE FOR GOOD
BW Businessworld

FORCE FOR GOOD

FY24 saw capacity expansions for Century Enka in nylon and polyester segments, along with investments in modernisation, renewable energy, and safety initiatives

time-read
1 min  |
November 16, 2024
REIMAGINING TOMORROW
BW Businessworld

REIMAGINING TOMORROW

For V-Guard, tomorrow signifies progress, driven by today's actions, setting the foundation for future growth and value creation for all stakeholders

time-read
1 min  |
November 16, 2024