Our clients rely on us to turn our discoveries into tangible competitive advantage. Our exploration led us to conversational interfaces – a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that enables voice recognition. With conversational interface, users can have a natural talk or text conversation with a digital partner.

Embracing the bot

In their Internet Trends Report, KPCB revealed that the AI invasion isn’t just another cool technology. It is a game-changing disruption. In fact, they estimate that by 2030, around 50% of the jobs we do today will be replaced by robots. While the technology may not be perfect yet, it’s getting close. Today’s chatbots are accurate about 95% of the time. According to Baidu Chief Scientist Andrew Ng, when ‘speech recognition goes…to 99%, all of us will [be] using it all the time. Most people underestimate the difference between 95% and 99% accuracy – 99% is a game-changer.’

Blending trends and insight

Mirabeau combined this knowledge with the latest insight about mobile usage. KPCB revealed that around the world, people have an average of 33 apps on their mobile phones. But about 80% of their activity is limited to just three apps: Facebook, WhatsApp and Chrome. The study further showed that chat services, like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, are quickly becoming a home screen for the majority of young mobile users, with 1 billion and 800 million daily users, respectively. So Mirabeau went in search of ways to connect evolving user behaviour and the bot revolution to help our clients to get closer to their customers.

Creating conversational interfaces

Since conversational interfaces can accurately converse with users, they can also interact with them in meaningful ways: offer suggestions, answer questions and, yes, complete transactions. So we kicked our development into high gear. Soon, we had created three successful customer service prototypes for a client in the insurance industry.

About three years ago, our innovation practice 'Mirabeau Labs' began experimenting with Amazon Echo, to discover the possibilities available with conversational interfaces. Other cognitive services from Microsoft, IBM and Google showed us the true potential of this technology, and triggered us to explore even further. And now, we are ready to bring the power of this next digital revolution to you.

Find out where to start

Those who are prepared for this next digital revolution will have a serious competitive advantage. Not sure where to start, or what opportunities are available for your company? Mirabeau offers workshops that can help you explore the possibilities. In the workshops, we’ll help you discover ways to start implementing this new technology today, and continue to prepare for tomorrow.

Mirabeau’s methodology for building conversational interface services is relatively straightforward:

1. Think of high-volume, customer-related issues that might be successfully supported with this technology.

2. Create a service that does a few small things, but does them very well.

3. Train and improve the service, through machine learning and the addition of other AI services, such as recommendation APIs and emotion APIs.

4. Incrementally build on services offered, as the technology improves.

5. Prepare to take the lead amongst your competitors.

Agility at its best

The new digital landscape moves and changes faster than ever before. Gone are the days when you needed server space and months in the learning curve. Services like Amazon Echo and Microsoft Azure Cortana are beyond user-friendly. All you need is a user account, a credit card, and your imagination. And of course, a dedicated partner like Mirabeau. Then, development can begin. This is agility at its best – learning on-the-fly and applying up-to-the-minute techniques to improve. In a matter of weeks, a minimum viable product (MVP) can be ready. Will you be?

Preparing for the revolution

The last digital revolution was mobile. We’ve seen how it changed the digital landscape, business models, customer expectations and profits. The next revolution is sure to be conversational interface. It’s certain to disrupt the business landscape in unimaginable ways.

Don’t get left behind. Explore all the possibilities that conversational interfaces can have. Together with Mirabeau, you’ll turn technological possibility into tangible profit.

Ready to join the next revolution? Schedule a workshop by sending an e-mail to Edgard Beckand.