The 6 perks of adding an AI Agent to your online store

Today’s online shoppers have come to expect instant, always-on support, especially for routine order requests and product info.

Having an AI agent that can automatically meet those 24-7 needs is a smart, no-code, scalable solution for small businesses and e-commerce shop owners.

AI agents — like Jotform’s Shopify AI Agents — can automatically sync with your online store, enabling them to handle routine customer questions, expedite online sales, and facilitate returns and customer feedback, all so you can focus on higher-priority tasks.

Many AI agents are no-code, so you can easily set them up and connect them to your store even if you’re not a tech expert.

Using an AI agent to support your online store’s customer service makes a lot of sense, and in fact, helps differentiate your business in an increasingly competitive world.

According to a customer experience trends report by Zendesk, 70 percent of consumers believe a clear gap exists between companies that leverage AI effectively in customer service and those that don’t.

With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at six ways adding an AI agent to your online store can benefit your business — and give you a leg up.

Six ways an AI agent can benefit your business

Providing always-on customer support

The central benefit an AI agent offers is the 24-7 presence of online support for your customers, meaning there’s always a way for them to reach out to your store and brand.

Yes, this coverage provides answers for common questions about store policies, products, shipping, and returns that easily soak up your time. But when the agent is properly trained on your product list, it also becomes a sales representative that can encourage and process new orders.

The only way an online shopper can buy a product is if they stick around. And they’re more likely to stick around if they can get all of their questions answered in a timely fashion.

Giving personalized product recommendations

It’s not hard to imagine your AI agent becoming a kind of personal shopper once it’s up to speed on your products. For instance, if a customer wants to know what would go well with a pair of tan pants or what accessories they may need to complement a new kitchen appliance, your agent can make recommendations (and upsells) based on the product type and color details it has stored in its knowledge base.

Taking things a step further, you could train your agent to show return customers new items tailored to their interests and previous purchases. Or you could prompt your agent to inquire about the shopper’s style so it suggests certain products based on keywords.

AI agents help reduce indecision, which creates a more positive experience for the customer.

Lowering cart abandonment

Along with providing product recommendations (which encourage purchase completion), agents can help lower cart abandonment.

Agents can be used to shore up cart conversion rates by sending personalized reminders or offers to shoppers who leave without buying.

Shoppers can also easily search for and add products to their cart in the chat with an agent, offering a conversational ordering experience and fast checkouts.

Training your agent on the different types of payment methods your store accepts — so customers understand that their preferred method is available — gives your store a better chance at converting the sale.

Strategies like these can bring shoppers back to complete purchases and help you maintain ongoing engagement, enriching customer relationship management along the way.

Engaging chat and voice conversations

Offering different product search and service options to suit how a shopper likes to communicate provides a better experience. A positive, flexible experience can stay with a customer and encourage them to shop at your store again.

Jotform’s Shopify AI Agents offer customers both chat- and voice-based interactions, whatever’s more convenient for them.

These features speed up simple product discovery and help reduce customer frustration and cart abandonment by engaging users.

Real-time inventory management

By accessing your store information, AI agents can provide accurate inventory information, reducing customer frustration and cart abandonment. Jotform’s Shopify AI Agents are automatically synced with your Shopify store’s inventory information, for example.

By providing customers with accurate, up-to-date information, you set the stage for a smooth and reliable shopping experience.

Fraud detection and building trust

Security and trust go hand in hand, and an AI agent can be used to reinforce both.

AI can detect and minimize false credit card declines and ensure a secure checkout. Additionally, you can train your agent to include product ratings and direct users to customer reviews for chosen products to build additional trust in your brand and help validate shopping decisions.

The bottom line is that AI reduces friction and builds trust, encouraging shoppers to complete purchases and return in the future.

How Jotform can help your online store

We’ve now reached a point where AI agents are empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners (and even larger brands) by offering them a reliable, 24-7 presence that engages customers on everything from order tracking to product recommendations.

Shoppers who visit online stores can get their questions answered in a friendly way customized to the needs and style of the brand.

Whether you need an agent to help your online T-shirt site or assist with online grocery orders, you can find what you’re looking for with Jotform’s robust AI Agents, featuring 7,000+ agent templates to help get you started.

You can connect Jotform AI Agents with your order, inquiry, and return forms, which enhances their functionality and enriches customer experience.

Our AI Agents can also connect to productivity tools like Google Calendar and Drive, Slack, Shopify, and more, making online selling even smarter . . . and giving you more time to spend scaling your e-commerce business.