‘Entrepreneurship is not an easy journey;
it takes a lot of hard work and sacrifices. However, it is definitely
worthwhile as the amount of experience and knowledge gained is priceless’ – Kester Poh, Co-Founder & CEO of AiChat.
it takes a lot of hard work and sacrifices. However, it is definitely
worthwhile as the amount of experience and knowledge gained is priceless’ – Kester Poh, Co-Founder & CEO of AiChat.
Singapore-based AiChat is an AI chatbot startup providing bot-as-a-service platform that allows businesses to manage chatbots on popular messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger, to automates processes in sales and marketing, customer service, CRM and monitoring of customer’s data.
AiChat recently launched a eCommerce chatbot, a virtual lighting assistant, for Philips Lighting Singapore which allows users to get product recommendations based on their inputs and make payment directly within Facebook Messenger. We are also working with companies from various industries such as retail, F&B, media, events, tourism and hospitality.
In an exclusive interview with Startup Terminal, Kester Poh, Co-Founder & CEO of AiChat shares more insights about the company and future goals.
Excerpts:
ST:
Tell us more about AiChat. How did you get the idea of AiChat?
Tell us more about AiChat. How did you get the idea of AiChat?
AiChat is a Singapore-based AI chatbot
startup providing bot-as-a-service platform that allows businesses to manage
chatbots on popular messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger, to automates
processes in sales and marketing, customer service, CRM and monitoring of
customer’s data.
startup providing bot-as-a-service platform that allows businesses to manage
chatbots on popular messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger, to automates
processes in sales and marketing, customer service, CRM and monitoring of
customer’s data.
The idea was inspired by WeChat, we
were quite amazed by how people in China are interacting and transacting within
the app – 40% of the users are actually talking to businesses using the app. We
started exploring the idea of “conversational commerce” in late 2015,
operating as digital shopping concierge service via WhatsApp. Initially, we
wanted to create a chatbot to automate some of our replies, but it turns out
that the bot managed to close some sales on its own. This got us excited to
build a platform to manage chatbot more efficiently, before we realized it
could be a business on its own.
were quite amazed by how people in China are interacting and transacting within
the app – 40% of the users are actually talking to businesses using the app. We
started exploring the idea of “conversational commerce” in late 2015,
operating as digital shopping concierge service via WhatsApp. Initially, we
wanted to create a chatbot to automate some of our replies, but it turns out
that the bot managed to close some sales on its own. This got us excited to
build a platform to manage chatbot more efficiently, before we realized it
could be a business on its own.
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(L
to R) Matthew Low, Head of Product; Kester Poh, CEO; Yong Siong Wee, CTO
|
ST:
How has your entrepreneurship journey been so far? Who all are your potential
and existing clients?
How has your entrepreneurship journey been so far? Who all are your potential
and existing clients?
Entrepreneurship is not a easy journey,
it takes a lot of hard work and sacrifices. However, it is definitely
worthwhile as the amount of experience and knowledge gained is priceless.
it takes a lot of hard work and sacrifices. However, it is definitely
worthwhile as the amount of experience and knowledge gained is priceless.
We’ve recently launched a eCommerce
chatbot, a virtual lighting assistant, for Philips Lighting Singapore which
allows users to get product recommendations based on their inputs and make
payment directly within Facebook Messenger. We are also working with companies
from various industries such as retail, F&B, media, events, tourism and
hospitality.
chatbot, a virtual lighting assistant, for Philips Lighting Singapore which
allows users to get product recommendations based on their inputs and make
payment directly within Facebook Messenger. We are also working with companies
from various industries such as retail, F&B, media, events, tourism and
hospitality.
ST:
How do you leverage ‘Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence’ in terms of
providing highly automated and customised solutions for businesses?
How do you leverage ‘Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence’ in terms of
providing highly automated and customised solutions for businesses?
We use natural language processing and
machine learning techniques to understand user’s intention from the conversation
data to help automate replies. This helps to free up the customer service team
from answering the repetitive questions and allows them to focus on the more
complex questions. Through predictive AI, our bot is also able to analyze and
understand the customers’ taste and preference, thus providing a more
personalized experience for them.
machine learning techniques to understand user’s intention from the conversation
data to help automate replies. This helps to free up the customer service team
from answering the repetitive questions and allows them to focus on the more
complex questions. Through predictive AI, our bot is also able to analyze and
understand the customers’ taste and preference, thus providing a more
personalized experience for them.
ST:
What is your present team size? Are you looking to hire more?
What is your present team size? Are you looking to hire more?
We are team of 4 now and actively
looking for engineers and AI researchers to join our team.
looking for engineers and AI researchers to join our team.
ST:
As an entrepreneur, what challenges do you face in your day to day professional
life, if any?
As an entrepreneur, what challenges do you face in your day to day professional
life, if any?
Besides juggling between the hectic
schedule to meet clients and partners, and operating the business, I also need
make a lot of decisions daily, from big, company-impacting decisions, to tiny,
hour-affecting ones.
schedule to meet clients and partners, and operating the business, I also need
make a lot of decisions daily, from big, company-impacting decisions, to tiny,
hour-affecting ones.
ST:
Can you explain your business model? How do you generate revenue streams?
Can you explain your business model? How do you generate revenue streams?
There’s a one-time setup fee and
annual platform license fee.
annual platform license fee.
ST:
Would you like to give some tips to young aspiring startup enthusiasts?
Would you like to give some tips to young aspiring startup enthusiasts?
Don’t procrastinate, the best way to
know if your idea works is to start working on it.
know if your idea works is to start working on it.
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