Chatbots can only relieve support if the chatbot software can be configured precisely for the desired area of application. The different types of chatbots can be used in various areas of a company.
Examples and Companies Using Chatbots
Chatarmin, as one of the leading providers of solutions around WhatsApp, chatbots, and their use in online stores, support, or marketing, serves clients such as BAUHAUS, Metro, and Marc O’Polo.
From countless use cases, we’re excited to present information here that can boost your future performance in customer service, e-commerce, and advertising. This overview of features and capabilities will quickly convince you to implement our all-in-one platform for your business.
Customer service with a static chatbot and human agent via live chat has proven successful for many of our customers. The division of tasks can look as follows:
- The rule-based chatbot greets customers, provides information about opening and business hours, can issue tickets for human customer service agents, or give details about specific products.
- During business hours, human agents can handle the remaining inquiries via live chat or, if needed, by email or WhatsApp message.
- AI-supported chatbots, on the other hand, help customers 24/7 with building shopping carts, clarifying payment, shipping, and delivery details. By accessing database knowledge, AI chatbots can review customers’ past orders and suggest relevant products or highlight special offers matching buyer interests.
Leading providers in the travel industry increasingly rely on chatbots compared to other online business sectors. Whether SAS, Air France, or Lufthansa—nearly every traveler is reminded by a chatbot not to forget booking luggage or to check the carry-on size requirements.
HelloFresh’s chatbot highlights seasonal vegetables or fruits and remembers previous customer orders to promote special deals. You too can use WhatsApp for sales.
A self-learning AI bot with the appropriate knowledge base can follow a conversation with an interested party or customer just as effectively and at lower costs as a newly hired phone or live chat assistant.
Managing chats with AI functionality frees up creative resources in your company, empowering you to explore new markets and business goals.
Which Chatbot Software Is Right for You?
To choose the best chatbot software for your company, consider several factors. Not all providers offer the same features, and the right choice can make the difference between efficient automation and poor customer service.
Key Selection Criteria for Chatbot Software
What type of chatbot is offered?
Does the chatbot match your company’s requirements? Should it be rule-based, AI-powered, or a hybrid model?How easy is the setup?
Does implementation require extensive IT knowledge, or can the software be used intuitively without programming skills? Many companies prefer drag-and-drop systems for fast adaptation and easy management.What design options are available?
How flexible are the interfaces and interactions? Can the chatbot design be adapted to your website’s corporate identity?Are conversations automatically stored?
Does the chatbot store conversations to simplify recurring inquiries and provide personalized responses?Is there CRM integration?
A good chatbot should integrate seamlessly with your CRM to use customer data efficiently and manage inquiries precisely.Can human staff take over?
Does the software offer a live chat function to forward customers to human support agents when necessary?Which channels are supported?
Besides WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and other social networks, email, SMS, and web chat should also be supported.Does the chatbot support multiple languages?
Especially for international companies, it’s important that the chatbot can operate in multiple languages and reach the target audience effectively.Is there a free trial version?
Many providers offer a test phase to try out the features and determine if the chatbot suits your business.Is the chatbot software GDPR-compliant?
Data protection is essential. Reputable providers like Chatarmin comply with strict GDPR guidelines to protect user data.
Types of Chatbots
Chatbots are generally divided into three types. You can quickly identify the functions they can perform and the solutions they offer for your business. Choosing the right chatbot type depends on your company’s specific requirements.
Rule-Based Chatbots
Rule-based chatbots are among the simplest chatbot systems and are often considered beginner-friendly. They operate according to predefined rules and follow a set decision tree to respond to customer inquiries.
How do rule-based chatbots work?
These chatbots use so-called if-then scenarios defined in advance by the company. For example, a chatbot might be programmed as follows:
- If a customer asks about opening hours, the bot responds with a predefined answer.
- If a customer asks about payment methods, the chatbot provides the relevant information.
- If a customer wants to know where their order is, the chatbot offers a tracking link.
Use cases for rule-based chatbots
Rule-based chatbots are ideal for companies that want to automate recurring questions. Typical use cases include:
- E-commerce: Assistance with orders, payments, and delivery info
- Customer service: Answering common questions about products and services
- Appointment scheduling: Automated booking for services or consultations
Advantages of rule-based chatbots
- Easy setup and maintenance
- Lower cost compared to AI solutions
- Fast response times and standardized communication
Disadvantages of rule-based chatbots
- Limited understanding of complex inquiries
- Cannot learn or evolve independently
- Lacks flexibility—can’t process unstructured input
AI-Based Chatbots
In contrast to rule-based bots, AI-based chatbots are significantly more powerful and can handle complex tasks. They utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to conduct human-like conversations.
How do AI-powered chatbots work?
AI chatbots analyze human language, understand the context of a query, and generate intelligent responses. They use large datasets and machine learning to continuously improve over time.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): These bots detect keywords and analyze the full context of a request.
- Learning from interactions: AI-powered chatbots get smarter with every conversation as they recognize new patterns and phrasing.
- System integration: They can connect with CRM software, email systems, and databases to retrieve customer-related information.
Use cases for AI chatbots
- E-commerce & online shopping: Personalized product recommendations based on previous purchases
- Banks & insurance: Automated advice for financial products or insurance
- Healthcare: Digital health assistants for patient inquiries and appointment bookings
- Marketing & sales: Automated customer interactions via social media and messaging services
Advantages of AI-powered chatbots
- Understands complex queries and gives intelligent responses
- Learns through interaction and improves continuously
- Provides personalized recommendations and tailored customer interactions
- Reduces support costs through automation
Disadvantages of AI-powered chatbots
- Higher development costs and effort
- Requires extensive training data for accurate responses
- May occasionally provide incorrect or imprecise answers
Hybrid Chatbots
A hybrid chatbot combines the benefits of rule-based bots with the capabilities of AI-based systems.
How do hybrid chatbots work?
- Standard queries are answered using rules: Questions about opening hours, shipping times, or payment options can be handled automatically without human intervention.
- Complex inquiries are escalated to a human: If the chatbot doesn't understand a question or lacks the answer in its database, it forwards the issue to a support agent.
- The chatbot learns from interactions: By integrating with AI technology, it evolves and becomes smarter over time.
Use cases for hybrid chatbots
- Companies with a high volume of customer inquiries that still want to offer human interaction
- Support departments that automate FAQs but rely on human agents for complex issues
- E-commerce & service sectors where AI guides the customer but a human closes the sale
Advantages of hybrid chatbots
- Combines the best of both worlds—rule-based & AI-powered
- Flexible for different use cases
- Can ease support workloads while maintaining personal contact
Disadvantages of hybrid chatbots
- Requires more resources to develop than simple rule-based bots
- Needs ongoing optimization and training
Chatbot Providers Compared
A complete overview of chatbot providers on the market shouldn’t be limited to just our own solution. A free trial from one of the following chatbot software providers will give you confidence and help determine which platform best suits your business.
Moin AI
This Hamburg-based chatbot software is part of Knowhere and equips its bots with artificial intelligence.
They are widely used on homepages and company Facebook pages. The bot can recommend products, collect leads, and guide prospects through the entire customer journey.
Numerous design templates and support for 100 languages make this chatbot builder suitable for a variety of use cases tested by other clients.
Compatible Apps and Integrations:
With Zapier or Zendesk integrations, Moin AI’s AI-based chatbots can also be used on Instagram and for WhatsApp chats.
SAP, Freshdesk, Hubspot, and Salesforce are also supported. The bot allows direct handoff to human assistants.
Price:
Prices for Moin AI start at €790 per month per bot version, with unlimited conversations.
Parloa
This chatbot provider was founded in Berlin in 2017 and uses a drag-and-drop principle in its chatbot builder. The ability to create chatbots without major IT knowledge makes Parloa so popular.
Parloa also offers an AI bot that can be used across different channels and trained with various base information for knowledge building.
Parloa's chatbots are not only text-based but can also be used for voice support over the phone.
Compatible Apps and Integrations:
SAP, Zendesk, Freshdesk, or Salesforce are the main integrations, allowing use on WhatsApp, Facebook, other Messenger platforms, Google, and Alexa.
A direct handoff from bot to human is not possible with Parloa but can be implemented via a third-party provider offering live chat features.
Price:
Pricing for Parloa is available only upon direct request from the company.
Botfriends
Botfriends was also founded in 2017, in Würzburg. The chatbot builder is intuitively designed, making it easy to create bots from a wide range of templates.
Botfriends offers different templates for booking platforms and e-commerce processes. These can be adapted to your company's needs and integrated with your other deployed software.
Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, or a handoff from chatbot to support staff is offered via third-party providers. In addition to AI-based text bots, voice bots are also available.
Compatible Apps and Integrations:
This chatbot provider from Würzburg offers many integrations such as Salesforce, Hubspot, Zendesk, Freshdesk, or SAP. Paypal enables the necessary payment flows when the chatbot successfully assists in a sales or booking process.
Price:
Prices for Botfriends are available only upon direct request.
Cognigy
Cognigy from Düsseldorf has been able to attract renowned international clients since its founding in 2016. Like Parloa, Cognigy relies on user-friendly editors for flows to create human-like conversations.
With over 100 supported languages, this chatbot software is designed for international use.
Currently, direct interfaces to messaging apps like WhatsApp are not yet available, but the chatbots can communicate with your customers via both text and voice, supported by AI.
Compatible Apps and Integrations:
Since WhatsApp and bot-to-human handoff must be handled via third parties, various integration options are available.
All well-known CRM systems used in Europe are on this list. Alexa, Google, and Telegram are also among the supported apps.
Price:
Pricing for Cognigy is available only upon direct request.
Melibo
Melibo is a young chatbot software company founded in Frankfurt in 2020. It supports companies and public institutions with an AI chatbot.
The intuitive software allows for the creation of bots from numerous templates, enabling conversations on Facebook Messenger or in online shops directly on the company’s website.
Melibo allows human takeover of conversations if the bot gets stuck or the customer prefers speaking to a real person.
Compatible Apps and Integrations:
Current integrations include Hubspot, Zendesk, and Pipedrive. Additional integrations are planned and are being actively developed.
Currently supported apps include Teamwire, Facebook Messenger, and Microsoft Teams.
Price:
Unlimited conversations are possible in the Pro version starting from €750 per month.
Chatfuel
Many well-known companies are also on Chatfuel’s client list. It’s quite possible you’ve already interacted with one of their chatbots.
Chatfuel offers all types of chatbots. This allows business owners to deploy rule-based bots for initial contact or support and use AI chatbots directly in their webshop.
The templates of this chatbot software work in a customizable building block system, and their YouTube channel offers helpful tutorials.
A free trial made it easy for Chatfuel to spread quickly and win over customers.
Compatible Apps and Integrations:
Currently, only Facebook Messenger is officially supported. Integrations include Zapier, Shopify, Hubspot, Calendly, and Google Sheets, among others.
Price:
The Pro version starts at $15 per month. Various pricing models can be negotiated with Chatfuel.
Ada
Ada’s AI-based chatbots aren’t tripped up by typos and can understand idioms, responding accordingly.
Ada supports only 14 languages, but that’s usually sufficient for companies operating in Europe. In addition to AI bots, rule-based chatbots can also be configured to follow conversations.
Compatible Apps and Integrations:
Integrations and supported apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Salesforce, and SMS contribute to Ada’s success.
Price:
The pricing of this chatbot software depends on the features and requirements of each business.
BotSociety
This California-based chatbot software provider offers rule-based bots and is known for its user-friendly platform.
In chatbot comparisons, BotSociety scores with low pricing and a strong backend team. A bot can handle various tasks across different apps. Conversations can be easily copied and saved.
Even in the free version, bots can be extensively tested and used in live chat scenarios.
Compatible Apps and Integrations:
BotSociety bots are found on websites, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Slack, or as Alexa skills.
Price:
An all-inclusive package starts at $79. Flexible packages and pricing make BotSociety appealing to small businesses.
Landbot
Landbot provides an intuitive chatbot platform with a self-explanatory drag-and-drop system. These chatbots are rule-based, and the decision tree must be carefully designed in advance.
Landbot is best suited for answering simple questions or scheduling appointments via chat.
Customer communication is kept simple but offers a wide range of design options.
Compatible Apps and Integrations:
Besides WhatsApp, Landbot chatbots are primarily used in Facebook Messenger.
Price:
Individually extendable packages start at $100 per month.
AI Chatbot Software: The Future of Customer Communication
In an increasingly digital world, companies are relying more on AI chatbots to optimize customer service, automate workflows, and make interactions with customers more efficient. With AI chatbot software, businesses can not only respond to customer inquiries in real-time but also create personalized experiences that boost customer satisfaction.
The Role of AI Chatbot Software in Business
Modern AI chatbot software uses advanced technologies like Natural Language Processing (NLP) to enable human-like conversations. This capability allows chatbots to understand natural language, answer questions accurately, and continuously improve themselves.
With the right software platform, companies can combine their live chat software with AI chatbots to unify automated and human customer interactions in a central system.
How Does Natural Language Processing (NLP) Work?
Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a core technology of AI chatbot software that enables chatbots to analyze, understand, and respond appropriately to written or spoken language.
The Main Functions of NLP in AI Chatbots:
- Speech recognition – The chatbot identifies words and sentences and understands their meaning.
- Context awareness – NLP helps understand the context of a conversation to deliver accurate responses.
- Learning & optimization – AI chatbots become smarter through machine learning and improve their answers over time.
- Multilingual support – Companies can use chatbots in multiple languages to serve their international audience efficiently.
By integrating NLP into AI chatbot software, companies can elevate their customer service to a whole new level.
Software Platforms for AI Chatbots & Live Chat Software
Choosing the right software platform is crucial for the success of an AI chatbot. A well-designed platform should be scalable, flexible, and easy to integrate.
Key Features of a Modern AI Chatbot Software Platform:
- Seamless integration with existing systems (CRM, email marketing, ERP)
- Omnichannel support – Support for live chat software, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, email, and more
- Customizable workflows for personalized customer interactions
- Automated data analysis to optimize sales and support processes
- Secure data storage in compliance with GDPR regulations
Modern AI chatbot software platforms offer not just automation but also direct integration with live chat software, allowing companies to switch smoothly between bot and human support for complex inquiries.
The Chatbot Solution for You with Chatarmin
Over the past few years, WhatsApp has gained a significant position as a live chat tool in support and marketing. Our all-in-one software solution not only helps optimize customer communication but also uses AI to enhance customer service and experience to an entirely new level.
Your business can reach new e-commerce goals and simplify lead generation on social media. The short path between your business and your customers turns the customer journey into excellent reviews.
Here are 3 key use cases in addition to support—often the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of chatbots:
Collecting Customer Feedback
Chatbots are excellent for collecting feedback from visitors, leads, and buyers on your website. Targeted questions during a chat about possible improvements, product quality, or delivery service are automatically processed via our integrations and made available to your marketing and sales teams for future actions.
Your bot can also help steer your reviews. It reminds fans and followers and directs them exactly where you need new reviews posted.
A WhatsApp marketing agency can help you develop the right strategy.
Boosting Product Sales
AI-supported bots are essential in your online store. Customers can be easily distracted—by a phone call, a doorbell, or simply because they’re unsure if the chosen product fits their needs. This leads to abandoned carts and lost revenue.
A well-integrated chatbot knows exactly where the customer is in the purchase process. Are they staring at the same pair of shoes for minutes or re-reading your payment and delivery terms?
The bot can step in right away, initiate a conversation, and resolve doubts in seconds. This means fewer abandoned carts and more satisfied, returning customers.
Global Sales
Online store customers are located worldwide and shop around the clock. If you’ve found a niche for your product, international visitors will find you.
Hiring a support agent for every language, even just neighboring countries, can blow the budget. A chatbot, however, speaks all the languages you need and is happy to learn more.
Automated sales processes and frequently asked questions can be answered and sent in multiple languages with a chatbot. Expand your reach—and your market.
Your Integration Benefits and Future Possibilities
Chatarmin consistently ranks high in any comparison of chatbot providers. Notably praised are the user-friendliness of our chatbot tools, our in-house customer support, fast implementation of customer requests, and the quick setup of services.
Since we’ve mentioned integrations when describing various providers, here’s our own integration list. Integration not only improves your workflow but also enhances your chatbot performance and enables efficient automation.
- Shopify
- Klaviyo
- Slack
- WooCommerce
- JTL
- Pipedrive
- Salesforce
- HubSpot
- Magento
- Freshdesk
- Shopware
- Gorgias
- Emarsys
- And many more
Our pricing and performance ratio is also highly praised—because cost is, of course, an important consideration when it comes to chatbots.
Your Budget for the Chatarmin AI Chatbot Solution
The biggest cost factor in a chatbot solution—regardless of whether it’s AI-powered or rule-based—comes from fees for the WhatsApp Business platform.
If your company handles about 10,000 customer inquiries per month, you’d normally need three dedicated support employees to manage that volume efficiently. Personnel costs in this area can easily run into the thousands.
By using AI-powered chatbots, up to 80% of inquiries can be automated, significantly lowering your operational costs. Running a chatbot for that volume costs you only about €700 per month, while your support team can focus on complex issues.
Long-Term Cost Savings with Chatbots
- Lower personnel costs by automating repetitive questions
- Faster response times—no more customer hold times
- Better scalability as chatbots easily handle increased demand
- Improved customer experience with 24/7 availability
With a free trial, you can see for yourself how much savings and efficiency you gain from AI-powered chatbots. Take this opportunity to revolutionize your customer communication and take your business to the next level!
