Best AI Agents for Customer Support: Combining Automation with Human Reps

AI is helping customer support move at the speed we all expect, but great service will always need a human touch. As you explore how AI can streamline your support, you must critically consider the impact and power that comes from combining the best of both worlds.
Rachel Valentino
October 11, 2024
Best AI Agents for Customer Support: Combining Automation with Human Reps

Introduction

“I love waiting!” - said no one ever when it comes to customer support.

Let’s be honest, when you reach out to fix a problem or just to get an answer quickly, a lot of us expect swift and supportive interactions to deem a satisfactory result. For many, patience isn’t exactly a virtue when solutions are promised to be right around the corner. As more and more companies use generative AI to handle common customer support queries to brace this growing demand, things are speeding up in the customer service world.

These AI employees are great at giving quick answers, and managing repetitive tasks without breaking a sweat (or keeping you on hold for 40 minutes).

Replacement or Aid?

But even with all the shiny new tech out there, there are still times when only a human will do. When things get tricky or emotional, nothing beats talking to an actual person who gets it.

In this blog, we’ll look at the best AI agents for customer support in the market, and where HeyMilo jumps in to help you find the best customer service reps to work alongside the bots.

Top 5 AI Voice Agents for Customer Support

When it comes to handling customer service, there’s a growing number AI-powered solutions that can listen, understand, and respond just like a human. These tools are greatly helping with the speed of interactions, and responses, so that real reps can get to solving harder issues. Let’s look at five standout AI tools that are transforming customer support today:

# AI Voice Agent What It Does Best Why It Stands Out
1 Cognigy Conversational AI for voice and chat automation Cognigy shines with its ability to automate conversations across multiple channels like phone calls, live chat, social media, and messaging apps (e.g., WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger). It's widely used for streamlining customer service in industries like telecom, retail, and finance.
2 Intercom Chatbot support for web & mobile apps This platform excels at creating more personalized customer interactions through chatbots, especially in web and mobile apps. Ideal for businesses looking to combine automation with human-like responses, it’s popular with SaaS companies, e-commerce platforms, and startups for its simple interface.
3 Kustomer Omni-channel support Known for handling inquiries across phone, email, chat, and social media, the platform is perfect for businesses that need to manage large volumes of requests while keeping the experience seamless. It works well in industries like retail, e-commerce, and healthcare, where customer interaction comes through multiple channels.
4 Zendesk Ticketing system with AI chat Offers AI-powered chat bots and a ticketing system, making it great for managing customer inquiries via email, chat, phone, and even social media. It’s particularly useful in B2B environments and industries like e-commerce and SaaS.
5 Google Contact Center AI NLP (natural language processing) for voice and chat support Google’s Contact Center AI uses NLP to handle complex customer queries. It’s used to automate both voice and chat support and is especially good at providing multi-language support across channels like IVR (Interactive Voice Response), chat, and email, making it ideal for global companies.

The One True Pairing for AI - Human Reps

These tools handle common tasks quickly, but they don’t match the empathy, creativity, and problem-solving abilities that a skilled rep brings to the table. That’s why the smartest approach combines AI for efficiency with people for those nuanced, meaningful interactions.

On a recent Twenty Minute VC podcast, Harry Stebbings said it well:

(Listen here). This speaks not only to the importance of automation but also to finding the right people who can use these tools effectively. Having a team trained to work with AI ensures that technology amplifies their strengths.

HeyMilo helps you build that ideal blend. By connecting you with exceptional customer service reps, HeyMilo ensures that when AI hits a wall, there’s a person ready to jump in with the skills and empathy to resolve even the toughest issues. With this combination, your team can consistently offer fast, reliable responses through AI and meaningful support from people who genuinely understand customer needs.

Conclusion

AI is helping customer support move at the speed we all expect, but great service will always need a human touch. As you explore how AI can streamline your support, you must critically consider the impact and power that comes from combining the best of both worlds.

If you’re ready to find the right people to support your AI-driven strategy, let’s talk about how HeyMilo can help you create a support team that truly delivers.

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