Jan-07-2020

How to use QR codes for AI chatbots on Web, Messenger, and WhatsApp

Khoros Staff

Editor's note: This blog post was originally written on the Flow.ai website. Flow.ai was acquired by Khoros in 2021 to advance Khoros' conversational AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities and data science expertise. This blog post has been adapted to be on the Khoros blog.



A QR code, short for Quick Response, is a scannable barcode in the form of a matrix. It has its origin in the automotive industry but has become popular in the consumer market as it can enhance the customer journey.

At an early stage of QR codes within the consumer market, these QR codes could only be read by mobile phones with an additional QR-code reader installed. With that hurdle taken away, almost any phone can now scan a QR code without any additional app installments. That opens up a lot of new ways to automate interactions by using AI chatbots on different channels like Web, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

Advantages of Chatbots and QR codes

Chatbots allow you to automate customer interaction on different channels and different languages. That automation adds value for you as a business by saving time, and for consumers by answering questions immediately.

As a well-designed chatbot adds value for businesses and for consumers, one of the challenges is how to get as many customers as possible onboarded to the chatbot. That’s where QR codes come in handy.

Why use chatbots and QR codes?

To get more customers to interact with your bot you can use QR codes. You can create a QR code and place it in offline items such as invites, posters, tables, and more. As it’s very likely that your consumer has their mobile phone with them, they can scan that QR code and directly interact with the chatbot to answer a question or to join a promotion.

How to create QR codes for your chatbot on Web, Messenger, and WhatsApp

That QR code sounds nice but how does that work? And where to start? Well, the QR code actually represents an URL and that URL can redirect customers to Web, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

There a several tools that allow you to convert an URL into a QR code. In this example, we’ll be using qr-code-generator.com. You can paste your destination URL and it will generate your QR code.

QR code for Web

To create a QR code that opens a web URL, paste your destination or target URL into QR Code Generator. After that, your code will be created and you can download it in your preferred format. Are you working on a chatbot that serves a lead generator? In that case, you might want to add unique tags in the URL to measure conversion rates.

QR code for Facebook Messenger

To create a QR code for your Facebook Messenger bot, the process is similar. We need to convert our target URL into a QR code by using a tool like QR Code Generator. The advantage of using Facebook Messenger is that you can create a link that triggers a specific event within Khoros by using m.me links. In that case, your URL will be something like:

http:<i>//m.me/theflowai?ref=TEST_DRIVE</i>

Read more about Facebook m.me links in How to use Facebook Messenger m.me links.

QR code for WhatsApp

The idea of creating a QR code for WhatsApp is quite similar to the m.me links. The only difference is that our URL can set a pre-defined text within WhatsApp to your chatbot so that the user only has so hit the enter button. In that case, we won’t be able to trigger an event directly from the link but we can already place a piece of text that would trigger the right flow when being sent.

To create a link that’s useful for this case you can use WhatsApp click to chat links. That will result in something like this:

https:<i>//wa.me/31633567993?text=preorder</i>

Boost conversion

With QR codes as described above you make it easier for your user to connect with you as a brand. With less friction in the process this will boost conversion rates and onboarding numbers.

RELATED RESOURCES

How brands can stand out on social media

Discover how your brand can build awareness and stand out on social media using these tips with real-world examples.

Apr-19-2024

Read more

Increasing brand engagement on social media

Get expert tips to increase brand engagement with your audience on social media and check out real-world examples from leading brands.

Apr-19-2024

Read more

SOCIAL MEDIA

How to drive conversions, leads, and sales on social media

Maximize the value of your brand's social media presence by learning how to use it to drive conversions, leads, and sales.

Apr-19-2024

Read more

ONLINE COMMUNITIES

4 brands who drive real value with their online communities

Learn how four leading brands leveraged their online communities to create lasting value for themselves and their customers.

Apr-19-2024

Read more

SOCIAL MEDIA

The 2024 social media demographics guide

Our 2024 Social media demographics guide surfaces the demographic data like age, gender, income, and device usage, you need to inform a smart strategy.

Apr-19-2024

Read more

CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT

How to set customer service goals (+9 example goals)

Learn how to set customer service goals to increase your customers’ satisfaction including 9 example goals you can get started with right away.

Apr-15-2024

Read more

CUSTOMER SERVICE

8 essential customer service channels for your business

Customer support is now available across various customer service channels. Learn more about the most essential channels for your business here.

Apr-15-2024

Read more

WHITEPAPER

5 ways service leaders can automate to improve agent efficiency, limit attrition, and save costs

This comprehensive whitepaper with original research shows how a contact center can automate to improve agent efficiency, limit attrition, and save costs.

Apr-12-2024

Read more

AI

A month in review: March social media trends and updates

Read all about the latest trends and industry updates that our Strategic Services team uncovered throughout March.

Apr-10-2024

Read more

TEMPLATE

Community vendor evaluation scorecard

Assess and score community vendors against the areas that matter most with our community vendor evaluation scorecard.

Apr-10-2024

Read more

CHECKLIST

Questions to ask when evaluating community vendors

Navigate the complexities of community vendor evaluation with our checklist, designed to cover every critical aspect of the selection process.

Apr-10-2024

Read more

AUTOMATION

6 steps to identify the right tech partner for customer service excellence

Discover expert tips to find the perfect tech partner and enhance your customer service.

Apr-04-2024

Read more

    Would you like to learn more about Khoros?

    Let's talk