THE CHATBOT MONETIZATION REPORT: Sizing the market, key strategies, and how to navigate the chatbot opportunity

Improving artificial intelligence (AI) technology and the proliferation of messaging apps -- which enable users and businesses to interact through a variety of mediums, including text, voice, image, video, and file sharing -- are fueling the popularity of chatbots. These software programs use messaging as an interface through which to carry out various tasks, like checking the weather or scheduling a meeting. Bots are still nascent and monetization models have yet to be established for the tech, but there are a number of existing strategies -- like "as-a-service" or affiliate marketing -- that will likely prove successful for bots used as a tool within messaging apps. Chatbots can also provide brands with value adds -- services that don't directly generate revenue, but help increase the ability of brands and businesses to better target and serve customers, and increase productivity. These include bots used for research, lead generation, and customer service.